CT Scanning

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In our clinic we use a G.E. LightSpeed 16 Slice.  CT Scanning, or Computerized Axial Tomography, is an X-ray procedure, except that CT provides cross-sectional images of specific areas of the body, mainly used for brain, spine, chest, abdominal, muscular, and skeletal imaging. It is useful in rapid diagnosis of traumatic injuries.

The patient will be asked to change clothes and wear an exam gown.

Wearing lose fitting jogging clothes with no metal objects may allow you avoid changing clothes.

Certified technologists will place you on a table that glides into the center of a large ring that houses an x-ray tube that moves in a circular motion.

The technologists will be in constant communication with you. Even though they leave the room for the scanning sequences, they will always have visual and audio contact with you.

Your physician may order intravenous contrast. This will require the technologist to insert a small catheter into a vein and will be used to administer the contrast at the appropriate time. Contrast can be helpful in identifying tumors or scar tissue,but does have a slight health risk. Patients will be given a consent form by the technologist to sign after receiving a full description of potential side effects of the contrast.

If you are a diabetic and taking Metformin, you will need a recent (less than 30days) Kidney chemistry blood work, BUN and Creatinine. These must be normal for you to receive the contrast. You must be able to stay off the medication for 48 hours after the test, and have the BUN and Creatinine repeated. If the values are normal, you may restart the medication. Do not stop the Metformin without first consulting with your physician. He will need to be consulted to restart the medication.

CT exam takes approximately 30 minutes depending on the region of interest.

The electronic images are acquired, transmitted and stored in a dicom format.The images, along with its reports, are immediately available for electronic transmission to referring physicians. Our facility can also accept similar images from other facilities for comparisons to prior studies. This becomes very important in identifying any pertinent changes in the health status of the region of interest.

Following the exam, the patient may resume his/her normal diet and activities.

How do I Prepare for a CT scan?

If the CT study has been ordered with IV contrast, the patient should be fasting for 4 hours before the exam. Any prescribed medication should be taken as directed.

If the CT is ordered without contrast, the patient does not need to be fasting for this exam. If the patient is on prescribed medication, he/she should take their medicine as directed.

A CT of the abdomen will require oral contrast that must be administered 30 minutes prior to the exam. That contrast will be given to the patient upon their arrival and therefore will be a 30 minute delay prior to the start of the study.

A CT of the pelvis will require oral contrast that must be administered 1 hour prior to the exam. That contrast will be given to the patient upon their arrival and therefore there will be a one hour delay prior to the start of the study.

A CT of the kidneys/stone protocol does not require any contrast. This study can begin immediately upon arrival.

Following the exam, the patient may resume his/her normal diet and activities.