Orbit CT scan

You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Only your head is placed inside the CT scanner. You may lie on your back, or you may lie face-down with your chin raised. You may be allowed to rest your head on a pillow. Once you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam…

Before the test: You will be asked to remove jewelry and wear a hospital gown during the study. If you weigh more than 300 pounds (135 kilograms), find out if the CT machine has a weight limit. Too much weight can cause damage to the scanner's working parts. Certain exams require a special dye, called contrast, to be…

Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table. Contrast given through an IV may cause a slight burning sensation. You may also have a metallic taste in the mouth and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and most often go away within a few seconds.

This test is helpful for diagnosing diseases that affect the following areas around the eyes: Blood vessels Eye muscles Nerves supplying the eyes (optic nerves) Sinuses An orbit CT scan may also be used to detect: Abscess (infection) of the eye area Broken eye socket bone Foreign object in the eye socket

Abnormal results may mean: Bleeding Broken eye socket bone Graves disease Infection Tumor

CT scans and other x-rays are strictly monitored and controlled to make sure they use the least amount of radiation. The risk associated with any individual scan is very low. The risk increases as more scans are done. CT scans are done when the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. For example, it can be more risky not…

Campion T, Miszkiel K, Davagnanam I. The orbit. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 60. Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 10th…