CT Preparations:

Abdomen/Pelvis:

  • No food or drink for 4 hours prior to exam time. Medications may be taken with a small amount of liquid up to exam time. Patients who are diabetic should call the CT Department if they need to eat prior to the study due to insulin, etc.
  • Patients receiving IV contrast  who are diabetic and are on Glucophage/Metformin should not take it on the day of the exam and should restart taking it 48 hours after the exam.
  • Patients should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing and will be required to remove any articles of clothing or jewelry, which may interfere with the CT scan such as belts, pocket change or underwire bras.

Head/Neck/Chest

  • No food or drink 2 hours prior to the exam. Medications may be taken with a small amount of liquid up to exam time. Patients receiving IV contrast who are diabetic should call the CT Department if they need to eat prior to the study due to insulin, etc.
  • Patients receiving IV contrast who are diabetic and on Glucophage/Metforin should not take it on the day of the exam and should restart their medication 48 hours following the exam.
  • Patients will be required to remove clothing or jewelry, which may interfere with the CT scan such as earrings, dentures, necklace, glasses or hairpins.

Spine/Extremity

  • Patients will be required to remove any clothing or jewelry which can interfere with the CT scan such as belts, watches, or underwire bras.

Precautions for all CT Exams

  • Patients should inform the technologist if they have a history of allergies (especially to previous contrast injection, medications, or shellfish), asthma, diabetes, kidney problems, thyroid problems, or heart condition.
  • Please inform the technologist if you are or may be pregnant.
  • If IV contrast is utilized and you are over age 60 or older bloodwork (BUN & Creatinine) is necessary prior to exam.

DEXA BONE DENSITOMETRY

Precautions:

X-ray is used for this study so you should inform the technologist if there is any possibility you may be pregnant. DEXA scan cannot be performed within ten days of oral or IV contrast.

Preparation:

No calcium, multi vitamin, or vitamin D 24 hours prior to exam and it can be performed in street clothing. Patients lie on a comfortable table for approximately 20 minutes. After the study a radiologist will prepare a report for your physician which will be forwarded to his or her office.

MRI EXAM

Preparation:

  • There are no special preparations required for an MRI scan. However, if you are having a scan of your abdomen and/or pelvis you should not eat 4 hours prior to the exam. Medications prescribed by your doctor should be taken.
  • Due to the sensitivity of the 3T MRI imaging you will be asked to wear a hospital gown for the exam.  We will provide more than adequate coverage for your privacy.
  • It is important that earrings, piercings, and watches be removed.
  • All piercings must be removed for exam.

ULTRASOUND EXAMS

PREPARATION:

Preparation varies depending on the exam being performed. You may take your prescribed medications with a small amount of water.

Complete Abdomen: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam OR fasting for 8 hours prior to exam. Approximate time of exam is 1/2 hour.

Limited Abdomen: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam OR fasting for 8 hours prior to exam. Approximate time of exam is 1/2 hour.

Obstetrical and Pelvis: A full bladder is necessary. Finish drinking 4-5 eight-ounce glasses of water one hour prior to exam. Do not empty your bladder.

Transvaginal: The exam is done with an empty bladder.

Doppler Exam of the Renal (Kidney) Arteries: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam OR fasting for 8 hours . Drinking water is okay. Medications can be taken with small amounts of fluids up until the exam time.

Renal (kidney w/o Doppler) A full bladder is necessary. Finish drinking 4-5 eight-ounce glasses of water one hour prior to exam. Do not empty your bladder.

No Preparation Necessary for:

Thyroid

Breast

Extremities (including Doppler)

Testicle