Your CT Scan Questions, Answered: Safety, Prep, and What It Shows

When you think about diagnostic imaging, you may think of X-rays, arguably the most well-known type of imaging study from a patient’s perspective. 

But other scans play key roles, too, including computed tomography (CT) scans, a specialized type of imaging study that provides a lot of detail about your bones, organs, and other structures.

If you’ve never had a CT scan, it’s natural to feel a little uncertain about what to expect and what the scan actually does. 

In this post, our team at Invision Sally Jobe, a network of diagnostic imaging centers in the greater Denver, Colorado area, offers a quick review of CT scans, including how they work, when they’re used, and what to expect.

How CT scans work

The word tomography comes from two root words meaning “to slice and record (or write).” That sounds intimidating until you understand how it really applies to CT scans.

CT scans are noninvasive and painless — no slicing of tissue is involved. Instead, the imaging device uses a special type of X-ray to obtain multiple cross-sectional images (or visual slices) of tissues and organs.

These images are then transmitted to a computer that combines them and produces highly detailed images that we can view slice by slice, providing your doctor with a significant amount of information about your body without invasive exploratory surgery.

Safety

Like regular X-rays, CT scans use ionizing radiation to capture detailed images. The amount used is very low, and the risk associated with CT scans is also very minimal. 

Like any imaging study, doctors order CT scans only when they’re necessary for diagnosing or treating a medical issue that poses a far greater risk than radiation exposure from the imaging test itself.

What to expect before, during, and after

Depending on why you’re having a CT scan, you may need to avoid eating or drinking for a few hours before your visit. Your doctor provides you with instructions for your specific scan, or you can reach out to our team for clarification. 

Just before your scan, you change into a hospital gown and remove all your metal jewelry, as well as eyeglasses, belts, and dentures or removable bridges — items that might affect the scan’s clarity and results.

CT scans use a special scanning device that looks kind of like a big, metal doughnut. During your scan, you lie on an exam table that slowly moves through the center of the doughnut. The X-ray scanner moves around you inside the doughnut to capture multiple images from different angles.

The scanner emits whirring and clicking noises as it captures the images. Most scans take just a few minutes. We might ask you to hold your breath for a few moments to prevent movement that could blur the final images. 

In some cases, we might use a special contrast dye before your CT scan to make certain structures more visible on the final images.

What CT scans can show

Like other imaging tests, CT scans can help to diagnose problems and manage treatment. Your doctor might order a CT scan to:

• Identify the cause of unexplained pain
• Look for infections or inflammation
• Check for internal injuries
• Look for hard-to-see fractures
• Diagnose or manage treatment for many types of cancer
• Manage lung diseases
• Look for blood clots or other vascular issues

Sometimes, doctors order CT scans before surgery as part of the planning process.

CT scans are especially valuable because they provide clear, detailed images of both hard bone tissue and soft tissues, providing lots of information about your organs, blood vessels, and muscles, as well as your skeleton. 

This level of detail is essential for diagnosing and managing issues that we can’t see well using a traditional X-ray. 

Better care and greater peace of mind

CT scans play a key role in helping every patient receive the most appropriate care for their health needs. To learn more about CT scans or to schedule your scan with our team, call us at (720) 493-3700 to request an appointment at one of our locations in Aurora, Greenwood Village, Golden, Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker and Denver, Colorado, today.