The radiologist will review and interpret your CT examination upon completion. Within 24 hours, your physician will have a written report. CT requires no sedation and therefore you will be able to drive immediately after the exam, even if you received a contrasting agent. Preparation can vary according to the type of CT exam, whether or not you will be receiving a contrasting agent, and your medical history. The patient lies comfortably still on a flat padded table, which moves steadily through the center of a donut-shaped x-ray machine. X-ray beams from a number of positions are aimed at the area being studied. A special detector measures the amount of absorbed radiation. This data is transformed by a computer into a digital image, displayed as a cross-section of the x-rayed area on a computer screen. Whether or not you need a contrasting liquid or injection depends on the type of study your physician has ordered. A contrasting agent containing iodine, often called “dye” helps the radiologist to see more definition of the tissues and to visualize the blood supply to internal organs. The contrasting agent is administered by our staff intravenously. The iodine-containing “dye” are generally quite safe. Our staff will screen your medical history to determine if there is any risk of adverse reactions to the contrasting agent. While the patient is exposed to radiation from x-rays, the amount of exposure is considerably less than that of a normal x-ray. In fact, the amount of radiation received from a CT of the head and brain is about the same as the amount of natural radiation exposure received in the environment during a year. A key advantage of CT is its ability to show detailed images of bones, blood vessels, and soft tissue in the same image. Bones in the image don’t obscure the underlying tissues. A CT can also reveal tumors and measure a tumor’s size and location. CT is considered the best method of diagnosing different kinds of cancers. It is also commonly used in diagnosing vascular diseases, detecting osteoporosis, and identifying traumatic injuries to internal organs. CT stands for Computed Tomography, which is widely called a CAT scan. Based on x-ray technology, it creates three-dimensional, computerized images of internal tissues and organs. Unlike traditional x-rays, however, CT images reveal overlapping parts of the body. The radiologist will review and interpret your MRI examination upon completion. Within 24 hours, your physician will have a written report. Most patients do not require sedation and therefore are able to drive immediately after the exam. If you need a sedative to help you relax for the exam, please arrange for a friend or relative to drive you home. Yes. Your teeth will not be affected by the exam. For most people, the MRI is completely safe. However, in most cases, pregnant women should not have MRI scans. Please let the staff know if you are pregnant. MRI does not use any type of radiation, but does produce a powerful magnetic field. To assure that you will have no adverse effects from the magnetism, the staff needs to find out if you have any metal in your body. Please advise the staff if: There are no special preparations. You should eat normally and follow the normal dosing of your prescribed medications unless your doctor gives instructions to do otherwise. Dress in loose, comfortable clothes with no metal snaps, zippers, etc. Most exams can be completed in 30 to 60 minutes. More time may be required if you need to be sedated, if you need a contrasting liquid, or if your doctor has ordered more than one scanning test. In most cases, yes. However, please advise our staff if the guest is pregnant or has anything metallic in the body. Your doctor will decide if an MRI is needed to help diagnose your symptoms. The doctor’s staff will then notify us and schedule an appointment. We will verify your health insurance coverage and obtain pre-certification with your health insurance carrier if necessary. If you do not have health insurance, payment is expected at the time of service. Open refers to the equipment, which has a large, non-confining opening. The patient lies on a table with equipment on one side and overhead. Having unobstructed space on three sides allows a pleasant, non-claustrophobic exam. Not being confined in a “tunnel” is much more comfortable for most patients. Aneurysms, stenosis, occlusions, and carotid arteries in the head and neck. Diseases of the central nervous system, including spinal cord deterioration, tumors of the brain, and multiple sclerosis. Condition of the heart, liver, kidney adrenal glands, male and female pelvis, and abdominal blood vessels. Disorders of bones, knees, and joints. Condition of cartilage, ligaments, bone, muscle, fat and menisci. Shoulder disorders, including impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tears. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe, painless way for doctors to get a clear look at your internal anatomy. In fact, a scan may be the only way your doctor can get diagnostic information without surgery. The technology produces sharp computerized images of internal body tissues that cannot be viewed through x-rays. Doctors can request an MRI image for your brain, your knee, your spine, or just about any part of your body that needs diagnosis.
Another advantage of CT: The procedure is faster and costs much less than an MRI.