As medical science and technology keep improving, there are medications, treatments, and tests that are either being introduced or upgraded to a better version. Medical tests are crucial for identifying underlying problems that are not visible over the surface. To acquire a piece of better knowledge about the insides, several imaging tests are conducted. A CT Scan procedure is an imaging test for detecting internal injuries and traumas.
Computerized Tomography or CT Scan is an imaging test where the machine conducts multiple X-RAYs from different angles of the body. These images of the bones, soft tissues and blood vessels are recorded on the computer and then processed as a cross-section image slice. Multiple X-RAY imaging from several angles makes the CT Scan quite detailed and accurate.
Usually, a CT Scan is a quick procedure for detecting any kind of internal injury resulting from an accident or any other signs of trauma. The visual imaging capability of a CT Scan is very accurate, and it can see through almost every body part. Hence, the usage of the CT Scan ranges from detection of injury or trauma to medical and surgical planning and radiation treatment.
When To Get A CT Scan Done?
When the patient has survived an accident, a CT Scan is conducted to determine the criticality and depth of the situation. The doctor will know whether to order a CT Scan; if so, they will ask the patient to get it immediately. A CT Scan price may vary from one diagnostic center to another. There are several reasons why the doctor can order a CT Scan.
- Any persistent problem occurring with the joints, muscles and bones are detected by CT Scans. A CT Scan identifies complex fractures, disorders and tumors in the bones.
- CT Scans can also figure out if there are any underlying conditions such as cancer, emphysema, heart diseases and liver masses. Often CT Scan is ordered to monitor such conditions.
- After an accident, a CT Scan procedure may be ordered to look deeply into the internal injuries and bleeding.
- It can also be credited for locating blood clots, excess fluids, infections and tumors.
- Apart from diagnostic purposes, a CT Scan is used to monitor the treatment plans and procedures involved. For example, biopsies, radiation therapy and surgeries may be conducted after a CT Scan. Chronological CT Scans for a specific problem can show the problem’s improvements or deterioration.
Preparing For A CT Scan
With the advancement of medical science, it has become easier to find the best CT Scan center near me; however, the patient needs to follow a few rules and regulations before they agree to participate in the test. And a CT Scan is no exception. The patient may be required to do the following to get accurate results.
- Based on the body that will be the subject of the scan has to remain unclothed for conducting the imaging process. The patient may be asked to remove their regular clothing and dress in a hospital gown.
- A CT Scan does not support any metal object, which is why patients are often asked to keep all metal, such as pieces of jewelry, ornaments, and even dentures, away from the machine. Metal objects have a chance of interacting with the imaging.
- The CT Scan has to be conducted on an empty stomach. Hence, the patient must refrain from drinking or eating before the test.
There is also a type of CT Scan known as contrast material scanning. The CT Scan is good at capturing images of dense objects such as bones. However, soft tissues are not adequately visible in a standard CT Scan procedure. This is why a particular type of dye called contrast material is often used to get a clearer image.
What the contrast material does is simply block the X-RAYs. By blocking the X-RAY, the body’s soft tissues and blood vessels appear white in the scanned images. This gives the doctor ample detail to diagnose any problem visible in the reports. The contrast material is either made up of barium sulfate or iodine. There are three possible ways to use contrast material; these are mentioned below.
- Oral Consumption: By far, the easiest way to consume the contrast material is to add it to a drink or be given a pill to swallow. The drink may be very unpleasant for consumption, but it will clear the digestive tracts for the scan to deliver clear images.
- Ingestion: The contrast material can also be ingested into the patient’s body, directly in the veins. As the drugs are pushed into the veins, the patient may feel warm or have a metallic taste in their mouth. It helps the imaging to come clean, especially the blood vessels, gallbladder, liver or urinary tract. A CT Scan price may include the cost of the contrast material.
- Enema: The dye or contrast material may be inserted through the rectum for an intestine CT Scan. After the dye has been inserted, the patient may feel uncomfortable or bloated for some time, at least until the drug leaves the system.
As soon as the CT scan is completed, the patient will be told to consume plenty of water. The water will help wash the contrast material faster. Children having to do a CT Scan are often put on sedatives. This is to keep them calm during the images.
How Does A CT Scan Procedure Work?
As said before, it has become effortless to find and book an appointment for a CT Scan by just searching the CT Scan center near me online. Usually, a CT scan is conducted in a hospital facility or a diagnostic center. It is a painless method and takes about 30 minutes to complete the whole thing.
The scan will be performed and monitored by a radiologist or a technician throughout the process. The patient will be asked to lie still on a narrow motorized table—the doughnut-shaped CT Scan machine. The table will move the patient within the machine opening. The X-RAY scans will start once the patient is inside the tunnel and will rotate around the body, taking internal images from different angles. With whirring and buzzing sounds, the X-RAY machine will take numerous images.
The patient asked to remain perfectly still throughout the whole procedure, sometimes even holding their breath if required. A technologist conducting the scan will stay in touch with the patient throughout the process and will guide them through it.
There is not really any risk involved with a normal CT Scan. The minimal risk there may be some concern is the ionizing radiation produced by the CT Scan, which has a chance of affecting 1 in 2000 people with fatal cancer while they were attaining the scan. Patients with multiple CT Scans may have significant risk, but one-time users may remain unaffected by the rays.
What Is The Cost Of 1 CT Scan?
The CT Scan price is a thing one can have an entire debate segment about. However, there is tiny one can do about the vast disparity in prices offered by different medical sectors. The cost of a CT Scan is evaluated based on a few factors. Depending on the CT Scan ordered by the doctor, the prices of each scan will vary.