What Can I Expect During a CT
Examination?
If your examination is of the abdomen or
pelvis, you will be asked to arrive 1 hour prior to your examination
to drink oral contrast, which will allow for a better evaluation of
the bowel.
Although many examinations do not
require intravenous injection of contrast, in some cases it may be
required to optimize your study. This will be discussed with you in
detail by one of our staff members at the time of your visit.
When
it is time for the exam, the patient is positioned by a technologist
on the CT table. Once situated, the table moves through a doughnut
shaped ring called a gantry. This allows the body part that is being
studied to be "scouted" by electronic sensors and then viewed on a
monitor. For many types of examinations you will be asked to hold
your breath and remain still for a few moments. With our high-speed
spiral ("helical") scanner, image acquisition is so rapid, that
breath holding is usually 20 seconds or less. Most examinations are
completed in 10 to 15 minutes.
There is continuous intercom
communication with the technologist and the Radiologist who are
stationed adjacent to the machine through a clear glass wall.
Why Are Oral And Intravenous Contrast
Used In CT?
Oral contrast is used to image the
stomach and intestines. It is a very dilute, flavored barium
solution that you drink approximately 1 hour prior to an
examination.
Intravenous contrast is sometimes
referred to as "dye". Although colorless, it contains iodine, which
makes specific organs, blood vessels, and tissues visible on x-rays
for better detection of disease or injury. It is not radioactive. We
only use "non-ionic" contrast, which is formulated to minimize any
risk of an allergic reaction. The risks and benefits of contrast
will be explained to you when you arrive for your examination.
Occasionally, mild allergic reactions may occur such as hives, rash
or itching. In rare instances a patient may have a more severe
allergic reaction, which might include difficulty breathing,
swelling in the throat, or loss of consciousness. Our staff is fully
trained and experienced to manage any potential adverse reaction.
Patients will be asked, and should
notify our staff, if they have a history of allergy to IV contrast
or iodine injections, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, severe heart
disease, multiple myeloma, sickle cell disease or are if they are
taking glucophage.
How Long Will My CT Examination Take?
The CT scan itself is 10-15 minutes.
However, to ensure optimum results and patient safety, you will be
asked to fill out a medical questionnaire and you will be
interviewed by one of our staff before your examination. If
applicable, contrast administration will be discussed and
administered. A Radiologist will review the image quality of your
study before you leave. Your visit should be less than 45 minutes
(longer if you need to arrive early to drink oral contrast for a
abdomen or pelvic CT).
Do I Need A Referral (Prescription)
To Have My CT Examination?
Yes, your doctor must provide a referral
(prescription) in order for you to receive a examination. In
addition, some insurance carriers or HMO’s require a
precertification. Please discuss this with your doctor and your
insurance company or HMO prior to your test.
What If I Am Claustrophobic?
Because the CT is open at both ends
(like a doughnut), most claustrophobic patients have little
difficulty with the procedure. If you are severely claustrophobic,
you might ask your doctor to consider a mild sedative.
Is a CT Examination Safe?
Our state of the art Spiral CT equipment
produces a very low dose of x-ray exposure with negligible adverse
effects. It is not much different than the exposure from "background
environmental radiation" from the sun, air travel, television or
computer screens.
When Will I Know The Results Of My
Examination?
A Radiologist will review your study
before you leave the Center to determine if the information is
complete. Preliminary results will be sent promptly to your
physician and a detailed written report of the procedure, findings,
and results will follow within several days. Your physician will
then call you to discuss the results. Urgent results will be
telephoned immediately to your doctor.
What Should I Do to Prepare for a
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan Exam?
Patients are encouraged to bring
something to read in case there is an unexpected delay or emergency
case. It is preferable that you wear comfortable, loose fitting
clothing (especially shirt or blouse). You may be asked to remove
any clothing or jewelry that might degrade the CT images, such as,
belt buckles, earrings, bras, glasses, dentures, and hairpins.
If your examination is of the abdomen or
pelvis, you will be asked to arrive 1 hour prior to your examination
to drink oral contrast to better evaluate the bowel.
For the following examinations, do not
eat 4 hours before test. However, please take your prescription
medication, as you normally would, with clear liquids only:
Computed Tomography (otherwise known as
CT or "CAT" scanning) combines advanced computers and rotating x-rays
to create highly detailed cross sectional computer generated images
of body parts and internal organs in order to detect different
disease processes. The exam is fast, patient friendly and has the
unique ability to detect and diagnose a wide variety of medical
conditions and abnormalities. It is frequently used as the primary
diagnostic tool for early detection of tumors, infection,
inflammatory conditions, stroke, obstructions, trauma and kidney
stones. These examinations are performed
by certified x-ray technologists, and every examination is directly
supervised and interpreted by board certified specialists in
diagnostic radiology.
What does CT stand for?
