CancerQuest | CT scan: The Exam

Scheduling

When you are scheduling your exam be sure to mention if you:

are breast feeding
are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
have a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
have metal implants of any kind
have any kidney problems
have any heart problems
have had an adverse reaction to contrast dye

Day of the Exam

Take your medications normally
Depending on the type of exam, you may be asked to follow a certain diet
Wear something comfortable, you may be asked to put on a gown
Do not wear any jewelry; watches, chains, rings, piercings, etc.

During the Exam

The exact procedure used for a CT scan will depend on what area of the body is being scanned. You will need to remove anything metal from your body and may be asked to put on a gown. A CT technician will take you to the CT room where you will lay on a table connected to the CT scanner. You will be positioned on the table and the technician will start the scan. As the exam progresses you will slowly move through the scanner. The machine may make noise, this is normal; it is the x-ray unit and the detectors spinning around you. As the x-ray/detector unit spins around you it is capturing images, as many as 192 per second. The scan can last from 10 minutes to up to an hour, if you have trouble staying still or are claustrophobic you may need to be sedated.

In some cases you will be given a contrast material, this is necessary to obtain the best possible image. The contrast material will be given orally or intravenously. See the next page for more details.

After the Exam

You should have no side effects from the exam and should be able to resume your normal daily routine. If you needed a sedative you should arrange for a ride home from the imaging facility. If you had an exam involving contrast media you should drink plenty of water to get rid of any remaining contrast media in your body.