One of the most critical steps in treating and managing a disease is getting an accurate diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis influences the appropriateness of a treatment approach, enhancing efficacy and achieving desired clinical outcomes. However, there are many things your primary care provider cannot observe with the naked eye. This challenge necessitates the implementation of imaging technologies like Sugar Land CT scan to help provide a deeper look into the underlying cause of disease.
A CT scan involves the use of computer technology and x-ray machines. These medical technologies help produce cross-sectional images that doctors use to gain detailed information about your health status. Physicians prefer CT scans over typical x-rays because they provide comprehensive information about different body structures, including soft tissues, blood vessels, and bones.
What should you expect during your CT scan?
Doctors recommend ct scans to visualize various body parts, including the head, shoulders, spine, heart, abdomen, knee, and chest. During your diagnosis appointment, your doctor will ask you to lie in a machine whose inside rotates, taking x-ray images from different angles. The machine connects to a computer that receives the x-ray images combining them into cross-sections of your body. Your doctor may also set the computer to provide 3D images of a specific part of your body.
What is the need for contrast in CT scanning?
CT scans efficiently provide detailed information about body tissues. However, this technology only provides images in shades of black and gray. Experience physicians have a trained eye that can differentiate body tissues in a CT scan image. However, the details are sometimes difficult to see in certain situations due to the limited shade range. Your doctor can best counteract this challenge by including contrast dye during your diagnosis appointment. You may introduce contrast dye in your system, orally or intravenously, to enhance the contrast level and revolution of your CT images.
What are the risks of contrast dyes in CT imaging?
Barium or iodine are the elements included in contrast dyes. The use of contrast dyes in CT imaging improves the accuracy of diagnosis. However, there are risks associated with the use of constant dyes. Your doctor will inform you of the potential risk of taking contrast dyes to get your consent before proceeding with the procedure. For example, contrast dyes can cause kidney complications. Moreover, many patients have an allergic reaction to contrast dyes. Therefore, reviewing a patient’s medical and family history is key to identifying the risk of an immune reaction to the dyes.
What are the general risks of CT scan imaging?
There are a few risks associated with this diagnostic procedure. This imaging technology exposes patients to radiation that may harm their well-being. However, multiple CT scans put a patient at risk of developing cancer. Your doctor should take the right protocols to prevent CT scan adversities. Contact St. Michael’s Elite Hospital to schedule a CT scan and accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms to begin appropriate treatment to restore wellness.
