CT scans

CT scanning is painless, non-invasive, and accurate. It enables healthcare professionals to view images of bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels all at the same time.

A CT (Computed Tomography) scan is a powerful diagnostic imaging tool that can generate detailed images of nearly every structure and organ within the body.A healthcare professional will recommend a CT scan based on your specific symptoms, medical history, and the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis or treatment plan.

A CT scan is a diagnostic tool that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It's usually used to diagnose conditions or check how well a treatment you are being administered is working.CT is excellent in showing soft tissue, air, fluid, bone, vessels and all other internal structures of the body, allowing your doctor to identify any problems.At Prime Health, we use CT scans to diagnose a wide range of conditions.

After the CT scan, the images will be examined by the radiologist who is responsible for producing a written report on their findings to send to your referring clinician. Our radiologists are all qualified doctors and specialise in specific body areas, giving you, and your referring clinician confidence in the accuracy of your report.

Yes, you can eat and drink as normal after a CT scan.If you have an injection of contrast during your examination, it is beneficial to drink plenty of water (2-3 extra glasses) after your examination to help flush out the contrast from your system.

There are no side effects from the CT scan itself, although it does use several times more radiation than a typical X-ray; equivalent to what you might be exposed to naturally over a three-to-four-year period.If you have an injection of contrast, you may have some side effects which might include a skin rash, dizziness, a headache and nausea. The CT team will discuss this with you and will answer any questions you may have before the injection.

The CT scan itself usually takes around 20-30 minutes and your appointment from start to finish is likely to be about 45 minutes.

The CT team will show you into the scanner room and will help you get into the right position on the couch.Some people need to have a contrast medium to produce more detailed images, which involves an injection of dye. For this, a small needle (cannula) will be put into your arm/hand. You may experience a strange taste and you may feel a little warm for a short while. If you need contrast medium, you may also need to have a blood test before your scan as a precaution and to check your kidney function.If you are having an injection of contrast a member of staff will go through the safety questions with you, and you’ll be asked to sign it.When you are comfortable, the CT table moves you very slowly towards the hole in the centre of the ‘polo’ shaped scanner. The scanner will then produce the images.The CT team will be in the control room, but you will be able to talk to them via an intercom and they can see you on a screen.You may be asked to hold your breath during the scans to prevent any blurring on the image. If at any time you feel worried or uncomfortable you can let the CT team know using the intercom and they will do what they can to help.

Yes, subject to infection control restrictions you can bring a friend or relative to your CT scan. However, for safety reasons they won’t be able to accompany you into the CT scanner unit unless there are exceptional circumstances.

There are some CT examinations which do require preparation and this will be confirmed at the time of scheduling your appointment and in your confirmation letter.Unless you have been told otherwise, you can eat and drink normally before and afterwards.

CT scanning uses x-rays to produce images. Patients are often worried about being exposed to radiation. However, it is important to put any risks into perspective, the risk to your health of not having the required examination is likely to be greater than any risk from the radiation itself.If you are, or might be pregnant, you must make sure the clinician referring you or a member of the CT team know as soon as possible. CT scans are not performed during pregnancy unless there are special circumstances.Before your appointment is scheduled, we will have asked you a number of questions to ensure it is safe for you to have your scan.