|
Pre-Exam
Procedures
|
Abdomen/Pelvis |
Drink 1/2 bottle
of barium 2 hours before exam.
Drink 1/2 bottle of barium 1
hour before exam. No solid food
should be eaten for 4 hours
before the exam. Clear liquids
may be consumed. |
|
Brain/Head with contrast |
No solid foods
for 4 hours before exam. Clear
liquids may be consumed. |
|
Brain/Head without contrast |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Brain/Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis |
Drink 1/2 bottle
of barium 2 hours before exam.
Drink 1/2 bottle of barium 1
hour before exam. No solid food
should be eaten for 4 hours
before the exam. Clear liquids
may be consumed. |
|
Cervical Spine |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Chest/Thorax |
No solid foods
for 4 hours before exam. Clear
liquids may be consumed. |
|
Chest/Abdomen |
Drink 1/2 bottle
of barium 2 hours before exam.
Drink 1/2 bottle of barium 1
hour before exam. No solid food
should be eaten for 4 hours
prior to exam. Clear liquids may
be consumed. |
|
Arms/Legs |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Internal Auditory Canal |
Nothing to eat
or drink for 4 hours prior to
exam. |
|
Kidneys- Renal Stone Exam |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Lumbar Spine |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Neck (soft tissue) |
Nothing to eat
or drink for 4 hours prior to
exam. |
|
Neck/Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis |
Drink 1/2 bottle
of barium 2 hours prior to exam.
Drink 1/2 bottle of barium 1
hour prior to exam. No solid
food should be eaten for 4 hours
prior to the exam. Clear liquids
may be consumed. |
|
Orbits |
Nothing to eat
or drink 4 hours prior to the
exam. |
|
Parotid Gland |
Nothing to eat
or drink 4 hours prior to the
exam. |
|
QCT
Bone Density Test |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Sinuses |
No preparation
is required. |
|
Thoracic Spine |
No preparation
is required. |
|
TMJ
(jaw) |
No preparation
is required. |
| |
|
What is a CT Exam?
A Computed Tomography
(CT) scan uses special advanced x-rays
to gather many images from different
angles of your body. The CT scan works
by utilizing a rotating x-ray device
along with a digital computer to capture
detailed cross-sectional and three
dimensional images of body tissues and
organs. The machine captures these
images in sections that resemble slices
of bread, allowing clinicians to see the
entire surface of a single section.
Combined, all of these sections produce
a 3-dimensional image.
Why do I need
this Exam?
CT scans are helpful
in showing lung, bone, soft tissue, and
blood vessels very clearly, allowing
radiologists to examine your body in
more detail. This can aid in providing
more accurate diagnoses for such health
problems such as cancer, cardiovascular
disease, infection, trauma, and muscle
or bone disorders.
Those patients with
pacemakers, cardioverter, or other
metallic devices can safely undergo a CT
scan, as opposed to an MRI exam.
How long will
the exam take?
Please allow
approximately 30-60 minutes for most CT
scans. Scan times do vary, depending
upon whether an exam is performed with
or without contrast. There may also be
specific clinical concerns the doctor
may have that could affect how long your
exam will take.
What happens
after the exam?
If you have had any
previous x-rays or diagnostic studies
performed at another facility, it is
helpful to bring the films along with
you for your CT scan at our facility. Your exam will be
interpreted by a board-certified
radiologist with many years of training
and professional experience. A report
will be sent to your doctor within 24
hours and he or she will contact you
with the results. Your physician will
review your clinical history in
conjunction with exam results to provide
you with the most accurate diagnosis and
optimal treatment plan.
|
CT Scans