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CT (Computed Tomography)

What is CT?

CT (computed tomography), also called a CAT scan, uses x-ray and computers to produce cross-sectional images of the body.

What are some common uses of CT?

• Locating internal bleeding and organ damage in trauma patients.
• Detecting stroke, and determining whether it is caused by arterial blockage or bleeding into the brain.
• Detecting and staging tumors of various body parts.
• Diagnosis and analysis of fractures and other bone abnormalities, especially if complex.
• Detecting deep abscesses and sources of infection.
• Detecting urinary stone disease.
• Performing non-invasive blood vessel imaging (CT angiography).
• Planning radiation therapy treatment fields.
• Guiding needle biopsies and drainage procedures.

How should I prepare for a CT scan?

• On the day of your exam, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
• Avoid clothing with zippers and snaps as metal objects can affect the image.
• Depending on the part of the body that is being scanned, you may also be asked to remove hair pins, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, or dentures.
• You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for one or more hours before the exam.
• Women should inform their doctor or CT technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.

What can I expect during this procedure?

A CT examination usually takes five minutes to half an hour.

• The technologist positions you on the CT table and pillows are used to help keep you still and in the proper position during the scan. The table will move slowly into the CT scanner opening. Depending on the area of the body being examined, the increments of movement may be very small and almost undetectable, or large enough to feel the motion.
• To enhance the visibility of certain tissues or blood vessels, use of different contrast materials (“x-ray dye”) may be required. Depending on the type of examination, contrast material may be injected through an IV, swallowed or administered by enema. Before administering the contrast material, you should inform the radiologist or technologist of the following:
  • Any allergies, especially prior allergic reactions to radiologic contrast agents.
  • Whether you have a history of diabetes, asthma, kidney problems, heart or thyroid conditions. These conditions may indicate a higher risk of reaction to the contrast material or potential problems eliminating the material from the patient's system after the exam.
• The CT technologist will step out of the CT exam room into an adjacent control room, but will be in constant visual and verbal contact with you during the brief time that the scan is actually being performed.
• To determine if more images are needed, you may be asked to wait until the images are reviewed.

What will I experience during the procedure?

CT scanning is painless. Depending on the type of scan you are having, your preparation may differ. To enhance the visibility of body tissue or blood vessels, use of different contrast materials may be administered by mouth, intravenously, or by rectal enema.

• You may be asked to drink a flavored oral contrast agent, a liquid that allows the radiologist to better see the stomach, small bowel and colon. Some patients find the taste of the contrast material slightly unpleasant, but tolerable.
• For a study of the colon, your exam may require the administration of the contrast material by enema. You may experience a sense of abdominal fullness and the need to have a bowel movement. Any discomfort is generally mild and easily tolerated. The technologist will allow you to use the restroom immediately after such an exam.
• To highlight the difference between normal and abnormal tissue in organs like the liver or kidneys, or to better show blood vessels, contrast is commonly injected into a vein. You might feel:
  • Flushed or have a slight metallic taste in your mouth. These are common responses which disappear in a minute or two.
  • Nausea or queasy stomach is unusual with the newer contrast agents that we use. If it occurs, it is usually very brief.
  • A mild itching sensation. If the itching persists or is accompanied by hives, it can be treated with antihistamine medication, such as Benadryl.
  • In rare cases, you may experience shortness of breath or swelling in the throat or other parts of the body. These can be indications of a more serious reaction to the contrast material.

For more information on this topic, please visit  www.Radiologyinfo.org.

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