CT scan
What happens afterwards
You shouldn't experience any aftereffects from a CT scan and can usually go home soon afterwards. You can eat and drink, go to work and drive as normal.If a contrast was used, youmay be advised to wait in the hospital for up to an hour to make sure you don't have a reaction to it(see below). The contrast is normally completely harmless andwill pass out of your body in your urine.Your scan results won't usually be available immediately. A computer will need to process the information from your scan, which will then be analysed by a radiologist (a specialist in interpreting images of the body).After analysing the images, the radiologist will write a report and send it tothe doctor who referredyou for the scan, so they can discuss the results with you. Thisnormally takes a few days or weeks.
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Introduction
Read about why CT scans are carried out, and find out what happens before, during and after the scan.
When CT scans are used
CT scans can produce detailed images of many structures inside the body, including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones.They can be used to: diagnose conditions includingdamage tobones,injurie
Preparing for a CT scan
Your appointment letter will mention anything you need to do to prepare for your scan.You may be advised to avoideating anything forseveral hours before your appointment, to help ensure that clear ima
Before having a CT scan
Before havingthe scan,you may be given aspecial dye called a contrast to help improve the quality of the images. This may be swallowed in the form of a drink, passed into your bottom (enema), or injec
What happens during a CTscan
Duringthe scan, you'll usually lie on your back on a flat bed that passes into the CT scanner.The scanner consists of a ring that rotates arounda small section of your body as you pass through it. Unl
What happens afterwards
You shouldn't experience any aftereffects from a CT scan and can usually go home soon afterwards. You can eat and drink, go to work and drive as normal.If a contrast was used, youmay be advised to wai
Are CT scans safe?
CT scans are quick, painless and generally safe. However, there's a small risk you could have an allergicreaction to the contrast dye usedand you will be exposed to X-rayradiation.The amount of radiat
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