A computerized tomography (CT) scan plays a pivotal role in providing detailed images of your internal organs, muscles, and bones, making it a critical machine for diagnosing diseases and identifying detrimental side effects from medical treatments.
CT scans can quickly burn holes in one’s pockets as it costs thousands of dollars, so doing your homework on what to expect and prepare for the procedure can do wonders in ensuring you can maximize the visit.
How Do CT Scans Work?
CT scans use a rotating x-ray machine to conduct cross-sectional pictures of the body, providing more accurate and clearly-defined results beyond regular x-rays. The series of x-ray images are then combined to display detailed areas of the body, almost like looking into a slice of your insides. It can look into the following areas of the body:
- Head;
- Shoulders;
- Spine;
- Heart;
- Abdomen;
- Knee;
- Chest;
When do you Use a CT Scan?
Doctors will likely recommend a CT scan for the following reasons:
- Identify bone and joint problems;
- Locate tumors, blood clot, or infection;
- Spot changes in the body when you have cancer, heart disease, emphysema, or liver masses;
- Reveal internal injuries and bleeding;
- Support treatment plans like radiation therapy, biopsies, or surgeries;
- Determine if chemotherapy is working for cancer patients;
Should You Worry about the Radiation from the CT Scan?
People are often concerned with radiation exposure, but the level of radiation is so low that it will have little-to-no effects.
What to Expect from a CT Scan
You can get a scan at any hospital, radiology clinic, medical offices, and outpatient imaging centers, all of which are led by a radiology technologist. The set-up can look intimidating for patients, especially since it involves laying on a table that inserts through a large, circular CT machine.
When preparing for a CT scan, be sure to remove all jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures, or any metal accessories on your person, though there are exceptions made for patients with braces, implants, artificial joints, hearing implants, vascular stents, metal crowns, and defibrillators. However, be sure to talk with your doctor if you have these on your person.
You will also have to take a contrast fluid since it makes it easier for imaging techs to read the scan. Moving forward, you will have to lie on the padded table, which goes into the machine that circulates around your body to take a series of images, lasting for about 20 minutes.
Why Choose DirectMed Parts and Services?
When determining underlying illnesses or conditions, going to the right scan center is crucial as it will impact your diagnosis in more ways than one.
Seeing the importance of taking a diagnostic test in reputable clinics, DirectMed Parts can help connect you with the most reputable sources for medical imaging parts and services.
We also offer CT and MRI parts and coils that can complete your OEM solutions, so get in touch with us if you need parts or repair services that can get your machines up and running in mint condition.