The Computed Tomography scan is more commonly known as a CT or CAT scan. It’s a medical diagnostic test that shows many images of the inside of the body like a conventional x-ray.
The images are of a cross section of the human body and can be reformatted to multiple planes to give an even better view of what may be causing someone pain or before a surgery to see what has to be removed. It can also be made into a 3D image. These images can be viewed on a computer screen or printed out or transferred to CDs or DVDs.
CT scans of bones, blood vessels, soft tissue and internal organs can provide medical professionals with a detailed look inside the human body. The result is more detailed than conventional X-rays when it comes to blood vessels and soft tissue of the body, especially the abdominal area.
Why Should You Have a CT Scan of You Abdomen
When patients complain of abdominal or pelvic pain, medical professionals usually ask them to get a CT scan. The procedure allows any signs of internal organ diseases, especially of the small bowel and colon to be uncovered. This detection allows the proper course of action and treatment to be carried out for the patients.
4 Prominent Reasons for the CT Scans
Doctors can refer you to get CT scans to find out if you have
1. Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis or even cirrhosis of the liver.
2. Pyelonephritis appendicitis, and other infected fluid collections. These are collectively called abscesses.
3. Abdominal organ injuries such as those of the spleen, liver or kidneys, resulting from trauma. CT scans can also detect if you have abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
4. Kidney or bladder stones or even some cancers of the liver, ovaries, bladder, kidneys or pancreas. These can show up on the CT scan. It can also detect if you have lymphoma.
Other than these prominent reasons to get CT scans, you should also get a CT scan:
1. To guide biopsies and procedures such as draining abscesses, removal of tumours and similar treatments.
2. To plan and have radiation treatments and monitor how well chemotherapy sessions have been in treating your physical conditions. You can go to www.insideradiology.com.au for for more information on such CT scans of your abdomen.
3. To plan for or to see how successful a surgery such as an organ transplant has been.
What You Should and Shouldn’t wear to a CT Scan Exam
Metal objects such as watches, eye glasses, hairpins, jewellery and even dentures need to be removed before the scan as these objects can hinder the CT scan results. Comfortable and loose-fitting clothes are key to wear at the time of the CT scan exam. You’re often provided a gown to wear before the scan begins.
If you have piercings and it is possible to remove them you’ll be asked to remove those. Clothing such as bras that have metal wires for support should also be removed.