Medical imaging question builder
Use this tool to organize questions before you speak with your ordering clinician, radiology team, or radiation oncologist. It favors clear, respectful language and shared decision-making—it does not recommend refusing care without that conversation.
Your situation
All fields stay in this browser unless you copy or share them elsewhere. Adjust answers as your appointment approaches.
Suggested questions for your clinician
Use these as a checklist during a visit, phone call, or patient portal message. Wording is general—not a substitute for individual medical advice.
- Is this imaging exam medically necessary for the problem we are trying to diagnose or treat?
- What information will this exam provide that changes my care plan?
- What are the risks of not doing the exam, including missing a diagnosis or delaying treatment?
- How was the dose or technique chosen for me, and can the protocol be adjusted if I am smaller or more radiation-sensitive?
- Are there reasonable non-ionizing alternatives for my situation, such as ultrasound or MRI, and why or why not were they chosen?
- Could ultrasound or MRI answer the same clinical question in my case? If not, what features of my condition require ionizing radiation?
Plain-language explanation
These questions are written in plain language so you can open a calm conversation with your ordering clinician, radiologist, or medical physicist about CT. Licensed teams balance benefit and exposure every day; your questions help them explain trade-offs in words that fit your situation.
Safety reminder
Skipping imaging that your care team considers medically necessary can delay diagnosis or treatment and sometimes cause serious harm. This builder is for preparation and shared decision-making—not for refusing care without a clinical discussion.