What Happens After A Ct Of The Brain
If contrast media was used during your brain CT scan, you may bemonitored for a period of time to check for any side effects orreactions to the contrast media. Notify your radiologist or if youexperience itching, swelling, rash or difficulty breathing. If younotice any pain, redness and/or swelling at the IV site after youreturn home following your procedure, you should notify your doctor asthis could indicate an infection or other type of reaction.
Otherwise, there is no special type of care required after a CT of thebrain. Most patients are permitted to resume their usual diet andactivities. Your doctor may provide additional or alternateinstructions after the procedure, depending on your particularsituation.
Large Bore Ct Scanner/radiation Therapy With Simulation
This health-care tool produces detailed images of areas inside the body for planning radiation therapy. It uses simulation, fluoroscopy and respiratory gating to plan and deliver radiation.
Advantages may include:
- Locating abnormalities and guiding precision radiation therapy
- Planning for treatment options based on a patients breathing patterns
- Allowing for varying patient sizes and positioning
- Spending 15 to 30 minutes for the session, including the time it takes to put you in position and set up the equipment
Whats The Difference Between An X
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Doctors commonly use diagnostic imaging techniques to narrow down possible causes of pain or illness for a more accurate diagnosis. There are different types of diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, CT scans and MRI. The type of imaging used depends on the part of the body the doctor wants to see on an image, as well as the type of imaging that is readily available to the patient.
So what is the difference between X-rays, CT scans and MRI?
X-Rays
X-rays are the most common and widely available diagnostic imaging technique. Even if a patient may need a more sophisticated test, they will often receive an X-ray first.
X-rays use radiation to produce images of the body. When the rays pass through the body, dense objectssuch as bonesappear white on the film. X-rays are typically used to view and diagnose bone disease, degeneration, fractures, dislocations, infections and tumors.
Though often used to examine skeletal structures, an X-ray can also be used to look at other internal structures, such as organs. In this case, the patient may given barium sulfate or dye to make the organs stand out more clearly in the X-ray image.
CT Scans
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When Ct Scans Are Used
CT scans can produce detailed images of many structures inside the body, including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones.
They can be used to:
- diagnose conditions including damage to bones, injuries to internal organs, problems with blood flow, stroke, and cancer
- 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 or drain an abscess
- monitor conditions including checking the size of tumours during and after cancer treatment
CT scans wouldn’t normally be used to check for problems if you don’t have any symptoms .
This is because the benefits of screening may not outweigh the risks, particularly if it leads to unnecessary testing and anxiety.
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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Are There Any Risks
CT scans use X-rays, which produce ionizing radiation. Research shows that this kind of radiation may damage your DNA and lead to cancer. But the risk is still very small — your chances of developing a fatal cancer because of a CT scan are about 1 in 2,000.
But radiationâs effect adds up over your lifetime. So your risk increases with every CT scan you get. Talk to your doctor about the procedureâs potential dangers and benefits, and ask why the CT scan is necessary.
Ionizing radiation may be more harmful in children. Thatâs because theyâre still growing. They also have more years to get exposed to radiation. Before the procedure, you may want to ask the doctor or technician if the CT machineâs settings have been adjusted for a child.
Tell your physician if youâre pregnant. If you need imaging for your stomach area, your doctor may recommend an exam that doesnât use radiation, such as an ultrasound.
Can I Have A Ct Scan If I Am Pregnant
Any woman who suspects she may be pregnant should tell her doctor beforehand, because there is a risk that the x-rays could harm the fetus.
Citing the American College of Radiography, the American Pregnancy Association point out that No single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus.
However, the APA notes that CT scans are not recommended for pregnant women, Unless the benefits clearly outweigh the risk.
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Getting Ct Scan Results
CT scans, like other imaging tests, must be interpreted by a doctor. While radiology technicians perform the actual scan, only a radiologist can read scan results to determine if there are abnormalities and what they may be.
CT results are typically available within one to two business days, not including weekends. After imaging, the data collected must be processed by a computer to produce images for a radiologist to examine. Once the radiologist reads the CT and writes their report, it may be immediately available electronically to you or your health care provider.
You probably will not have an immediate diagnosis as soon as the report results are available.
Your health care provider must interpret the CT report by correlating imaging results with clinical findings.
Side Effects And Risks With Ct Scan
As with any medical procedure, you and your doctor must weigh the risks and benefits.
The information your doctors may get from a CT scan may be critical to diagnosing and treating your cancer. Possible risks include:
Radiation. CT scans use low-level ionizing radiation. While its more radiation than emitted from an X-ray, its still low. Still, some concerns have been raised over whether even small doses of radiation from imaging may cause cancer. In most cases, the information obtained from the scan far outweighs the minimal risks of the radiation used. While the chance of CT scans causing cancer is small, several medical societies and government agencies have adopted guidelines and programs aimed at reducing this risk.
Allergic reactions. Though its rare, sometimes people have allergic reactions to the contrast agents. You may experience itching or hives. If you have a serious allergic reaction, where you experience shortness of breath and your throat swells, alert the technologist immediately so that you may be treated promptly.
Kidney function. If your kidneys are impaired in any way, the contrast dye may make it worse. About 2 percent of patients who are given dyes develop contrast induced nephropathy , according to the National Kidney Foundation. CIN may cause fatigue, swelling of the feet and ankles, and dry, itchy skin. CIN also may lead to serious kidney and heart problems.
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What Is A Computed Tomography Scan
The term computed tomography, or CT, refers to a computerized x-ray imaging procedure in which a narrow beam of x-rays is aimed at a patient and quickly rotated around the body, producing signals that are processed by the machines computer to generate cross-sectional images, or slices. These slices are called tomographic images and can give a clinician more detailed information than conventional x-rays. Once a number of successive slices are collected by the machines computer, they can be digitally stacked together to form a three-dimensional image of the patient that allows for easier identification of basic structures as well as possible tumors or abnormalities.
How Is The Procedure Performed
The technologist begins by positioning you on the CT exam table, usually lying flat on your back. They may use straps and pillows to help you maintain the correct position and remain still during the exam.
Many scanners are fast enough to scan children without sedation. In special cases, children who cannot hold still may need sedation. Motion may cause blurring of the images and degrade image quality the same way that it affects photographs.
The exam may use contrast material, depending on the type of exam. If so, it will be swallowed, injected through an intravenous line or, rarely, administered by enema.
Next, the table will move quickly through the scanner to determine the correct starting position for the scans. Then, the table will move slowly through the machine for the actual CT scan. Depending on the type of CT scan, the machine may make several passes.
The technologist may ask you to hold your breath during the scanning. Any motion, including breathing and body movements, can lead to artifacts on the images. This loss of image quality can resemble the blurring seen on a photograph taken of a moving object.
When the exam is complete, the technologist will ask you to wait until they verify that the images are of high enough quality for accurate interpretation by the radiologist.
The CT examination is usually completed within 30 minutes. The portion requiring intravenous contrast injection usually lasts only 10 to 30 seconds.
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How Should I Prepare My Child For The Ct Scan
The most important thing is to tell your child in simple terms why the test is necessary. You can explain that the CT won’t hurt and that the machine does not touch the body. If an IV is needed for the injection of contrast or to provide anesthesia, your child may well feel discomfort from the needle. An option that is available for IV insertion is called a J-tip. A J-tip is used to numb the area before needle insertion. It is a syringe that has no needle but makes a popping sound to numb the area, similar to a can of soda being opened. The staff will give specific instructions when your exam is scheduled, but here are some general guidelines for CT scans without anesthesia:
- Notify the CT staff of any illness your child has, such as cold, cough, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting we may need to reschedule the test.
- Tell us about all allergies or any previous drug reaction that may keep your child from receiving the contrast safely.
- If you have severe kidney disease or are on kidney dialysis, there is a risk of a condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis from the dye. You should discuss this risk with your childâs clinician prior to the test.
- Dress your child in comfortable clothing with no metal snaps, belt buckles, or zippers. In the case of CT scans of the head, metal hair clips and jewelry must be removed.
- If your child will need an intravenous or oral contrast agent, there are no specific dietary restrictions for most patients.
What Does The Ct Equipment Look Like
The CT scanner is typically a large, donut-shaped machine with a short tunnel in the center. You will lie on a narrow table that slides in and out of this short tunnel. Rotating around you, the x-ray tube and electronic x-ray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a gantry. The computer workstation that processes the imaging information is in a separate control room. This is where the technologist operates the scanner and monitors your exam in direct visual contact. The technologist will be able to hear and talk to you using a speaker and microphone.
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The Different Types Of Ct Machines
The CT machine has been called one of the most important advances in radiology since the X-ray. The introduction of CT scanners has helped cut down the need for invasive procedures, allowing detailed glimpses into the body without having to touch a scalpel. Major benefits of the spiral CT include its ability to create 3-D images of areas inside the body detection of small abnormalities and its rapid scan time, which means less time for patients to lie still.
So which type of CT machine is right for your facility?
Which Slice Would You Like?
CT machines can be single or multi-slice. The decision to purchase a multi-slice CT machine involves sensible considerations such as equipment costs, demographics, and whether it fits in with the overall budget. You will also need to decide on the specific number of slices and workflow features you need. Equipment providers like Amber Diagnostics are able to review the capabilities of different machines, and help make informed suggestions based on your needs.
The ideal slice count depends on the types of services or exams you tend to provide, which is also based on the demographics of your target patients.
What Is A Ct Contrast Agent
As with all x-rays, dense structures within the bodysuch as boneare easily imaged, whereas soft tissues vary in their ability to stop x-rays and therefore may be faint or difficult to see. For this reason, contrast agents have been developed that are highly visible in an x-ray or CT scan and are safe to use in patients. Contrast agents contain substances that can stop x-rays and are therefore more visible on an x-ray image. For example, to examine the circulatory system, an intravenous contrast agent based on iodine is injected into the bloodstream to help illuminate blood vessels. This type of test is used to look for possible obstructions in blood vessels, including those in the heart. Oral contrast agents, such as barium-based compounds, are used for imaging the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, and gastrointestinal tract.
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Ct Scans Of The Tummy
If you are having a CT scan of your abdomen, you might need to:
- drink a liquid contrast medium some time before the scan
- drink more of the liquid contrast or water in the x-ray department
- stop eating or drinking after midnight the night before the scan
You usually have the contrast medium by injection and also as a drink. This helps to show up the gut more clearly in the scan.
How Accurate Are Ct Scans
CT scans are generally very accurate at identifying tumors, enlarged lymph nodes, and metastatic cancer. They can also assess the extent of cancer cell invasion into healthy tissue. Studies have shown that CT can be more than 90 percent accurate in identifying lung cancer tumors and 75 percent to 80 percent accurate at identifying lung cancer in lymph nodes.
Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is used to detect potential tumors but can produce false-positive results, meaning they may incorrectly show that a person has a tumor when they dont. As with any screening test, if a doctor finds a potential abnormality in a screening CT, they should follow up with further imaging and other testing, such as biopsy, to confirm a diagnosis.
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Ct Scans And Lung Cancer Treatment
Health care teams use repeated CT scans to assess the effectiveness of a persons treatment, both while theyre being treated and afterward. They also use regular CT scans for long-term follow-up to monitor for signs of recurrence.
CT can also be used during specific lung cancer treatments. Similar to CT-guided needle biopsy, CT-guided ablation uses CT imaging to precisely place a needlelike electrode into small tumors. Radio waves or microwaves are then used to destroy cancer cells using heat. Similarly, CT-guided cryoablation uses cold to precisely kill cancer cells by freezing them.
What Can I Expect After The Ct Scan
You can return to your normal activities as soon as the scan is over. However, if you had a sedative for the scan, you will need someone to accompany you home. You will not be able to drive until the effect of the sedative wears off.
The pictures from the scan are studied by an X-ray doctor who sends a report to the doctor who requested the scan.
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When Is An Mri Really Open
MRI technology evolves and improves constantly. Many closed MRIs are now designed with increased patient-comfort in mind, while open MRIs are developing in terms of more powerful imaging capabilities.
There are three different types of open MRI machines:
- Semi open high field MRI scanners provide a short bore and wide ends. Only the affected body area lies under the magnet.
- Open low field MRI machines have a wide-open design. Patients have an open sided space around allowing a wider range of positions.
- Advanced open MRI scanners combine open design, latest gradient technology and high field strength. Patients can stand or sit upright with no obstruction in front.
Whats The Difference Between An Mri And A Ct
Your doctor says you need a scan and immediately visions of a large machine fill your head. But do you know what youre really in for when you need a CT or an MRI? Its easy to get the two confused, especially if youve never had MRI or CT imaging done before. But from your perspective, lying on the table, there is a big difference!
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