CT Scan (CT 64 Slice)

CT sees inside your body, into areas that cannot be visualized by standard X-ray examinations. The results of computed tomography allow your physician to diagnose certain diseases earlier and more precisely. And
since diseases are treated more successfully when diagnosed early, CT scans can help save lives.

CT is a radiological method which has been used since 1974 to visualize certain regions of your body slice by
slice. Today, CT technology is an indispensable tool in medicine. It is used for routine examinations of the
entire body.

For example, CT can assist your physician in:

• Detecting strokes, head injuries, herniated discs, abscesses
  
• Locating fractures
  
• Determining the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in trauma patients; in such cases it is especially helpful to have an imaging procedure which allows a fast first diagnosis
  
• Diagnosing changes in various organs
  
• Diagnosing or excluding diseases

Latest technologies CT scan allows true-to-detail three dimensional images of the inside of the heart and other parts of the body:

CT Angiography (CTA)	Coronary Calcium Scoring	Virtual Colonoscopy
With the aid of computed tomography physicians are now able to look into the coronary arteries without having to introduce a catheter. CTA is a much less invasive and more patient-friendly procedure—contrast material is injected into a small peripheral vein by using a small needle or catheter. This type of exam has been used to screen large numbers of individuals for arterial disease.	Coronary Calcium Scoring scan is a non-invasive way of obtaining information about the location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries—the vessels that supply oxygen-containing blood to the heart wall. Plaque is a build-up of fat and other substances, including calcium, which can, over time, narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart. Because calcium is a marker of coronary artery disease, the amount of calcium detected on a cardiac CT scan is a helpful diagnostic tool. Learn More	CT colonography uses CT scanning to obtain an interior view of the colon (the large intestine) that is ordinarily only seen with an endoscope inserted into the rectum. The major reason for performing CT colonography is to screen for polyps and other lesions in the large intestine. Polyps are benign growths that arise from the inner lining of the intestine. Some polyps may grow and turn into cancers. Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens during the examinations?

During the examination you will be lying on a comfortable patient table (usually on your back). This table will
then slowly move you through the opening of the examination unit called the gantry. All you need to do now is pay attention to the instructions of the CT personnel who may, for example, ask you to briefly hold your breath or not to move certain regions of your body.

As with conventional X-ray examinations, you will not feel the acquisition of CT images at all; you will only hear a low whirring noise. The patient table will move slightly during the entire examination.

While you are in the gantry, the X-ray system is taking extremely detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Based on the data acquired, the computer then generates the so-called result images. This way it aids your physician in reliably and precisely visualizing and then diagnosing the presence or absence of disease inside your body.

How Long will it take?

There is no general answer to this question. The duration of a CT examination depends on which body regions are scanned. Although with a modern spiral CT scanner the actual images are produced within a few seconds, you should expect the examination to last approximately 15 to 30 minutes. If a contrast medium is used, the examination will take longer. You may also have to drink a contrast medium that will coat the gastrointestinal tract approximately one hour before the CT scan takes place.

Why contrast medium?

Depending on the examination, a contrast medium may be administered to aid in strengthening the resulting diagnosis. Most people tolerate the contrast medium without any problems and merely feel flushed for a moment..Since the contrast medium contains iodine which may cause an allergic reaction in some people, you should consult with your physician regarding any existing allergies prior to the examination.

How Should I Prepare?

To ensure that optimal results are obtained, your cooperation is required. Please talk to the physician referring you to CT. He will give you detailed information on how to prepare yourself for the examination. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Like other X-ray examinations, CT scans should not be performed during pregnancy because of the exposure to radiation.

A few general tips:

• If you have images from previous examinations (including X-rays), please bring them with you
  
  
• For head and neck examinations: please remove all jewelry, hairpins, eyeglasses, hearing aids and
  dentures or leave them at home
  
  
• For abdominal examinations: please ask your physician how many hours prior to the examination you should refrain from eating or drinking
  
  
• It is very important to let your physician know if you have had previous allergic reactions to a contrast medium, iodine or shellfish or if you have asthma
  
  
• If you have diabetes or take medication: Please inform the radiologist or his team.

Radiation Exposure?

Today’s CT scanners offer an optimal combination of low radiation exposure and short examination times while maintaining excellent image quality. Siemens CT scanners, for example, come with a software package (CARE) especially designed to reduce radiation exposure. However, X-rays may harm a developing fetus. Pregnant women should therefore avoid having a CT scan.

What Happens After the examination?

The radiologist analyzes the images and sends a report of the diagnosis to your referring doctor, who will then discuss the results of the CT examination with you.

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