izen imaging mri ct scan usg xray interventions

Your scan results won't usually be available immediately. The contrast is normally completely harmless and will pass out of your body in your urine. If a contrast was used, you may be advised to wait in the hospital for up to an hour to make sure you don't have a reaction to it. You can eat and drink, go to work and drive as normal. You shouldn't experience any after-effects from a CT scan and can usually go home soon afterwards.

The scan will usually take around 10 to 20 minutes. You may be asked to breathe in, breathe out, or hold your breath at certain points. This ensures that the scan images aren't blurred. While each scan is taken, you'll need to lie very still and breathe normally. While the scan is taking place, you'll be able to hear and speak to them through an intercom. The radiographer will operate the scanner from the next room. Unlike an MRI scan, the scanner doesn't surround your whole body at once, so you shouldn't feel claustrophobic. The scanner consists of a ring that rotates around a small section of your body as you pass through it. What happens during a CT scanĬultura Creative (RF) / Alamy Stock Photo *%26restriction%3D%26random%3D%26ispremium%3D1%26flip%3D0%26contributorqt%3D%26plgalleryno%3D%26plpublic%3D0%26viewaspublic%3D0%26isplcurate%3D0%26imageurl%3D%26saveQry%3D%26editorial%3D1%26t%3D0%26edoptin%3Dĭuring the scan, you'll usually lie on your back on a flat bed that passes into the CT scanner. You'll also be asked to remove anything metal, such as jewellery, as metal interferes with the scanning equipment. They can give you advice to help you feel calm and can arrange for you to have a sedative (medication to help you relax) if necessary.īefore the scan starts, you may be asked to remove your clothing and put on a gown. Tell the radiographer if you feel anxious or claustrophobic about having the scan. This may be swallowed in the form of a drink, passed into your bottom (enema), or injected into a blood vessel. Before having a CT scanīefore having the scan, you may be given a special dye called a contrast to help improve the quality of the images.

Try to avoid wearing jewellery and clothes containing metal (such as zips), as these will need to be removed. It's a good idea to wear loose, comfortable clothes as you may be able to wear these during the scan. You should also let the hospital know if you're pregnant. CT scans aren't usually recommended for pregnant women unless it's an emergency, as there's a small chance the X-rays could harm your baby. You should contact the hospital after receiving your appointment letter if you have any allergies or kidney problems, or if you're taking medication for diabetes, as special arrangements may need to be made. You may be advised to avoid eating anything for several hours before your appointment to help make sure clear images are taken. Your appointment letter will mention anything you need to do to prepare for your scan. This is because the benefits of screening may not outweigh the risks, particularly if it leads to unnecessary testing and anxiety. monitor conditions – including checking the size of tumours during and after cancer treatmentĬT scans wouldn't normally be used to check for problems if you don't have any symptoms (known as screening).guide further tests or treatments – for example, CT scans can help determine the location, size and shape of a tumour before having radiotherapy, or allow a doctor to take a needle biopsy (where a small tissue sample is removed using a needle) or drain an abscess.diagnose conditions – including damage to bones, injuries to internal organs, problems with blood flow, stroke, and cancer.When CT scans are usedĬT scans can produce detailed images of many structures inside the body, including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones. They're carried out in hospital by specially trained operators called radiographers, and can be done while you're staying in hospital or during a short visit. A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body.ĬT scans are sometimes referred to as CAT scans or computed tomography scans.

Izen imaging mri ct scan usg xray interventions