Ct scan of the body

CT scans are used to study areas of the body and the arms or legs.

• Chest (thorax).A CT scan of the chest can look for problems with the lungs, the heart, theesophagus, or the major blood vessel (aorta) or the tissues in the center of the chest. Some common chest problems a CT scan may find include infection,lung cancer, apulmonary embolism, and ananeurysm. It also can be used to see if cancer has spread into the chest from another area of the body.
• Abdomen.A CT scan of the abdomen can findcysts,abscesses, infection, tumors, an aneurysm, enlargedlymph nodes, foreign objects, bleeding in the belly,diverticulitis,inflammatory bowel disease, andappendicitis.
• Urinary tract.A CT scan of thekidneys,ureters, and bladder is called a CT KUB or CT urogram. This type of scan can findkidney stones, bladder stones, or blockage of theurinary tract. A special type of CT scan, called a CT intravenous pyelogram (IVP), uses injected dye (contrast material) to look for kidney stones, blockage, growths, infection, or other diseases of the urinary tract.
• Liver.A CT scan can find liver tumors, bleeding from the liver, and liver diseases. A CT scan of the liver can help find the cause ofjaundice.
• Pancreas.A CT scan can find a tumor in the pancreas or inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
• Gallbladder and bile ducts.A CT scan can be used to check for blockage of thebileducts.Gallstonessometimes show up on a CT scan. But other tests, such asultrasound, usually are used to find problems with the gallbladder and bile ducts.
• Adrenal glands.A CT scan can find tumors or enlarged adrenal glands.
• Spleen.A CT scan can be used to check for an injury to thespleenor the size of the spleen.
• Pelvis.A CT scan can look for problems of organs in the pelvis. These include theuterus,ovaries,fallopian tubes,prostate gland, andseminal vesicles.
• Arm or leg.A CT scan can look for problems of the arms or legs, such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, or foot.

A CT scan may be used to help do a procedure. For example, the doctor may use CT to guide a needle during a tissue biopsy or to guide the proper placement of a needle to drain an abscess.

For people with cancer, a CT scan can help find out how much the cancer has spread.

You may need to take off any jewelry. You will need to take off all or most of your clothes, depending on which area is studied. You may be able to wear your underwear for some scans. You will be given a gown to use during the test.

During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner.

The table slides into the round opening of the scanner, and the scanner moves around your body. The table will move while the scanner takes pictures. You may hear a click or buzz as the table and scanner move. It is very important to lie still during the test.

During the test, you may be alone in the scan room. But the technologist will watch you through a window. You will be able to talk to them through a two-way intercom.

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.

Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax. If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home.

If you have a CT scan of your belly, you may be asked to not eat any solid foods starting the night before your scan. For a CT scan of the belly, you may drink contrast material. For some CT scans, you may need a laxative or anenemabefore the test.

Complete results usually are ready for your doctor in 1 to 2 days.

Normal:

• The organs and blood vessels are normal in size, shape, and location. No blood vessels are blocked.
• No foreign objects (such as metal or glass fragments), growths (such as cancer), inflammation, or infections are present.
• No bleeding or collections of fluid are present.

Abnormal:

• An organ is too large or too small, damaged, or infected.Abscessesare present.
• Foreign objects (such as metal or glass fragments) are present.
• Kidney stonesorgallstonesare present.
• Growths (such as tumors) are seen in the colon, lungs,ovaries, liver,bladder,kidneys,adrenal gland, orpancreas.
• A CT scan of the chest shows apulmonary embolism, fluid in the lungs, or infection.
• Ananeurysmis present.
• Blockage is found in the intestines or in thebileducts.
• A CT of the belly showsinflammatory bowel diseaseordiverticulitis.
• Lymph nodesare enlarged.
• One or more blood vessels are blocked.
• A growth, fracture, infection, or other problem is found in an arm or leg.