Abdominal CT scan

You will lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Most often, you will lie on your back with your arms raised above your head. Once you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. Modern spiral scanners can perform the exam without stopping. A computer creates…

You need to have a special dye, called contrast, put into your body before some exams. Contrast helps certain areas show up better on the scans. Contrast can be administered in various ways. Such as: Contrast can be given through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. If contrast is used, you may also be asked not to…

Lying on the hard table may be a bit uncomfortable. If you have contrast through a vein (IV), you may have: Slight burning sensation Metallic taste in the mouth Warm flushing of the body These feelings are normal and go away within a few seconds.

An abdominal CT scan makes detailed pictures of the structures inside your belly very quickly. This test may be used to look for: Cause of blood in the urine Cause of abdominal pain or swelling Cause of abnormal blood test results such as liver or kidney problems Hernia Cause of a fever Masses and tumors, including…

The abdominal CT scan may show some cancers, including: Cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter Colon cancer Hepatocellular carcinoma Lymphoma Melanoma Ovarian cancer Pancreatic cancer Pheochromocytoma Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) Spread of cancers that began outside the belly The abdominal CT scan may show…

Risks of CT scans include: Allergy to contrast dye Exposure to radiation Damage to kidney function from contrast dye CT scans expose you to more radiation than regular x-rays. Many x-rays or CT scans over time may increase your risk for cancer. However, the risk from any one scan is small. Most modern scanners are…

Al Sarraf AA, McLaughlin PD, Maher MM. Current status of imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 18. Levin MS, Gore RM. Diagnostic imaging…