What To Expect Before Your CT Scan: St. Elizabeth's Medical Center | Steward Family Hospital (2024)

FAQs

What should you not do before a CT scan? ›

For four hours prior to your exam, please do not eat solid foods. You may drink fluids such as water, juice, or black decaffeinated coffee or tea. Some CT scan exams, particularly abdominal CT scans, may require that you drink water or an oral contrast so we may better visualize structures within the abdominal area.

What should I expect during my CT scan? During the test, you'll usually lie on your back on a table (like a bed). If your test requires it, a healthcare provider may inject the contrast dye intravenously (into your vein). This dye can make you feel flushed or give you a metallic taste in your mouth.

Intravenous preparation: Many patients receive a contrast agent intravenously (IV) during their CT test. If your doctor or the radiologist has determined that this procedure will enhance your CT scan results, the technologist will place an IV in your arm or hand prior to going into the test.

EAT/DRINK: If your doctor ordered a CT scan without contrast, you can eat, drink and take your prescribed medications prior to your exam. If your doctor ordered a CT scan with contrast, do not eat anything three hours prior to your CT scan. You are encouraged to drink clear liquids.

Metal objects including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins may affect the CT images and should be left at home or removed prior to your exam. You may also be asked to remove hearing aids and removable dental work.

You will need to take off all or most of your clothes, depending on which area is studied. You may be able to wear your underwear for some scans. You will be given a gown to use during the test. During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine.

If you have symptoms that indicate something may be wrong with any of the organs or tissue inside your abdomen, your doctor may order a computed tomography (CT) scan. Abdominal CT scans typically take less than 30 minutes to complete, which makes them faster than MRI scans.

Before your Scan

You are encouraged to drink clear fluids, such as 600-750mls of water one hour before the appointment time. Although it is not essential to hold the fluid in your bladder, it is preferable if you are able to hold off going to the toilet to empty your bladder (urine) until the scan is complete.

It usually takes between 1 and 2 weeks for you to get your CT scan results. The images need to be looked at by a specialist called a radiologist. The radiologist will write to the doctor who referred you for the scan. You may need a follow-up appointment to talk about your CT scan results.

Depending on which part of your body is being scanned, you may be asked to: Take off some or all your clothing and wear a hospital gown. Remove metal objects, such as belts, jewelry, dentures and eyeglasses, that might affect image results. Not eat or drink for a few hours before your scan.

Can you wear deodorant for a CT scan? ›

Do your best to not wear any creams, lotions, or powders to your scan. Some of these items can contain microscopic bits of metal that will react badly inside the CT scanner. Try to avoid wearing deodorant, mascara, any makeup or cosmetics, nail polish, or heavy creams to your scan.

Wearing a bra during a chest CT scan can significantly reduce dose to radiosensitive tissues by holding breast tissue within the lower-dose region created by tube-current modulation techniques, concludes a new study in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Fasting prior to contrast-enhanced CT has traditionally been considered necessary due to concerns of nausea and vomiting, which are common acute adverse reactions (AARs).

Is a CT scan the same as a CAT scan? A CT scan is the same as a CAT scan. CT stands for "computed tomography" and CAT stands for "computed axial tomography". Both terms describe the same imaging test.

It is rare to have an allergic reaction or medical problems with CT scan contrast. Most reactions are mild and cause itchiness or a rash. In rare situations, the contrast could potentially cause a serious and life-threatening reaction. Let your doctor know if you've had reactions to contrast in the past.

If a person exercises before having a PET/CT scan, more FDG appears in the heart region, obscuring the view. The researchers found that the same thing happens with caffeine: The heart beats faster when you drink coffee, just as it does when you exercise.

Most clinical guidelines recommend holding renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEI], angiotensin receptor blockers [ARB], and mineralocorticoid antagonists), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretic, and metformin in patients with diabetes, kidney diseases ...

Usually, you have to drink a certain amount of water before you arrive for your CT scan. This is so your bladder can get bigger and be seen more clearly on the pictures. You have an injection of contrast medium for this test. This is a type of dye that shows up body tissues more clearly on the scan.