Are you recommended a CT scan test by your doctor? If yes, then feeling a little intimidated is normal. However, there is nothing to worry about. The CT scan or Computed Tomography scan comprises computers and rotating X-ray machines. CT scan creates the cross-sectional image of the desired internal part of the body with the help of a scanning machine. It shows the most accurate images of muscles, bones, and tissues. CT scan helps in the diagnosis of symptoms as well as assessing the progress of the treatment.
Keep reading to get the most in-depth information related to CT scans in Delhi.
CT scan: What it is
CT scan is an imaging procedure that provides much more details than a usual x-ray. It is effective to diagnose internal injuries. Doctors opt for CT scans in order to get a clearer picture of several diseases. It helps doctors to come up with an effective medical, surgical, or radiation treatment plan.
During the procedure of the CT scan, your body is scanned in a detailed manner to figure out the disorder behind your symptoms. It is also the most effective, painless as well as time-effective procedure.
Why one needs a CT scan
We all hear the word CT scan however many of us aren’t aware of the actual reason why we need to get it done. Doctors prescribe a CT scan to get a clear picture of the functioning of our body from the inside. The treatment of various life-threatening diseases including cancer, brain tumor, and cardiovascular diseases, is based on reports of CT scans. Apart from that, other scenarios where your physician may recommend you to get a CT scan are:
- Diagnose bone or muscle for issues such as fractures or cancer.
- Finding the clear location of the tumor.
- Guide surgeries, biopsy, radiation therapy, etc.
- Find out internal injuries.
- Know the effectiveness of the treatment by comparing the report of different times.
CT scan and X-ray both take pictures of the internal organs however in X-ray, the structures overlap each other. For instance, in an X-ray, the ribs may overlap the lungs as well as the heart.
Contrastingly, a CT scan provides images of the desired body part without any overlap. Due to that CT scan can even capture internal injuries, blood clots, skull fractures, infections, and tumors perfectly.
The Procedure of CT scan: a detailed overview
- To begin with, the doctors give the patients a dose of contrast material. It is meant to help the internal structures to show up clearly in the images captured by the scan. However, the CT scan could also be done without the contract depending on the case.
- The patient will be asked to remove all accessories and metallic items from their body before the scan. They also need to change into the gown provided by the hospital or diagnostic center. After that, the radiologist will ask you to lie down as still as possible on a table that slides into the doughnut-like machine.
- You don’t need to be frightened because the doctors will continuously monitor you, they can see and hear you when you are inside the machine.
- You will also hear the clicking, buzzing, and whirring sound of the X-ray machine rotating around you. The procedure will most likely last up to 20 minutes.
CT scan with contrast
The CT scan of the broad parts of the body can be done without the contracts however, some parts don’t show up clearly in case there is no contrast dye used. The contract is made of iodine or barium sulfate. It intercepts the X-rays and seems white on the scan to highlight the blood vessels, organs, and other internal structures.
The contracts bye can be used in 3 ways
- Contrast can be injected into your veins. It helps the blood vessels, liver, or gallbladder show up in the scan.
- The patient may have to drink it in the form of liquid.
- The contract bye will be inserted into the rectum in order to perform the intestine scan.
The patients are instructed to increase the intake of fluids after the CT scan with contrast. It helps in removing the contrast from the body. It also minimizes the symptoms of side effects caused by the contrast material in the body.
Benefits that CT scan offers
CT scan procedure is among the top 5 achievements of medical science in the last 50 years. It is known as one of the best medical diagnostic tools that help in countless ways:
- Know when the surgeries are required
- Reduces the need for exploratory surgeries
- Helps in cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Guides treatment of injuries, cardiac disease, stroke, etc.
The CT scan helps in quick examination of the patient during an emergency which helps the doctors to make prompt decisions. There are several other medical imaging techniques available however CT scan is preferred in many scenarios due to its unique set of advantages.
- Quickly captures images
- Clear and precise information
- Detailed view of a huge part of the body
Possible side effects of CT scan
- In rare cases, patients get allergic to the contrast dye however the symptoms stay mild. The patients may experience itching and rashes for some time after the scan. Your doctor monitors you after the scan in order to avoid any kind of emergency.
- Furthermore, to be on the safer side, make sure to tell your doctor about any allergies to certain medications, seafood, or iodine.
- Let your doctor know about any kind of medication you are taking so that they can guide you on when to pause the medication for the scan.
Modern machines reduce the radiation exposure
CT scan images produce ionizing radiations which can be harmful to the human body and cause life-threatening consequences like cancer. Several organizations and government bodies issue guidelines to minimize the harmful consequences of CT scans as much as possible. Furthermore, the manufacturers of CT scan machines are working on the technology to develop a new system that can provide high-quality images with a low amount of radiation.
The Price of a CT scan in Delhi
This blog has provided you with enough information regarding the CT scan. Now, you might be wondering about the CT scan price. The price of a CT scan may vary depending on several factors. These factors include the type of facility, type of CT scan, location, etc. The cost of a standard CT scan in Delhi can range between 1000 and 7500. You can get the most exact cost estimate only by consulting the CT scan centre.
On a final note
CT scan is one of the most innovative inventions given to us by medical science. It is the best medical imaging procedure that allows doctors to get the most precise view of the inside of the body. With that, doctors diagnose the disease and create a treatment plan. Furthermore, it helps the doctors to monitor the progress of treatment by comparing the latest CT scan with the previous ones. If you are advised to have a CT scan, do not hesitate to share your concerns with your doctor, so that they can help you assess the pros and cons. If you have further doubts, feel free to contact your CT Scan Centre.
