About CT Scans
A CT, computerized tomography (or CAT) scan, is a special examination in which multiple images are taken through an area of the body. You will be placed on a table which will move you into the scanner. After each image is taken, the table will move a small distance to take the next picture. For many CT scans, contrast material will be injected into your vein.
Valley Diagnostic Imaging Services Invests in Special CT That Lowers Radiation Dose
Valley Diagnostic Imaging Services – Olympic Building has recently invested in a special CT to help physicians reach confident diagnoses and provide a higher level of patient care. The new LightSpeed VCT XTe from GE Healthcare enables the lowering of radiation dose up to 40% across the entire body, while still maintaining high quality images.
-
CT Abdomen or Pelvis
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Please arrive one hour prior to your appointment. You will be given a liquid to drink that allows us to see your intestines. If your physician gives you this liquid drink, take it one hour prior to your appointment time and arrive at our office 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please drink plenty of liquids the day before your exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Abdomen, Pelvis-attn renals (CT KUB)
-
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.
-
CT Angiogram
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medication may be taken. Drink plenty of fluids the day before the exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Biopsy/Abscess Drainage
-
Preparation:
Nothing by mouth (NPO) two hours prior to the exam. Check into the Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU) 45 minutes prior to the exam.
-
CT Bony Pelvis
-
Preparation:
No Preparation necessary.
-
CT Brain
-
Preparation:
No solid food two hours prior to your appointment. Clear liquids up to one hour prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Drink plenty of fluids the day before the exam.
-
CT Calcium Scoring
-
The Calcium Score is a measure of the amount of calcium located in the coronary arteries. Healthy coronary arteries are free of plaque and should have a score of zero (no calcium seen). A positive test means: calcium deposits were found in the coronary arteries, indicating at least some degree of coronary artery disease. The amount of calcium is related to the amount of disease, and guides further testing. A negative test means: no calcium deposits were seen, so most likely there is little or no coronary disease and he risk of heart attack is very low.
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.
-
CT Cervical, Thoracic or Lumbar Spine
-
Preparation:
Wear comfortable clothing, with as few metal snaps or fasteners as possible, such as sweats. Check-in 15 minutes prior to your appointment time at the Imaging Reception Desk. Bring pertinent x-rays or CAT scans.
-
CT Chest
-
Preparation:
No solid food two hours prior to your appointment. Clear liquids up to one hour prior to the appointment time. An IV will be started in the CT department for administration of IV contrast (x-ray dye). Medication may be taken. Drink plenty of fluids the day before the exam.
-
CT Enterography
-
This exam combines a CT scan with large volumes of contrast to image the small bowel. It is useful in imaging patients with Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. For this exam the patients need to follow the Volumen Preparation. Patients need to come in prior to their exam, at least one day to pick up the prep kit from Valley Diagnostic Imaging Services – Olympic Building.
Volumen Preparation:
Please complete the following directions the day of your exam…
- 1st Full bottle drink 60 minutes prior to exam.
- 2nd Full bottle drink 40 minutes prior to exam.
- 3rd 1/2 bottle drink 20 minutes prior to exam.
- Save the last half bottle to drink in the CT room.
-
CT Extremity
-
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.
-
CT Guided Cyst Aspiration
-
Preparation:
Nothing to eat or drink 3 hours prior to the exam time. Please arrive 1 hour prior to the exam time. Report to the information desk in the atrium. You will be sent to outpatient surgery for preparation. Please bring previous x-rays of related area.
-
CT Head, Neck, Chest (Thorax)
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medication may be taken. Drink plenty of fluids the day before the exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Head or Neck
-
Preparation:
Please do not eat or drink 2 hours prior to your exam time. If you are a diabetic currently taking Glucophage or Metformin, you must contact your physician prior to scheduling this exam. The manufacturer recommends this drug be withheld the morning before, or at the time of procedure. Glucophage or Metformin should then be withheld for 48 hours after the procedure. Once kidney function is found to be normal, Glucophage theraphy can be started again. Kidney function can be determined by a simple blood test. Please contact your physician in regard to obtaining this test.
Wear comfortable clothing, with as few metal snaps or fasteners as possible, such as sweats. Check-in 15 minutes prior to your appointment time at the Imaging Reception Desk. Bring pertinent x-rays or other studies.
-
CT Lower Extremity with Contrast
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Please arrive one hour prior to your appointment. You will be given a liquid to drink that allows us to see your intestines. If your physician gives you this liquid drink, take it one hour prior to your appointment time and arrive at our office 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please drink plenty of liquids the day before your exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Lung Screening
-
Detecting lung cancer at its earliest stage is key to increasing the five-year survival rate, according to the results of the National Lung Screening Trial that was published in June 2011. Patients with the following clinical indications may benefit from a Low-dose CT lung cancer screening exam.
- Between the ages of 55 and 74
- Current smoker or quit within the last 15 years
- Smoked for 30 or more pack-years*
*pack-years = average number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years a person has smoked.
Cost:
Health insurance plans may cover this screening exam under the Affordable Care Act. Pre-authorization may be required prior to exam. If the patients health plan does not cover this exam, he/she will be required to pay $300 at time of service.Preparation:
No preparation necessary for this exam -
CT Maxillofacial with Contrast
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Please arrive one hour prior to your appointment. You will be given a liquid to drink that allows us to see your intestines. If your physician gives you this liquid drink, take it one hour prior to your appointment time and arrive at our office 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please drink plenty of liquids the day before your exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Neck
-
Preparation:
No solid foods two hours prior to your appointment. Clear liquids up to one hour prior to the exam. An IV will be started in the CT department for administration of IV contrast (x-ray dye). Medications may be taken. Drink 6-8 glasses of fluids the day before the exam.
-
CT Orbit Stella with Contrast
-
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Please arrive one hour prior to your appointment. You will be given a liquid to drink that allows us to see your intestines. If your physician gives you this liquid drink, take it one hour prior to your appointment time and arrive at our office 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please drink plenty of liquids the day before your exam. An IV will be started in order to give you CT IV contrast.
-
CT Sinus, Comprehensive/CT Sinus, Limited
-
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.
-
CT Spine
-
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.
-
CT Venogram
-
CT Venogram is performed with a spiral CT scanner to evaluate blood flow in peripheral veins and diagnose Deep Vein Thrombosis.
Preparation:
No solid food or drink two hours prior to your appointment. Medications may be taken. Please drink plenty of liquids the day before your exam.
-
HRCT, CT Spine, CT Extremities
-
Preparation:
No preparation necessary. Please bring previous x-rays of related area.
-
Sympathetic Block
-
Check into the Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU) 1 hour prior to the exam.
Preparation:
No preparation necessary.