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Q: Do I have to go into that "tunnel"?
A: The tunnel or gantry is the opening in the CT scanner. The gantry is more like a donut than a tunnel. It is 30 inches in diameter and is open in the front and back. Since the gantry contains the x-ray tube and detector which create the CT pictures, the part of your body being scanned must pass through it. For example if your head or neck is being evaluated, then your head and neck will pass through the gantry for the few minutes it takes to scan you. If the scan is of your abdomen, then only your lower chest down will pass through the gantry.
Q: Is CT an x-ray?
A: Yes. A CT scan is made up of a series of x-rays which are processed by a computer to produce cross-sectional pictures of the body. These cross-sectional images allow one to look at the inside of the body just as one would look at the inside of a loaf of bread by slicing it. A CT scan is thus made up of a series of slices.
Q: Why do I need an injection?
A: For some CT scans, dye or contrast is injected into a vein. This contrast can help distinguish normal tissues from abnormal tissues. It also helps to distinguish blood vessels from other structures such as lymph nodes.
Q: Why do I have to drink so much of this "stuff"?
A: Prior to most CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis, it is important to drink an oral contrast agent which contains dilute barium. This contrast agent helps the radiologist identify the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small and large bowel), detect abnormalities of these organs, and to separate these structures from other structures within the abdomen. We ask patients to drink slightly less than a quart spread out over one and a half to two hours.
Q: I've heard that the dye injection is dangerous. Is that true?
A: Like any medication, people can have a bad reaction to the x-ray dye or contrast. At RIMI we use the safest available contrast agent. Also, we screen all patients prior to the test to see if they may be at increased risk for a reaction. Patients at increased risk may require special pre-treatment and should have the test in a hospital setting. Anyone who has had a prior contrast reaction or severe allergic reaction to other medications, has asthma or emphysema, or has severe cardiac disease is at increased risk for a contrast reaction and is referred to a hospital x-ray department for the exam.
Q: How and when will I get the results of the exam?
A: Your doctor should receive a written report in 2 to 3 business days. If requested by your physician, a report can be called to him/her the day of the exam. You can get the results from your doctor.
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