(2) Philips 64 Slice Brilliance CT Scanners

Do not eat or drink four hours prior to your study. You may take your medications with water. In some procedures, IV contrast medium may be injected to better visualize tissue and blood vessels.

• If your exam includes contrast, please arrive thirty minutes prior to your exam time.
• If your exam does not include contrast, please arrive fifteen minutes prior to your exam.

For your safety, please notify our scheduling department and technologists:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have severe allergies, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to X-ray dye or iodine
• Of any medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or kidney stones
• If you have a history of renal failure, liver or kidney transplant
• Diabetic patients should discontinue use of Glucophage and Glucovance 48 hours after the procedure

During your visit, a patient advocate will show you to the changing area and can assist you if necessary. Our changing rooms offer secure lockers, but we encourage patients to leave valuables at home. Once changed, our patient advocate will guide you to the sub-waiting area where you will find a selection of magazines and newspapers. A staff member will notify you when it is time for your CT Scan and will introduce you to the CT technologist.

The technologist is specially trained and certified by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists to take care of you during your CT scan. The technologist begins by positioning you on the CT table. Your body may be supported by pillows to hold you still and in the proper position during the scan. As the study proceeds, the table will move slowly into the CT scanner 'doughnut.' Depending on the area of the body we are imaging, the increments of movement may be so small that they are almost undetectable, or you may feel the sensation of motion. CT scan time is typically 10 to 20 minutes.

Some studies will require IV injected contrast agents to help us visualize certain tissue or blood vessels. Some patients describe a metallic taste or tingling sensation right after the injection. This is normal and usually subsides very quickly.

• You may be asked to wait until the technologist or radiologist review your images.
• A sub-specialized radiologist will interpret your images and prepare a diagnostic report for your physician.
• Results are usually made available to your physician in two or three days. If outside comparison studies are required, it may take longer for your results to be made available.
• Your physician will determine how the radiologists' report can be used to develop a treatment plan and speak with you about your results.

A CT scan of the chest may be ordered by your physician when there is a chest injury or if a tumor is suspected. It can also help determine the size, shape and position of internal organs and help your doctor look for bleeding or fluid in the lungs. A chest scan can find abnormalities in the aorta and disease or damage to the heart. For more information, please consult your physician.

(source: https://www.fhshealth.org/DI_proced/CT.html)