Chest CT

The test is done in the following way: You'll likely be asked to change into a hospital gown. You lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the scanner. Once you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. You must be still during the exam, because movement causes blurred images.…

Some people have allergies to IV contrast and may need to take medicine before their test to safely receive this substance. If contrast is used, you may also be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before the test. If you weigh more than 300 pounds (135 kilograms), have your health care provider contact…

Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table. Contrast given through an IV may cause a slight burning sensation, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and usually go away within a few seconds. There is no recovery time, unless you were given…

CT quickly creates detailed pictures of the body. The test may be used to get a better view of the structures inside the chest. A CT scan is one of the best ways of looking at soft tissues such as the heart and lungs. A chest CT may be done: After a chest injury When a tumor or mass (clump of cells) is suspected,…

Thoracic CT may show many disorders of the heart, lungs, mediastinum, or chest area, including: A tear in the wall , an abnormal widening or ballooning , or narrowing of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta) Other abnormal changes of the major blood vessels in the lungs or chest such as blood clots…

CT scans and other x-rays are strictly monitored and controlled to make sure they use the least amount of radiation. CT scans use low levels of ionizing radiation, which has the potential to cause cancer and other defects. However, the risk from any one scan is small. The risk increases as many more studies are done.…

Nair A, Barnett JL, Semple TR. Current status of thoracic imaging. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 1. Shaqdan KW, Otrakji A, Sahani D. Safe use of contrast media. In: Abujudeh HH, Bruno MA, eds.…