A computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan allows doctors to see inside your body. It uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create pictures of your organs, bones, and other tissues. It shows more detail than a regular X-ray. You can get a CT scan on any part of your body. The procedure isn’t very time-taking, and it’s painless.
A doctor might order CT scans for a variety of reasons: CT scans can detect bone and joint problems, like complex bone fractures and tumours. If you have a condition like cancer, heart disease, emphysema, or liver masses, CT scans can spot it or help doctors see any changes. They show internal injuries and bleeding, such as those caused by a car accident. They can help locate a tumour, blood clot, excess fluid, or infection. Doctors use them to guide treatment plans and procedures, such as biopsies, surgeries, and radiation therapy. Doctors can compare CT scans to find out if certain treatments are working. For example, scans of a tumour over time can show whether it’s responding to chemotherapy or radiation.
CT scans usually use a narrow X-ray beam that circles around one part of the body. This provides a series of images from many different angles. A computer uses this information to create a cross-sectional picture. The computer stacks these scans one on top of the other to create a detailed image of your organs, bones, or blood vessels. For example, a surgeon may use this type of scan to look at all sides of a tumour to prepare for an operation.
The use of CT scanning combined with functional endoscopic sinus surgery has helped the modern sinus surgeon to treat patients more effectively, facilitating reduced morbidity and complications. Physicians who are interested in treating patients with sinus disease must be able to read and interpret sinus CT scans. Mastery of sinus anatomy and its variant features forms the basis from which radiologic interpretation begins. Familiarization with the radiologic landmarks and cross-sectional anatomy on patient CT scans, along with clinical correlation, can further enhance the reader’s ability to understand sinus CT findings.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS). The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin. These nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body. The peripheral system allows the brain and spinal cord to receive and send information to other areas of the body, which allows us to react to stimuli in our environment.
Patient may be requested to discuss about their family, medical, and medication history. Physical examination will be done. Patient may be advised to take the test on fasting. If you are scheduled with contrast or X-ray dye, you are advised not to eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your test. If you are allergic, you are requested to inform responsible radiologist or technician or doctor before proceeding for the test. If diabetic, you should not take insulin and you are advised to talk to your doctor regarding this. Any heart ailments, asthma, kidney problems, sickle cell disease or pregnant, make sure the technologist know before your exam.
The test procedure for ct pns scan chennai will take 10 to 45 minutes. Patient is requested to remove earrings, glasses, hearing aids and dentures prior to the exam. The contrast x-ray may make you feel warm all through your body and experience a metallic taste during the injection. These sensations will last until the injection is completed. Children under the age of 18 years need to be accompanied by an adult (parent or guardian). Doctor may advise to increase normal fluid to flush the materials from your body that you received during contrast. This intake is done over a 24-hour time period.
In a CT scan, dense substances like bones are easy to see. But soft tissues don’t show up as well. They may look faint in the image. To help them appear clearly, you may need a special dye called a contrast material. Contrast materials are usually made of iodine or barium sulphate. They can be received in one or more of the following ways:
- The drugs are injected directly into a vein. This is done to help your blood vessels, urinary tract, liver, or gallbladder stand out in the image.
- Drinking a liquid with the contrast material can enhance scans of your digestive tract, the pathway of food through your body.
- If your intestines are being scanned, the contrast material can be inserted in your rectum.
Some people are allergic to the contrast materials. Most of the time, the reaction is mild. It can lead to itchiness or a rash. In very few cases, the dye may trigger a life-threatening reaction. For this reason, your health care provider may want to monitor you for a short period after your CT scan. Tell your doctor about any allergies you have to medications, seafood, or iodine.
Your doctor should know, too, if you have diabetes and are taking the drug metformin. He’ll let you know if you should stop taking your medication before or after your procedure. Although it’s rare, contrast materials can lead to kidney problems as well.
The cost of ct pns scan Chennai comes to an average of about Rs.2800 to Rs.4000 depending on the quality and availability. CT scans use X-rays, which produce ionizing radiation. Research shows that this kind of radiation may damage your DNA further leading to cancer. But the risk is still very small — your chances of developing a fatal cancer because of a CT scan are about 1 in 2,000. But radiation’s effect adds up over your lifetime. So, your risk increases with every CT scan you get. Talk to your doctor about the procedure’s potential dangers and benefits, and ask why the CT scan is absolutely necessary.