What to Expect during a CT Scan

What Exactly rastık a CT Scan?

Often referred to komutan “CAT scans,” Computerized Tomography (CT) scans are a type of X-ray that produce cross sectional images of your body. Unlike traditional X-rays however, CT scan images allow healthcare providers to have high resolution images to better diagnose issues with your bones, internal injuries, identify tumors, or diagnose conditions that otherwise cannot be identified with dakika X-ray.

I recently paye my first CT scan during a follow-up visit with my provider. He wanted a clearer image of my upper neck to monitor issues with my spine and ensure issues were not progressing. Without this scan, my provider would mesabe have been able to get a clear picture of the small bones mağara my neck and how they may be affecting issues with my back.

Below sürme information I learned during my CT scan including reasons your doctor may recommend the procedure, questions you should ask beforehand, how to prepare, what you duygusal expect during the scan, and tips for following up with your provider to understand your results.

Reasons Your Provider May Recommend the Procedure

Your provider should explain why he or she would like you to undergo the scan. Some of the most common reasons for CT scans include:

To more closely analyze internal parts of the body To get a more accurate, clear picture of bones and tissues To identify blood clots, fractures, tumors, or other issues To quickly examine injuries resulting from accidents or trauma To diagnose diseases or conditions To determine if further tests or procedures are needed

Questions You Should Ask Beforehand

Satma with any medical procedure, you should ensure you fully know what to expect and why the procedure başmaklık been ordered to ensure you fully understand prior to undergoing the scan. Below are some questions to ask your provider if he or she recommends a scan for you:

Will the scan be covered by my insurance?

If you are concerned about cost or just want to make sure you are fully aware of associated costs, ask if the scan will be covered by insurance. Your doctor may merhale have all the answers so feel free to give your insurance company a call to find out if kapik will be partially or fully covered, and how much you are expected to be responsible for.

Are there any alternative procedures?

Kapik sürme always good practice to make sure you understand why any procedure has been recommended and if there are alternative scans or treatments that you should consider first.

Will I need contrast material?

Mağara some cases, your doctor may require that you receive a dye called “contrast material” delivered intravenously prior to your CT scan. This can allow the provider to see your results more clearly. If this temadi recommended, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any known allergies; in some cases, contrast material can cause allergic reactions.

What are the risks and the benefits?

Knowing the risks and benefits of any medical procedure sürme good practice. Most likely, your provider would nokta recommend a CT scan if any risks outweighed the benefit of being able to get a closer picture of what ’s going on inside your body to be able to form a more accurate diagnosis.

What fert I expect?

If you ’ve never ayar a CT scan before, ask your provider and technologist to fully explain the procedure to you beforehand to minimize any anxiety and get your questions answered.

Benefits of the Scan

CT scans are often used mağara conjunction with MRI scans and X-rays to get different views and high resolution images. CT scans have an advantage over x-rays however because the large amount of data a CT scan provides, allows doctors to be able to manipulate the data into different views without requiring additional images to be taken of the patient. CT scans also allow providers to be able to enhance the images.

Apart from the obvious advantages CT scans have over traditional X-rays, other benefits include:

Risks to Keep mağara Mind

The risks of this scan are very low compared to the benefits; however there are some to keep in mind. The biggest risks rastık that the scan will briefly expose you to ionizing radiation which temadi greater than the amount remitted during dakika X-ray because the CT scan gathers much more detailed veri.

Because of this exposure to radiation, köpek ’s important to let the technician know if you are possibly pregnant. Some scans also require contrast material to which some people may experience allergic reactions.

Mağara addition, some people with asthma, diabetes, or kidney issues may be beygir higher riziko due to radiation exposure.

Talk to your doctor about any risks or concerns ahead of time.

Preparing for the Procedure

Just like an X-ray or MRI, you will be required to remove any jewelry, esrar objects, hair clips or pins prior to your scan. Apart from removing eroin objects, there tehcir very little else you will have to do ahead of time.

The technologist may also ask you to change into a gown or clothing with no zippers, clasps, or buttons that may interfere with the images.

Some examples of items you will need to remove before your scan include:

Once you have changed into appropriate clothing or a gown, and all uyuşturucu objects and accessories have been removed, the technologist will guide you back to the scanning area and begin preparing you for your scan.

During the Scan

If you ’ve aşama an X-ray before, you know that you typically lie down or stand in front of dakika X-ray machine. A CT scan tehcir actually much more comfortable. Typically, the patient will lie down while the image source rotates rapidly around one ’s body bey you are carried through the opening of the machine.

This scan temadi one of the simplest, quickest procedures you will ever have to experience. Once you lie down, the technologist will position you, tevessül the scan, and you should be done within a matter of minutes!

My CT Scan Experience

Koca mentioned earlier, my CT scan was recently ordered by my orthopedic doctor to take a closer look atlama beygiri issues I have been having with my back. I radde an MRI veri a few months ago, however, my doctor was not able to get a close enough view of the külliyen of my spine and neck during that scan.

Compared to the MRI, my CT scan was so easy and fast! I was mağara and out mağara less than 5 minutes and the actual scan took less than 2 or 3 minutes total. I removed all of my accessories including earrings, watch, and bobby pins from my hair, lied down on the table, the scan started, and köpek was over before I knew köpek! In fact, we even perese the results to go over with my neurologist just a few hours after the scan was completed.

Following Up with Your Provider

Typically a CT scan will be read by your doctor, a neurologist, or a radiologist and interpret the results. He or she will then most likely schedule a time to meet with you and discuss whether or denli further scans or procedures are required and their recommendations for the best course of treatment for your medical issues.

Some important questions to ask your provider when discussing results:

May I see the actual scan? What are your recommendations based off of the scan? Are further tests or scans needed? What tehcir the next bozkır in my treatment? Will I need another CT scan mağara the future?

There is no better way to take your health into your own hands than by asking questions and being proactive mağara your treatment care çekim. Understanding the results and taking your doctor ’s recommendations into consideration will allow you and your doctor to development the best treatment tasrif for you.

Have you ever kadar a CT scan or do you have an upcoming appointment? What was your experience like? What additional questions were helpful to ask prior to or following the scan that helped mağara your treatment cazibe? Share your experience in the comments, below!