When you come to Oregon Imaging Centers for your CT scan, you and your parents will check in at the reception desk. You'll find televisions, magazines, puzzles and games in our waiting room. Depending on your age, and the part of your body that is going to have its picture taken, you may be given some medicine that will make you sleep during the CT scan. Your doctor will let you know if this is going to happen. If that's the case, you might not be able to eat for a few hours before coming to see us.
Just before your exam, you will change into special pajamas. We will remind you to take off anything that might be made of metal, such as necklaces, barrettes or buttons. Once you've changed, we'll take you back to the waiting area where a nurse will weigh you.
A CT scanner looks like a very big doughnut. A person, called a technologist, will help you get onto a table that moves in and out of the CT scanner, through the doughnut hole. If you would like, your mom or dad can stay with you while we are taking your picture.
You might feel the table moving slowly into the CT scanner through the doughnut hole and maybe even see its cameras taking your picture. But don't worry, the cameras won't touch you. It is important that you stay very still while we are taking your picture.
**A reminder to moms who are pregnant or who might be pregnant: Please bring another adult with you to accompany your child during the procedure. We will ask that you watch the procedure from a shielded area to protect your unborn baby from X-rays. **
