If your clothing cannot be worn during the scan, you can wear a hospital gown. If you need contrast medium for the scan. You may need a contrast medium during the scan. If so, the doctor may ask you to have a blood test that checks your kidney function.
You can have the blood test done any time up to a few weeks before the scan. Personal medical history or concerns. Be ready to talk about these topics with the health care team:. Insurance, costs, and consent. If you are concerned about the cost of your CT scan, find out beforehand what your insurance provider will cover. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay. Once you get to the doctor's office or hospital, the staff will ask you to sign a consent form.
This form states that you understand the benefits and risks of the scan and agree to have it. Depending on which part of your body the scan will focus on, you may receive a contrast medium. If you get it by injection, you may feel heat or itching at the injection site. Or, you may have a metallic taste in your mouth. Both feelings should stop after a few minutes. If you have a more severe reaction, like trouble breathing, tell the technologist right away.
The technologist will help position you on an exam table. The table may have straps, pillows, or a special cradle for your head to hold you in place. You will likely lie on your back, but the technologist may ask you to lie on your side or stomach. This will depend on which part of your body needs to be scanned. Sometimes a CT scan is used to plan for radiation therapy.
In this case, your body position will be very important for the scan. The technologist may use a special device like a mask or a body cast to keep your body still during the scan. The CT scan machine looks like a large donut. The exam table will slide back and forth through the large hole in the center of the machine.
The scanner rotates around you. At first, the table will move through the scanner quickly. This helps the technologist confirm that your body is in the right position. After that, the table will move more slowly. CT scans are not painful. But you will need to lie still for the entire scan, which may become unpleasant. Since the scanner is shaped like a donut, you will not be enclosed in the scanner at any time.
You will hear whirring or clicking sounds from the machine. Some machines are louder than others. During the scan, the technologist will be in a nearby control room. They will be able to see you through a window or a video camera. And, you will be able to talk with them through an intercom system.
The technologist may ask you to hold your breath during part of the scan. That is because the body's movement from breathing can blur the pictures. The technologist may also raise, lower, or tilt the exam table to create the correct angle for the x-rays. Ask them to tell you when the table will move.
Tell your doctor if you're pregnant. Although the radiation from a CT scan is unlikely to injure your baby, your doctor may recommend another type of exam, such as ultrasound or MRI, to avoid exposing your baby to radiation.
At the low doses of radiation used in CT imaging, no negative effects have been observed in humans. In certain cases, your doctor may recommend that you receive a special dye called contrast material. This can be something that you are asked to drink before your CT scan, or something that is given through a vein in your arm or inserted into your rectum.
Although rare, the contrast material can cause medical problems or allergic reactions. Most reactions are mild and result in a rash or itchiness. In rare instances, an allergic reaction can be serious, even life-threatening. Tell your doctor if you've ever had a reaction to contrast material.
A special dye called contrast material is needed for some CT scans to help highlight the areas of your body being examined. The contrast material blocks X-rays and appears white on images, which can help emphasize blood vessels, intestines or other structures. If your infant or toddler is having a CT scan, the doctor may recommend a sedative to keep your child calm and still.
Movement blurs the images and may lead to inaccurate results. Ask your doctor how to prepare your child. You can have a CT scan done in a hospital or an outpatient facility. CT scans are painless and, with newer machines, take only a few minutes. The whole process typically takes about 30 minutes.
CT scanners are shaped like a large doughnut standing on its side. You lie on a narrow, motorized table that slides through the opening into a tunnel. Straps and pillows may be used to help you stay in position. During a head scan, the table may be fitted with a special cradle that holds your head still. While the table moves you into the scanner, detectors and the X-ray tube rotate around you.
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Here's what to expect. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. CT Computed Tomography Scan. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.
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