A CT scan may or may not use iodinated contrast. Side effects such as allergic reactions are rare. During the injection of the contrast medium you will feel warm. CT images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels typically provide greater detail than traditional x-rays, particularly of soft tissues and blood vessels.
If you have kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus, please inform us when you make your appointment, as we need some laboratory parameters in these cases. If you have an iodinated contrast allergy or problems with your kidneys, be sure to tell the ordering doctor or the CT technologist before your exam begins.
Preparation prior to procedure.
Patients should not eat or drink anything for four hours prior to the exam.
If you have a known contrast allergy, please contact your physician or the imaging location where you are having your exam as soon as possible.
Pregnancy: A CT scan should be avoided for pregnant women and should only be performed in urgent emergencies.
Post-exam instructions.
You can resume normal activities right away. If you were given intravenous contrast, it will pass naturally through your body within several hours.
Results turn-around time.
A radiologist will interpret your exam and the transcribed report will be available to the ordering physician within 48 hours.
Special CT examinations.
In addition to CT examinations of all body regions, we offer you the following special CT examinations:
Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a heart imaging test to help determine if plaque buildup has reduced the lumen of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart. Unlike traditional coronary angiograms, CT angiograms don’t use a catheter threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. Patients undergoing a CCTA scan receive contrast material as an intravenous injection to depict the lumen of the coronary arteries and help guide further management to minimize the risk of heart attack. The cross-sectional images generated during a CT scan can be reformatted in multiple planes, and can even be used to generate three-dimensional images.
