Imaging tests are important diagnostic tools that help doctors visualize internal structures and organs. CT scans are high-end imaging tests that can provide detailed information to detect diseases and injuries.
CT scans West New York, offer precise and quick results that benefit doctors in diagnosing medical conditions and designing an appropriate treatment plan.
An insight into CT scans
A CT (computed tomography) scan is also known as a CAT (computed axial tomography) scan. It is a diagnostic imaging test that uses a combination of X-rays and digital technology to create cross-sectional images of the internal structures of your body. It shows accurate details about your bones, muscles, fat, organs, and blood vessels.
The CT machines consist of electronic X-ray detectors which measure the quantity of radiation absorbed by your body from the X-ray beam. Magnetic Imaging’s state-of-the-art CT scanners use multiple detectors to produce thin slices and provide more detail than standard CT machines.
Some CT scans also use contrast materials injected into your body to visualize areas of interest.
Indications of CT scans
Your doctor may recommend a CT scan to help:
- Detect internal injury caused due to incidents such as automobile accidents, and identify the presence of any internal bleeding
- Find the cause of any acute medical condition such as breathing difficulty or severe chest pain
- Diagnose muscle and bone disorders such as fractures, or tears
- Encounter and monitor diseases and conditions like cancer, heart disease, lung nodules, and liver masses
- Locate the exact tumor location, size, and how far it has spread
- Guide doctors to perform procedures such as surgery, biopsy, and radiation therapy
- Pinpoint the exact location of any pathology in the body such as blood clots
- Monitor the effectiveness of certain treatments like cancer therapy
- Diagnose diseases affecting your vascular system including aneurysms and embolisms
The procedure behind CT scans
Preparation
- You will be advised to fast for 3 to 4 hours before a CT scan
- If you require a CT scan with contrast, an IV (intravenous) line will be placed in your vein to inject the contrast. Sometimes you may be given an oral solution instead of an IV infusion.
- If it is a CT scan of your abdomen you will be advised to drink barium solution 2 hours before the scan
Procedure
- You will be made to lie on a bed that moves into a doughnut-shaped ring or scanner.
- You must stay still since any movement can blur the images.
- As you move inside, the machine scans your body to capture several images.
- The process usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes.
CT scans are excellent diagnostic imaging tests that are painless with very little risk, and help doctors detect a wide range of health conditions.
