Tests and treatments

CT scan

What is it?

A CT (computer tomography) scan is an X-ray examination where an X-ray tube, encapsulated in a ring, revolves around the patient lying on an immobile table. This allows hundreds of thin ‘cross-section images to be taken of the patient. These are subsequently uploaded to a powerful computer that can generate the images in any desired direction.

Examples

There are CT scans for different parts of the body. There are CT scans for the chest, abdomen, cranium, lumbar spine, cervical spine, sinusses, mastoid sinuses, arthoscopy, knee/pulse/shoulder/elbow/hip, angiogram of the neck arteries, angiogram of the coronary arteries, angiogram of the aorta and a virtual colonoscopy (Maria Middelares Medical Centre campus)...

Test procedure

Please tell us if you:

are pregnant (or suspect you could be pregnant)
have contraindications for intravenous contrast (if this is required for the scan)

Preparation for the test

You must be fasting if contrast agent is to be administered:

Type of food:	Example:	Allowed until at the latest:
Normal meal		midnight before the surgery or examination
Light meal	e.g. a sandwich or toast with jam. Deep-fried/fatty foods or meat are not included	six hours prior to the procedure or examination
Dairy products	Milk, bottle-feeding for a child, yoghurt...	six hours prior to the procedure or examination
Breastfeeding		four hours prior to the procedure or examination
Drinks	As wished: water, sugar water, sports drinks, clear fruit juices without pulp (apple juice, grape juice) Maximum a cup: clear tea and coffee without milk .	Recommended: continue to drink clear beverages up to two hours before the procedure or examination Up to six hours before the procedure: fizzy drinks (Exceptions: gastrointestinal surgery. You should follow the instructions of your attending physician).