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An X-ray scan that uses a computer to produce cross-sectional images of the abdomen.
Abdomen
A CT scan is done to study the organs and vascular system within the abdomen for signs of injuries, tumors, or other disease.
Your doctor may recommend an abdominal CT if you have the following symptoms:
Many conditions and diseases can be diagnosed with an abdominal CT. These include:
None
You may be given a contrast dye depending on which tissues your doctor wants to examine. If this is the case, do not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before your exam.
You'll remove your clothes and put on a hospital gown. You'll also need to remove all metal-containing items, including jewelry and watches.
If a contrast dye is needed, it is either injected into a vein, or you will drink it as a barium solution. You'll be positioned on a special movable table, called a gantry, part way inside the CT scanner, which is usually donut shaped.
None
The gantry advances you very slowly through the CT scanner. You'll need to be very still during the entire test. As the scanner takes pictures, you'll hear some humming and clicking. The technician will ask you to hold your breath at certain points so that the picture is not blurred by movement. You can talk to the technician and/or doctor during the exam, so if you are in pain, frightened or concerned, you can communicate this immediately.
If you've received contrast dye, drink extra fluids to flush it out of your body more quickly.
Ten minutes to one hour, depending on how many areas must be scanned and how much detail is required.
The scan itself will not hurt, although you may feel restless. When you receive an injection of contrast dye, you may feel flushed and notice a salty or metallic taste in your mouth. Some people experience brief nausea as the dye circulates.
Allergic or anaphylactic response to contrast dye.
None.
None.
A radiologist analyzes and interprets the images created by the CT Scan and sends a report to your doctor. Be sure to make a follow-up appointment with your GI doctor to review the results and determine your child's treatment plan.
You have had contrast dye and notice: