When having a CT scan you are required to lie on the CT couch which will be raised up and passed into the CT gantry. The examination involves you lying very still whilst the couch is moving in and out of the gantry. To improve the quality of images you may be required to receive an injection of contrast. This contrast is an iodine based non-ionic contrast that may make you feel warm for a short period. The contrast is used to demonstrate the arterial and venous anatomy of the area of interest.
Below is a list of the CT examinations performed at Wodonga Medical Imaging:
CT CALCIUM SCORING
Preparation: You should not smoke or drink coffee on the day of the procedure.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
CT ANGIOGRAPHY
CT Angiography is used to visualise arterial and venous structures throughout the body. All angiography procedures will require an injection of contrast.
·CT Cardiac Angiography
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination. You should not smoke or drink coffee on the day of the procedure.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
· Head
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
· Chest / Abdomen
Preparation: Fast four hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
· Extremities (Arms and Legs)
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
BRAIN
Sometimes requires a scan before and after the injection of contrast.
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 mins
SINUSES
Requires administration of nasal spray 15 minutes before examination, provided by the department.
Preparation: Nil.
Length of examination: 15min (Nasal spray) +15 minutes
SPINE
No injection required.
Preparation: Nil.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
NECK (Soft Tissue)
An injection of contrast is usually required.
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
CHEST
An injection of contrast is required.
Preparation: Fast two hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
ABDOMEN / PELVIS
You will be given oral contrast to drink over an hour prior to scanning. This is required to opacify the bowel. You will also require an injection of contrast.
Preparation: Fast four hours prior to the examination and drink oral contrast.
Length of examination: 1 hr (Contrast drink) + 15 minutes.
EXTREMITIES (Arms and Legs)
No injection required.
Preparation: Nil.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
RENAL (Kidneys)
No injection required. (If looking for kidney stones).
May require injection of contrast media if requesting doctor or Radiologist wants to further investigate the kidneys urerters and bladder.
Preparation: Fast four hours prior to the examination.
Length of examination: 15 - 30 minutes.
CT COLONOGRAPHY
An injection of contrast is required.
Preparation: Detailed preparation is required please contact Wodonga Medical Imaging for preparation pack and instructions.
Length of examination: 15 - 30 minutes.
PELVIMETRY
No injection required.
Preparation: Nil.
Length of examination: 15 minutes.
Computed Tomography uses radiation to achieve cross-sectional images of the body in practically any plane.Here at Wodonga Medical Imaging we have a state of the art 16-Slice Scanner that is able to perform full body scans in around 30 seconds achieving slices as small as 0.4mm.As the scan slices are thinner more detailed anatomy is visualised.3-Dimensional Images can be achieved on all scans; this can be very helpful when surgery is being contemplated.
