CT (CAT Scan)

• Before your exam, a CT technologist will review your medical and allergy history, and answer any questions you might have. He or she will keep you informed and assist you throughout your study. Because CT involves x-ray, please notify your technologist if you think you might be pregnant.
• If you have had previous allergic reactions to contrast agents or are diabetic, please see the exam safety section of our website.
• Please wear comfortable, loose clothing for your scan. You may be asked to change into a gown before your exam to avoid possible interference from any metal in your clothing.
• Some CT exams require that you drink a flavored oral contrast agent. It is important that you drink it one hour before your appointment time (not your check-in time). Oral contrast can be picked up in advance at TRA Medical Imaging’s Tacoma, Lakewood or Gig Harbor offices if you prefer to drink it at home before traveling to your appointment.
• If you will be having oral contrast, please do not eat or drink four hours prior to your exam.
• Some CT exams involve an intravenous (IV) contrast injection (usually placed in the arm) to enhance the results of the study. The contrast may make you feel warm or create a strange taste in your mouth. This feeling lasts only a few moments. Less commonly, it may make you feel nauseous.
• You will be asked to lie on a comfortable scanning bed and although most patients lie on their backs, your position may vary due to the type of exam you are having. Although the actual scans are very fast, the time you will spend on the scanning bed is generally between 10 and 30 minutes, again depending on the type and number of exams you will have. Because lying still is important for excellent image quality, children need to be able to lie still for up to five minutes.

• Allergies to latex or iodine
• Previous reactions to contrast agent
• Kidney problems
• Diabetic medication you take
• If you are pregnant or think you may be
• If you ate or drank before the test

Return to top

CT of the Head, Neck, Eye and Sinus

A tipped back head position may be required during imaging.

CT of the head, neck and eye (orbit) is frequently used to evaluate abnormalities following traumatic head injury. Brain ventricles, bony orbits (eye sockets), structures of the neck and lymph nodes are well seen with CT. This exam may involve IV contrast to produce an image that is more clearly defined. Because motion can distort CT images, the back of your head may be positioned in a holder to keep your head immobilized for a head, neck or eye CT exam. Your face will not be covered.

CT is usually an excellent scan for the sinus cavities because the images are so well delineated.

Return to top

CT of the Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis

You will be asked to lie on your back with your arms positioned over your head for these scans.

CT of the chest may require IV administration of a contrast media (contrast reactions or allergies) to image the lungs, bronchi, as well as the esophagus, midline chest structures including the ascending aorta, superior vena cava and diaphragm. You will be asked to hold your breath for about 20-30 seconds for a chest CT.

CT of the abdomen and pelvis usually requires both IV and oral contrast. For CT of the abdomen, multiple images are taken of the liver, pancreas, spleen, aorta, vena cava vessels, kidneys and retroperitoneal area. Pelvic CT images include the lower abdomen (pelvis) to demonstrate possible abnormalities in the prostate, uterus, ovaries and bladder.

Return to top

CT of the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine

CT of the spine is used to evaluate spinal stenosis, disc herniation and degenerative disc disease.

Return to top

CT of the Upper and Lower Extremities

CT of the extremities produce images of your left or right hand, wrist, foot, ankle, knee, or leg. It may be used to evaluate fractures, soft tissue masses or to detect metastatic bone tumors.

Return to top

CT Angiogram

For this exam, you will have a CT scan of the chest. CT angiogram is the use of general CT imaging techniques to obtain images of blood vessels. CT angiogram is most frequently used to detect a suspected blood clot in the lungs (CT pulmonary angiogram). It may also be used to evaluate cerebral aneurysm or blood vessels in the abdomen or legs.

A CT pulmonary angiogram involves injecting IV contrast (contrast reactions or allergies) into a vein in the arm.

Return to top

CT Pulmonary Embolism

CT scans are especially helpful in diagnosing or ruling out pulmonary embolisms—a sudden blockage of the blood flow in an artery in the lung, most commonly caused by a blood clot, tumor or even fat.

Return to top

CT Cardiac Scoring

CT coronary artery scoring is a test used to detect early signs of coronary artery disease, or the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels. It will provide your healthcare provider with both the location of any plaque, as well as a score that indicates the extent of calcified plaque. Scores range from 0 to 400+, indicating the evidence of plaque to either no evidence, minimal, mild, moderate or extensive evidence of plaque.

The exam itself takes five to 10 minutes. You will be asked to lie on your back and small electrodes will be attached to your chest to measure the electrical activity of your heart with an ECG (electrocardiogram) machine. You will be asked to hold your breath for periods of 20 to 30 seconds while the images are recorded.

Return to top