A Guide To Your CT Exam

What Is CT?

Computerized Tomography (CT) allows doctors to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions earlier and faster than ever before. It often is a safe and painless alternative to exploratory surgery and other diagnostic procedures, saving you discomfort and inconvenience.

CT combines X-ray equipment with computer technology to allow your physician to see your organs and tissues. It differs from regular X-rays in that it creates images of thin cross sections or planes of your body, and it is able to detect some conditions that regular X-rays cannot.

As with any X-ray procedure, radiation is a risk. However, CT scans are designed to obtain the most information with the least possible radiation exposure.

What Can I Expect?

A typical CT exam usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour. The length of your exam will depend on the type of exam your doctor has ordered.

Before your exam begins, the technologist will help you on to the scanning table. Once you are comfortable, the technologist will move you into the scanner and your exam will begin.

It's important that you remain as still as possible throughout the exam, since even slight movement blurs the results. You won't feel a thing, but you will hear the sound of the scanner working. If you have questions or need assistance at any time, you can communicate with the technologist through an audio system installed in the scanner.

During the exam, an X-ray tube will rotate around you, passing a narrow beam of X-ray from several different angles through the area to be examined. The table will move slightly after each view is taken. Detectors, located opposite the X-ray tube, receive data from inside your body. A computer will analyze the data and create an image. The images can be viewed on a monitor and also will be transferred to X-ray film to become a permanent record.

When the exam is complete, the technologist will help you off the table.

Will I Need An Injection?

Your physician might order an injection of an iodine contrast into a vein in your arm. If you have a history of allergies, especially to iodine, please mention it to your physician or the technologist when you arrive. It is common for the iodine contrast to cause a temporary flush, wave of nausea, or a metallic taste in the mouth. Please report these or any other symptoms to the technologist.

What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor?

When your doctor refers you for a CT exam, make sure all of your questions or concerns have been addressed. Issues you should discuss include:

• If you might be pregnant.
• If you are diabetic.
• Any medications you are taking.
• Any dietary constraints that could interfere with the procedure.
• Any allergies, especially to iodine.

If you have any questions or comments about your scan at any time, please talk to your physician or inform the CT staff. We want to make you as comfortable with the exam as possible.

How Do I Prepare?

• Plan to arrive 20 minutes before your exam to provide medical and insurance information.
• Wear comfortable clothing that does not contain any metal (zippers, for example), since metal interferes with the scan. You may be asked to change into a gown, depending on the type of examination.
• Leave valuables at home when at all possible.
• Limit the amount of fluids you drink on the day of the exam and visit the restroom shortly before the exam.

What Do I Need To Tell My Healthcare Provider?

• If you are pregnant, or suspect you might be, tell your doctor immediately
• Make sure your doctor is aware of any medications you are taking
• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take your medications as usual but with minimal water. If you are taking pain medication, do so 30 minutes before the exam.
• If you have had barium studies of your stomach or colon within 48 hours of your CT scan, please tell your physician ahead of time or inform the technologist when you arrive.

Information For Specific Scans

The following information is intended as a general guideline. More specific information will be provided to you when necessary.

Chest Scan

• Do not eat or drink for four hours before your scan time.
• You may be asked to remove undergarments as metal will interfere with the scan.
• You might be asked to swallow some barium to outline your esophagus.
• You will be asked to place your arms over your head and hold your breath for approximately five seconds several times during the scan.

Abdomen and Pelvis Scan

• Do not eat or drink anything (besides medications) for four hours before your scan time.
• You will usually be required to drink a barium substance to outline the digestive system before the scan. The hospital or clinic personnel will provide the barium and instructions.
• You will be asked to place your arms over your head and hold your breath for approximately five seconds several times during the scan.

Head Scan

• Do not eat or drink for four hours before your scan time.
• The technologist will secure your head in the head cradle with a strap.

Spine Scan

• It is not necessary to fast before a spine scan.
• You might be asked to place your arms over your head or on your chest.

How Do I Get The Results?

A radiologist will interpret your films and send a report to your doctor, who will inform you of the results.

Patient Rights

As a patient you have the right to:

• Considerate and respectful care
• Obtain from your physician complete current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms you can understand
• Receive from your physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment
• Refuse treatment
• Appropriate assessment and management of pain
• Every consideration of your privacy concerning your own medical care program
• Expect that all communications and records pertaining to your care are treated as confidential
• Safe and secure treatment within our facilities
• Obtain information as to any relationship of this facility with any other healthcare and educational institution insofar as your care is concerned
• Expect reasonable continuity of care
• Examine and receive an explanation of your bill regardless of the source of payment
• Expect a speedy response and resolution to any complaints
• Know that the rules and regulations of the healthcare facility apply to your conduct as a patient in the DMS Imaging scanning facilities

Patient Responsibilities

• Providing information. The patient is responsible for providing, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health. The patient and family are responsible for reporting unexpected changes in the patient's condition. The patient and family help the organization improve its understanding of the patient's environment by providing feedback about service needs and experiences.
• Asking questions. The patient is responsible for asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about their care or what they are expected to do.
• Following instructions. The patient and family are responsible for following the care, service, or treatment plan developed. They should express any concerns they have about their ability to follow and comply with the proposed care plan or course of treatment. Every effort is made to adapt the plan to the patient's specific needs and limitations. When such adaptations to the treatment plan are not recommended, the patient and family are responsible for understanding the consequences of the treatment alternatives and not following the proposed course.
• Accepting consequences. The patient and family are responsible for following the organization's rules and regulations concerning patient care and conduct.
• Showing respect and consideration. Patients and families are responsible for being considerate of the organization's personnel and property.
• Meeting financial commitments. The patient and family are responsible for promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the organization.