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Abdominal CT
Scan (Computed Tomography Scan)
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What
is the test?
CT scans are pictures taken by a specialized
x-ray machine. The machine circles your body
and scans an area from every angle within that
circle. The machine measures how much the x-ray
beams change as they pass through your body.
It then relays that information to a computer,
which generates a collection of black-and-white
pictures, each showing a slightly different
“slice” or cross-section of your
internal organs. Because these “slices” are
spaced only about a quarter-inch apart, they
give a very good representation of your internal
organs and other structures. Doctors use CT scans
to evaluate all major parts of the body, including
the abdomen, back, chest, and head
A CT scan is an excellent way to view the organs
inside your abdomen. It is especially useful
for looking at solid organs, such as the liver,
pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands.
It is also excellent for viewing the large blood
vessels that pass through the abdomen (the aorta
and vena cava) and for finding lymph nodes in
the abdomen. Organs that can change their shape
when they are empty or full, such as stomach
and intestines, are harder for a CT scan to evaluate
well, because it is sometimes difficult for a
doctor to tell for sure if they are abnormal.
Often the CT can give some information about
these organs, though. Abdominal CT scans are
often used to look for signs of inflammation
or infection inside the abdomen in different
organs, to look for cancer, or to look for injury
to one or another internal organ.
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How
do I prepare for the test?
If you are having an abdominal CT scan, you
might have to fast 2–4 hours before your
test. You also may have to drink a large quantity
of oral contrast, a fluid that will show up on
the CT scan and help define the lining of some
internal organs. Tell your doctor if you’re
allergic to x-ray contrast dyes, may be pregnant,
or have diabetes and take insulin. Insulin can
cause hypoglycemia after missing a meal.
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What
happens when the test is performed?
The test is done in the radiology department of
a hospital or in a diagnostic clinic. You wear
a hospital gown and lie on your back on a table
that can slide back and forth through the donut-shaped
CT machine. A technician or other health care professional
inserts an IV and injects more contrast dye through
it. This dye outlines blood vessels and soft tissue
to help them show up clearly on the pictures.
The technologist moves the table with a remote
control to enable the CT machine to scan your
body from all of the desired angles. You will
be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds
each time a new level is scanned. The technologist
usually works the controls from an adjoining
room, watching through a window and sometimes
speaking to you through a microphone. A CT scan
takes about 30–45 minutes. Although it’s
not painful, you might find it uncomfortable
if you don’t like to lie still for extended
periods.
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What
risks are there from the test?
There are a few small risks. The contrast dye used
in the test can damage your kidneys, especially
if they are already impaired by disease.However,
some newer dyes are less likely to cause kidney
injuries. If kidney damage does occur, this is
usually temporary, although in some rare cases
it becomes permanent. If you are allergic to the
dye used in the procedure, you may get a rash or
your blood pressure may drop enough to make you
feel faint until you get treatment. As with x-rays,
there is a small exposure to radiation. The amount
of radiation from a CT scan is greater than that
from regular x-rays, but it’s still too small
to be likely to cause harm unless you’re
pregnant.
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Must
I do anything special after the test is over?
No.
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How
long is it before the result of the test is known?
The radiologist can probably give you preliminary
results within a day. The formal reading of your
CT scan might take another day.
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