What Does Cat Scan Show

Obtaining Images When Mri Is Not An Option

MRI and CAT scans are somewhat similar, but there are situations where an MRI is not appropriate, while a CAT scan remains a suitable option. MRI scans can take a significant amount of time to complete. If you have a condition or injury that prevents you from lying still for that time frame, a CT scan can produce a more accurate image in a shorter time.

Those who have medical implants of any kind are ineligible for MRIs and should undergo CT scans instead.

What Is A Ct Scan Of The Chest

CT scan is a type of imaging test. It uses X-ray and computer technology tomake detailed pictures of the organs and structures inside your chest.These images are more detailed than regular X-rays. They can give moreinformation about injuries or diseases of the chest organs.

In a CT scan, an X-ray beam moves in a circle around your body. It takesmany images, called slices, of the lungs and inside the chest. A computerprocesses these images and displays it on a monitor.

During the test, you may receive a contrast dye. This will make parts ofyour body show up better in the image.

Before Having A Ct Scan

Before having the scan, you may be given a special dye called a contrast to help improve the quality of the images.

This may be swallowed in the form of a drink, passed into your bottom , or injected into a blood vessel.

Tell the radiographer if you feel anxious or claustrophobic about having the scan.

They can give you advice to help you feel calm and can arrange for you to have a sedative if necessary.

Before the scan starts, you may be asked to remove your clothing and put on a gown.

You’ll also be asked to remove anything metal, such as jewellery, as metal interferes with the scanning equipment.

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What Are Some Disadvantages Of Each Imaging Method

Because CTs use ionizing radiation, they could damage DNA and may very slightly raise the risk of developing cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that the extra risk of any one person developing a fatal cancer from a typical CT procedure is about 1 in 2,000. MRIs do not use ionizing radiation, so there is no issue of raising cancer risk. But they take much longer to complete than CTs. MRIs require the person to lie still within a closed space for about 20 to 40 minutes. This can affect some people with claustrophobia, and the procedure is noisy, which is why we provide ear protection.

Both CT and MRI commonly require the injection of a contrast dye before or during the procedure. This helps the radiologist see organs and other tissues within the body more clearly.

What Happened After The Scan

An expert will examine images in the field of radiology. The doctor who requested the test will get an official report from the radiologist.

It is possible that you may require a follow-up examination. If this is the case, your physician will explain why. A follow-up test provides further information about a suspected problem in certain cases. It may also check to determine whether a problem has changed over timethe easiest approach to determine whether therapy is effective or the problem is to schedule follow-up tests.

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To Evaluate The Severity Of An Injury

You may need a CT scan if you just had an accident or a serious injury. For example, if you were in a car accident, your doctors may do a CT scan to learn more about your injuries. That allows them to choose the right surgeries or treatments that can keep you alive.

CT scans are much faster than MRIs. That is why they are more commonly used in emergencies. Also, other imaging procedures like X-rays cannot always detect internal injuries like internal bleeding.

Why Might I Need A Ct Scan Of The Chest

A CT scan of the chest may be done to check the chest and its organs for:

• Tumors and other lesions

• Unexplained chest pain

A CT scan may be done when another type of exam, such as an X-ray orphysical exam, is not conclusive.

This test may also be used to guide needles during biopsies of thoracicorgans or tumors. A biopsy is when a small piece of tissue is removed so itcan be examined in the lab. CT scans can also be done to help remove asample of fluid from the chest. They are useful in keeping an eye on tumorsand other conditions of the chest before and after treatment.

There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend a CTscan of the chest.

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Preparation For A Ct Scan

Some CT scans need special preparation beforehand.

For most scans, you have a drink or an injection of contrast medium, or both. This is a dye that shows up body tissues more clearly on the scan. You have the injection through a small thin tube into your arm. The cannula stays in place until after your scan. This is in case you have any problems such as an allergic reaction after having the injection.

Who Interprets The Results And How Do I Get Them

A radiologist, a doctor specially trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images. The radiologist will send an official report to the doctor who ordered the exam.

You may need a follow-up exam. If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam further evaluates a potential issue with more views or a special imaging technique. It may also see if there has been any change in an issue over time. Follow-up exams are often the best way to see if treatment is working or if a problem needs attention.

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You Have Abdominal Issues

A CT scan offers a clear view of your digestive and reproductive organs. That can help your doctor diagnose problems related to abdominal issues such as kidney stones, tumors, or intestinal blockage. Infections and bowel diseases, including Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, and pancreatitis represent other serious conditions that can be diagnosed with a CT scan.

You may need a CT scan if you have one or more stomach symptoms, and your doctor is having a difficult time diagnosing your condition. This one procedure can replace several other tests needed to diagnose a specific problem.

CT scans also screen for colon cancer. Doctors who can do a virtual colonoscopy usually use a CT scan to look for signs of colon disease and colon cancer.

The CDC recommends that adults between the ages of 45 and 75 be checked regularly for colon cancer. Therefore, you may need a CT scan if you are an older adult or meet the risk factors of colon cancer.

How Do Doctors Decide Which Imaging A Person Should Receive

We usually use CT first for most people, unless a tumor is much better seen on MRI. But we go back and forth as needed. If we see something on a CT scan were unsure about, we may recommend an MRI for further evaluation. If someone has several MRIs and is unable to lie still or hold their breath so we can get a good image, we may suggest a CT as an alternative. Were guided by the principle of whether the benefits of a test outweigh its risks. Thats what medical imaging is about.

• CT scans take a fast series of X-ray pictures, which are put together to create images of the area that was scanned.
• An MRI uses strong magnetic fields to take pictures of the inside of the body.
• CT scans are usually the first choice for imaging. MRIs are useful for certain diseases that a CT scan cannot detect.
• Doctors use these imaging tests only when the benefits outweigh the risks.

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Ct Scans And Mris: Whats The Difference

CT scans generate detailed images of a wide range of structures within the body, including internal organs, blood vessels, and bones. They are frequently used to diagnose conditions such as osteoporosis, injuries to internal organs, stroke-related blood flow issues, and cancer. Magnetic Resonance imaging, or MRI, uses powerful magnets to produce images of the inside of the body. CT scans are typically the first to be performed. A CT scan is unable to detect a variety of diseases that can be detected using MRIs. A CT scan is performed in which you lie in a tunnel-like machine while the inside of the machine rotates and produces a series of X-rays in various angles. A computer takes these photos and combines them to create images of slices, or cross-sections, of the body. CT scans have been shown to be painless, quick, and simple to perform. By using a multidetector CT, a patient can reduce the amount of time required to remain still. Despite the fact that the scan is painless, you may experience some discomfort, such as remaining still for a few minutes or having an IV inserted.

How Is A Ct Scan Performed

A patient lies on a table that slides into the CT scanner, where an X-ray tube rotates around the patient. A technologist may inject a contrast material, usually an iodine contrast dye, into a vein in the arm for even more detailed CT images. Many abdominal and pelvic exams also require drinking a liquid to opacify the GI tract. This painless outpatient procedure typically takes about 10 minutes.

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Why Do I Need A Ct Scan

You might have a CT scan:

• to diagnose a range of conditions including cancer
• to help work out where the cancer is, how close it is to nearby organs and how big it is – this can help your doctors decide about whether you need further tests or what treatment you need
• to check how well treatment is working
• as part of your follow up after treatment

Imaging Expertise In Palm Beach County Florida

If your doctor orders any type of scan to diagnose you for a possible condition, Independent Imaging can provide you with a variety of professional imaging services. Our highly qualified staff includes board-certified and fellowship-trained radiologists who use the latest advanced technology.

To schedule an appointment, just request an appointment online or call us at 795-5558 today.

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What Are The Advantages Of Mri

Where MRI really excels is showing certain diseases that a CT scan cannot detect. Some cancers, such as prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and certain liver cancers, are pretty much invisible or very hard to detect on a CT scan. Metastases to the bone and brain also show up better on an MRI. This imaging is also used for many purposes unrelated to cancer, including injuries to soft tissue or joints, and injury or disease of internal organs including the brain, heart, and digestive organs.

Risks Of An Abdominal Ct Scan

An abdominal CT is a relatively safe procedure, but there are risks. This is especially true for children, who are more sensitive to radiation exposure than adults. Your childs doctor may order a CT scan only as a last resort, and only if other tests cannot confirm a diagnosis.

Risks of an abdominal CT scan include the following:

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What Is Cat Scan

CT scan is a non-invasive exam that combines the principles of x-ray with advanced computer technology to produce precise cross-sectional views of the internal organs and structures of the body. A 360 degree x-ray beam and computer production of images are used to create slices of the body and create a more three-dimensional picture than a traditional x-ray. CT scan is more comprehensive and detailed than conventional x-ray as it enables the body to be viewed slice by slice, from all angles rather than as a snapshot or photograph. A CT scan is used to define normal and abnormal structures in the body and/or assist in procedures by helping to accurately guide the placement of instruments and treatments. Since CT provides detailed information in a short period of time, it is often the imaging modality of choice in emergency situations.

Diagnosing Spinal Issues And Chronic Pain

Chronic back pain or an injury to the spine are among the most common reasons to have a CT scan. A doctor may also order a spinal CT scan to:

• Evaluate spinal fractures.
• Assess the condition of the spine before and after surgical procedures.
• Diagnose the source of spinal pain from conditions such as herniated disks.
• Measure bone density to predict the likelihood of fractures in those with significant osteoporosis risk.
• Evaluate congenital anomalies or diagnose scoliosis.

CAT scans are also useful in combination with magnetic resonance imaging scans for patients with narrowing of the spinal canal, infections or arthritis.

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Why The Test Is Performed

An abdominal CT scan makes detailed pictures of the structures inside your belly very quickly.

This test may be used to look for:

• Cause of blood in the urine
• Cause of abdominal pain or swelling
• Cause of abnormal blood test results such as liver or kidney problems
• Masses and tumors, including cancer
• Infections or injury

• Spread of cancers that began outside the belly

The abdominal CT scan may show problems with the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, including:

The abdominal CT scan may reveal the following kidney problems:

• Blockage of the kidneys

How Much Does A Ct Scan Cost

A dog CT scan costs around $1000, but remember, you may need to factor in the cost of additional treatment such as anesthesia and consultation fees.

On average, the cost in the UK for a CT scan is £780, but costs can range from £650 to £1000 inclusive of additional treatments.

Where CT scans are useful in detecting and monitoring tumors and orthopedic conditions, MRI scans are better suited for neurological conditions where CT scans would not be helpful.

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What Are The Risks Of A Ct Scan Of The Brain

You may want to ask your doctor about the amount of radiation usedduring the brain CT procedure and the risks related to your particularsituation. You should keep a record of your past history of radiationexposure, such as previous CT scans and other types of X-rays, so thatyou can inform your doctor. Risks associated with radiation exposuremay be related to the cumulative number of X-ray examinations and/ortreatments over a long period of time.

To safeguard your health, consider the following precautions beforescheduling a brain CT:

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition.Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to theprocedure.

Why Did My Doctor Request A Head Ct Scan

CT scans of the head can help your doctor identify or rule out potential health problems. Symptoms that may lead your doctor to order one include:

• Abnormal behavior

• Brain infections

Often times, a doctor will order a head CT scan after a head injury, such as a concussion or if you experience a car accident.

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Can Ct Scans Be Taken As A Proactive Health Concern

There have been no proven benefits for healthy people to have a scan. Although it may seem like a good idea to have a scan for finding unsuspected disease, as a means of preventive action or finding problems to begin treatment sooner, there is no scientific evidence that a scan will be beneficial. In many situations, a CT scan when used for proactive concerns, may show an inaccurate finding and/or may miss some conditions. A CT is generally used to provide a clearer picture of an identified or suspected issue.

Keep in mind that a CT scan is often described as a cross-section or a slice, but there is no cutting involved the term is used to describe the group of sections being targeted for the picture. Its important to alert your doctor if you have any allergies or have a sensitivity to seafood, iodine, or contrast dyes and be sure to let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding or if you may be pregnant.

You Have A Tumor That Doctors Are Performing Surgery On

CT scans are often utilized to help guide surgeons as they perform things like biopsies. Because they allow the doctor to confirm the presence of a tumor while detailing and measuring its size and exact location,CT scans are very useful in helping surgeons. CT scans can also help doctors determine to what extent the tumor has become involved with surrounding tissue.

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What A Ct Scan Of The Head And Brain Shows

CT scans, short for computed tomography, are common imaging tests doctors use to diagnose certain medical conditions. There are a variety of conditions CT imaging can identify, and if your doctor orders a head or brain CT scan, you probably have questions about the procedure and what to expect from it.

What Is A Ct Scan With Contrast

CT scans can provide detailed images of bones, tissues, and even blood vessels inside your body.

However, the images that are produced by these scans appear in shades of blacks and grays. It can be difficult at times even for a trained eye to differentiate one tissue type from another in certain situations.

Contrast dyes contain barium or iodine and can be given in a number of ways, including orally and intravenously . These dyes increase the contrast level and resolution of the final images produced with the CT scan for a more exact diagnosis.

However, there are a few risks associated with using contrast dyes. For example, theres a higher chance of allergic reactions to the dyes, and theyre also not good for your kidneys.

Still, every CT scan exposes you to a certain level of radiation, and a CT scan with contrast may produce better results than one without. It may also prevent the need for a repeated scan.

Below is a comparison of when CT scans may be used with or without a contrast dye.

A CT scan has many uses, but its particularly well-suited for diagnosing diseases and evaluating injuries. The imaging technique can help your doctor:

The test is minimally invasive and can be conducted quickly.

A CT scan is painless, but it does take a few steps to get successful images.

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