Whether you are experiencing pain, blood in your urine, or other symptoms that may involve the organs in your abdomen, your physician may turn to a particular imaging test to look for the cause: an abdominal CT scan. Also known as a computed tomography scan, this test uses an X-ray beam to take detailed pictures of your stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and other abdominal organs from many angles.
Physicians rely on diagnostic imaging tests to help find and diagnose illnesses and diseases that aren’t easily seen or felt during physical examinations. CT scans are one of the most commonly used diagnostic imaging tests because they’re noninvasive and provide clear images.
How Long Does an Abdominal CT Scan Take?
An abdominal CT appointment typically takes around 30 minutes to complete, and your time in the scanner will be only about 10 min, which makes it faster than an MRI scan. Using CT images, your referring physician can determine what’s causing your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment, bringing you closer to relief.
During an abdominal CT scan, you’ll lie on a table inside the CT scanner, which looks like a large, doughnut-shaped machine. An X-ray beam will rotate around you, taking pictures of your abdomen from multiple angles as it moves.
Using a computer, radiologists can stack CT images called slices to view the organs, tissues, and blood vessels inside your abdomen in 3D, like building a sandwich layer by layer. This gives physicians a more detailed look at the internal organs than typical X-rays and makes it easier for them to see potential problems.
Inside Information: What an Abdominal CT Scan Can Show
CT scans can help identify the causes of symptoms in many parts of the body, from your head to your chest and beyond. An abdominal CT scan can show a range of problems, including:
- Abscesses
- Appendicitis
- Bile duct blockages
- Cholecystitis (irritation of the gallbladder)
- Crohn’s disease
- Hernias
- Injuries to abdominal organs
- Kidney problems, including kidney stones, blockages, swelling, and damage
- Masses and tumors, including cancers of the colon, kidneys, pancreas, and ovaries
- Pancreatitis
- Ulcerative colitis
In addition to helping your physician find what’s responsible for abdominal pain, blood in your urine or an unexplained fever, a CT scan of the abdomen can be valuable in other aspects of your care. Your physician may use this test to:
- Guide biopsies and procedures that take place inside the abdomen
- Plan and administer cancer treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy
- Plan surgeries and assess surgical results
Preparing for Your Abdominal CT Scan
You can take steps to help your scan go smoothly. For starters, wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing because you may have to change into a hospital gown for the scan. You shouldn’t wear metal jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures, or clothes with metal zippers or wires, which may affect the images.
Depending on the type of exam, you may need to receive contrast dye before your test. This material helps physicians see certain tissues and blood vessels more clearly in the images.
If your CT scan requires the use of contrast, you may need to avoid having anything to eat or drink for up to four hours before your scan.
To prevent delays and complications, you should tell your doctor about:
- Any history of allergies or allergic reactions to contrast material
- Any history of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease or thyroid problems
- Pregnancy
- Recent illnesses and other medical conditions
- Medications you’re taking
What to Expect During the Scan
If your abdominal CT scan requires contrast, the imaging team may administer it through an IV in your hand or arm. As the material moves through your bloodstream, you may experience a warm flushing of the body and a metallic taste in your mouth. Both sensations are normal and will pass after a few seconds.
In some cases, you can drink the contrast instead of receiving an injection into a vein. Oral contrast can cause an unpleasant taste, but it will fade quickly.
Before the scan begins, you’ll get into position by lying flat on your back on a narrow table that slides into the CT scanner. Once you’re inside, the X-ray beam will take several images of different areas of the abdomen. Some scans require multiple passes through the machine to complete.
You may need to hold your breath for short periods to eliminate movement during the scan. Staying still ensures the images aren’t blurry and helps your physician make the most accurate diagnosis possible.
CT scans are fast and painless. You may find it uncomfortable to lie perfectly still for several minutes or briefly hold your breath, but medication can help you relax during the scan. Ask your physician or the imaging team about medications you can take to help you relax.
Read More: 12 Conditions a Chest CT Scan or MRI Scan Can Help Your Doctor Diagnose
After Your Abdominal CT Scan
If you received contrast by injection, the imaging technologist will remove the IV from your hand or arm once the scan is over, and instruct you to drink plenty of water throughout the rest of the day. Then, you’ll be free to go home, return to work, or run the errands on your to-do list.
One of Carolina Imaging Services’ board-certified radiologists will review your images and send their findings in a report to your referring physician. Your physician will share the findings with you. Based on the results, you may need additional testing, or your physician may diagnose the problem and recommend a medication, procedur,e or another form of treatment.
Why Choose Carolinas Imaging Services for Your CT Scan?
At Carolinas Imaging Services, we know your life is busy, which is why we work hard to make our outpatient CT scans as quick and convenient as possible. We offer next-day appointments at our six imaging centers located throughout the Greater Charlotte Area. Our board-certified radiologists have the expertise and technology to help your physician find the cause of your symptoms so they can create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
