Benefits of a CT Scan

• CT scanning is painless, noninvasive, and accurate.
• A major advantage of CT is its ability to image bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels all at the same time.
• Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very detailed images of many types of tissue as well as the lungs, bones, and blood vessels.
• CT exams are fast and simple. In emergency cases, they can reveal internal injuries and bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.
• CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.
• CT is less sensitive to patient movement.
• Unlike MRI, an implanted medical device of any kind will not prevent you from having a CT scan.
• A diagnosis determined by CT scanning may eliminate the need for exploratory surgery and surgical biopsy.
• No radiation remains in a patient’s body after a CT exam.
• The x-rays used for CT scanning should have no immediate side effects.

Patient preparation

• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. You may need to change into a gown for the procedure.
• Metal objects, including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures, and hairpins, should be removed prior to your exam.
• CT exams will require you to remove hearing aids and removable dental work. Women will need to remove bras containing metal underwire.
• Your doctor may instruct you to not eat or drink anything for a few hours before your exam if it will use contrast material.
• Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking and if you have any allergies and any other underlying medical condition.
• Women should always inform their physician and the CT technologist if there is any possibility that they may be pregnant.
• You’ll be required to fill a CT questionnaire prior to the exam as well as a consent form in case the doctor suggest the used of contrast(dye).
• Exams with IV contrast (dye) require renal panel (blood test) results 

Test procedure and duration

• It is always necessary to consult a doctor before a CT scan, because due to the radiation exposure, the CT scan can only be performed on the basis of a medical recommendation.
•  CT scanners can obtain multiple and thinner slices in less time. This results in more detail.
• Modern CT scanners can image large sections of the body in just a few seconds, and even faster in small children.
• Speed is especially beneficial for children, the elderly, and critically ill – anyone who finds it difficult to stay still, even for the brief time necessary to obtain images.
• During the scan, the radiology technician will talk to the person via a speaker to let them know them when the scan is starting.

CT HEAD

• The average CT scan of the head takes no more than 10 minutes.
• A CT scan of the head is useful for helping a doctor assess damage after an accident or head trauma.
• It also allows them to look for brain abnormalities, such as tumors and skull defects.
• Doctors consider CT scans to be relatively safe and noninvasive procedures, even though they involve exposure to radiation

Results

• A medical specialist called a radiologist will examine the imaging scans, looking for any abnormalities in the brain and surrounding tissues. They will write a report of their findings and send it to the doctor who ordered the scan.
• If a person is in the hospital and undergoing the scan as an emergency, the radiologist will report any immediately concerning results as quickly as possible.