Procedure and contraindications for CT

Procedure for a CT exam

What do I need to consider?

Please remember your referral slip, and bring any previous diagnoses and images with you, if possible. Bring current blood test results, particularly kidney function (creatinine) and thyroid (TSH).

During the exam, patients typically lie on their back on a narrow pallet, which moves slowly through the ring-shaped opening of the machine. This is about 70 cm wide and the machine is more like a ring than a “tube”, so you will not feel confined and need not experience any claustrophobia. During the exam, you can speak with the physician or radiology assistant at any time via intercom.

The exam itself is completely painless and takes between 1 and 5 minutes, depending on complexity. You should remain as relaxed and calm as possible during the exam. An automated voice may give you specific instructions for breathing. Please follow them, as each breath can cause the internal organs to look different.

Preparation for the examination

Exams of the head (skull and brain), the intervertebral discs, and parts of the skeleton do not require any special preparation. About 45 minutes before an exam of the abdomen and pelvis, a solution of 0.5 l water and 10-20 ml of a contrast agent containing iodine is mixed and given to the patient to drink in order to be able to delineate the gastrointestinal tract. In many cases, the exam requires “fasting,” that is, no eating, drinking, or smoking within the last three hours before the exam.

Contrast agent in CT

For many CT exam, a contrast agent must be administered. Contrast agents help to show blood vessels, tumors with profuse blood supply, or infections more clearly. They are injected into a vein in the arm and produce images that are easier to evaluate. For exams of the abdomen, it is also possible that you will need to drink a contrast agent. As a rule, all contrast agents are well tolerated and are eliminated by the kidneys within a short time. A few people have an allergic reaction to contrast agents containing iodine. For this reason, you will need to complete a questionnaire prior to exams that use contrast agents in order to identify potential problems prior to the exam.

If you are diabetic and take pills for this condition (such as Metformin), then you will need to stop taking them two days before the exam and may start taking them again one day after the exam. Insulin injections do not interfere with the exam.

Procedure and contraindications for CT

What do I need to consider?

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