CT Scan (CAT Scan): Purpose, Procedure, Risks, Side-Effects ...

A computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan allows doctors to see inside your body. It uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create ... MenuCancerHomeBladderCancerBrainCancerBreastCancerCervicalCancerColorectalCancerLeukemia&LymphomaLungCancerMelanomaMultipleMyelomaOvarianCancerPancreaticCancerProstateCancerOverview&FactsRisks&PreventionSymptoms&SignsCancerTypesDiagnosis&TestsYourCancerCareTeamCancerTreatmentCutting-EdgeTreatmentsLiving&ManagingRemission&RecurrenceSupport&ResourcesAllGuideTopicsCancerDiagnosisCTScanBiopsyCancerDiagnosisWithoutBiopsyCEATestHowtoHandleaCancerMisdiagnosisNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindanOncologistBook:TakeControlofYourCancerRiskCancerA-ZMoreCancerTopicsCancerReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyArefaCassoobhoy, MD, MPHonDecember13,2020ArticlesOnHowtoDiagnoseCancerCancerDiagnosisCTScanBiopsyCancerDiagnosisWithoutBiopsyCEATestHowtoHandleaCancerMisdiagnosisAcomputedtomography(CTorCAT)scanallowsdoctorstoseeinsideyourbody.ItusesacombinationofX-raysandacomputertocreatepicturesofyourorgans,bones,andothertissues.ItshowsmoredetailthanaregularX-ray.YoucangetaCTscanonanypartofyourbody.Theproceduredoesn'ttakeverylong,andit'spainless.HowDoCTScansWork?TheyuseanarrowX-raybeamthatcirclesaroundonepartofyourbody.Thisprovidesaseriesofimagesfrommanydifferentangles.Acomputerusesthisinformationtocreateacross-sectionalpicture.Likeonepieceinaloafofbread,thistwo-dimensional(2D)scanshowsa“slice”oftheinsideofyourbody.Thisprocessisrepeatedtoproduceanumberofslices.Thecomputerstacksthesescansoneontopoftheothertocreateadetailedimage ofyourorgans,bones,orbloodvessels.Forexample,asurgeonmayusethistypeofscantolookatallsidesofatumortoprepareforanoperation.HowAreCTScansDone?You'dprobablygetascanatahospitalorradiologyclinic.Yourdoctormighttellyounottoeatordrinkforafewhoursbeforetheprocedure.Youmayalsoneedtowearahospitalgownandremoveanymetalobjects,suchasjewelry.AradiologytechnologistwillperformtheCTscan.Duringthetest,you’lllieonatableinsidealarge,doughnut-shapedCTmachine.Asthetableslowlymovesthroughthescanner,theX-raysrotatearoundyourbody.It’snormaltohearawhirringorbuzzingnoise.Movementcanblurtheimage,soyou’llbeaskedtostayverystill.Youmayneedtoholdyourbreathattimes.Howlongthescantakeswilldependonwhatpartsofyourbodyarebeingscanned.Itcantakeanywherefromafewminutestoahalf-hour.Inmostcases,you’llgohomethesameday.WhatIsItUsedFor?DoctorsorderCTscansforalonglistofreasons:CTscanscandetectboneandjointproblems,likecomplexbonefracturesandtumors.Ifyouhaveaconditionlikecancer,heartdisease,emphysema,orlivermasses,CTscanscanspotitorhelpdoctorsseeanychanges.Theyshowinternalinjuriesandbleeding,suchasthosecausedbyacaraccident.Theycanhelplocateatumor,bloodclot,excessfluid,orinfection.Doctorsusethemtoguidetreatmentplansandprocedures,suchasbiopsies,surgeries,andradiationtherapy.DoctorscancompareCTscanstofindoutifcertaintreatmentsareworking.Forexample,scansofatumorovertimecanshowwhetherit’srespondingtochemotherapyorradiation.WhatIsaCTScanwithContrast?InaCTscan,densesubstanceslikebonesareeasytosee.Butsofttissuesdon’tshowupaswell.Theymaylookfaintintheimage.Tohelpthemappearclearly,youmayneedaspecialdyecalledacontrastmaterial.TheyblocktheX-raysandappearwhiteonthescan,highlightingbloodvessels,organs,orotherstructures.Contrastmaterialsareusuallymadeofiodineorbariumsulfate.Youmightreceivethesedrugsinoneormoreofthreeways:Injection:Thedrugsareinjecteddirectlyintoavein.Thisisdonetohelpyourbloodvessels,urinarytract,liver,orgallbladderstandoutintheimage.Orally:Drinkingaliquidwiththecontrastmaterialcanenhancescansofyourdigestivetract,thepathwayoffoodthroughyourbody.Enema:Ifyourintestinesarebeingscanned,thecontrastmaterialcanbeinsertedinyourrectum.AftertheCTscan,you’llneedtodrinkplentyoffluidstohelpyourkidneysremovethecontrastmaterialfromyourbody.AreThereAnyRisks?CTscansuseX-rays,whichproduceionizingradiation.ResearchshowsthatthiskindofradiationmaydamageyourDNAandleadtocancer.Buttheriskisstillverysmall--yourchancesofdevelopingafatalcancerbecauseofaCTscanareabout1in2,000.Butradiation’seffectaddsupoveryourlifetime.SoyourriskincreaseswitheveryCTscanyouget.Talktoyourdoctorabouttheprocedure’spotentialdangersandbenefits,andaskwhytheCTscanisnecessary.Ionizingradiationmaybemoreharmfulinchildren.That’sbecausethey’restillgrowing.Theyalsohavemoreyearstogetexposedtoradiation.Beforetheprocedure,youmaywanttoaskthedoctorortechnicianiftheCTmachine’ssettingshavebeenadjustedforachild.Tellyourphysicianifyou’repregnant.Ifyouneedimagingforyourstomacharea,yourdoctormayrecommendanexamthatdoesn’tuseradiation,suchasanultrasound.WhatAretheSideEffects?Somepeopleareallergictothecontrastmaterials.Mostofthetime,thereactionismild.Itcanleadtoitchinessorarash.Inveryfewcases,thedyemaytriggeralife-threateningreaction.Forthisreason,yourhealthcareprovidermaywanttomonitoryouforashortperiodafteryourCTscan.Tellyourdoctoraboutanyallergiesyouhavetomedications,seafood,oriodine.Yourdoctorshouldknow,too,ifyouhavediabetesandaretakingthedrugmetformin.They’llletyouknowifyoushouldstoptakingyourmedicationbeforeorafteryourprocedure.Althoughit’srare,contrastmaterialscanleadtokidneyproblems.LetyourdoctorknowifyouhaveanykidneyissuesbeforetheCTscan.NextInHowtoDiagnoseCancerBiopsyChemo:3ThingsYouNeedtoKnowLowerYourRiskofCancerLiverCancer:Symptoms,Tests,andTreatmentsHowImmunotherapyforCancerWorksCancerRemission:WhatDoesItMean?PreparingforChemotherapyAVisualGuidetoOvarianCancerParkinson'sDiseaseCTScanUsingCTScantoDiagnoseHeartDiseaseCTScansforHeadache&MigraineDiagnosisProstateCancer:CATScansDiagnosingHeartDiseaseWithCardiacComputedTomography(CT)WhatIsaCTScan?CTScanTopicsLungCancerSymptomsWhatyouneedtoknow.StemCellTransplantsHowtheyworkforbloodcancers.BreastCancerQuizSeparatefactfromfiction.CancerSideEffectsAndhowtobesttreatthem.ArticleCommonCarcinogensYouShouldKnowSlideshowYourGuidetoThyroidCancerSLIDESHOWBreastCancer:Symptoms,TreatmentSLIDESHOWAllAboutProstateCancerSLIDESHOWComplementaryTreatmentforCancerSLIDESHOWAVisualGuidetoLungCancerSLIDESHOWOvarianCancerExplainedArticleTreatmentsforChronicMyelogenousLeukemiaUnderstandingCancerDiagnosisandTreatmentAssessYourCancerRiskBreastCancer:AVisualOverviewDealingwithChemoNauseaLungCancer:TheBigPictureHowFriendsCanHelpPost-DiagnosisHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads