How to Prepare for a CT scan?



HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE PROCEDURE?

  1. Bring a copy of the order for the procedure from your referring physician.
  2. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your CT examination. Metal objects can affect the image, so avoid clothing with zippers and snaps. You may be asked to remove hairpins, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids and any removable dental work that could obscure the images.
  3. Take your usual medications.
  4. If you will receive intravenous contrast material (x-ray dye) you should drink plenty of clear liquids, but refrain from eating solid food, for 3-4 hours before your examination.
  5. Patients scheduled for abdominal and/or pelvic CT studies should arrive 30 minutes early to drink oral contrast material used to visualize the stomach and intestines.
  6. Patients scheduled for cardiac CT angiography studies should arrive 1 hour early for clinical assessment, ECG monitoring, and premedication with beta blockers.
  7. Diabetic patients who receive intravenous contrast material for the CT examination and take Metformin (Avandamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glucovance, and Metaglip) should discontinue this medication for 48 hours after the CT. Metformin should be restarted only after renal function has been evaluated and found to be adequate.2
  8. Women should always inform their doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
  9. The maximum weight limit for the CT scanners is 400 lbs.

FOOTNOTES

  1. Modified from Radiologyinfo.org
  2. ACR Manual on Contrast Media v5.0

 

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