In itself, a CT scan isn’t’ “serious.” It’s a medical procedure that uses radiation when doctors want sharper images of a patient’s body parts to help formalize a diagnosis or monitor a known condition. The recommendation for you to have a CT scan is a decision based on your doctor’s knowledge of the possible benefits to your health and your health situation. Normally, the risks associated when using radiation are well worth the benefits.
What is a CT scan machine?
There are some important parts of a CT scan machine.The gantry is the ring-shaped part of the scanner and where the X-ray tube and digital X-ray detectors are located.
New or Sudden Neurological Symptoms
- New, severe headaches.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Seizures.
- Slurred speech.
- Change in vision.
- Persistent vomiting.
- Memory loss.
- New weakness or numbness in any part of your body.
These signs may indicate conditions such as stroke, brain bleed, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury. Because CT scans are fast and accessible, CT scans are usually the first imaging investigation in these situations allowing for relatively rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Abdominal and Pelvic Symptoms
- Severe – or unexplained – abdominal pain.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Constant nausea or vomiting.
- Blood in the urine or stool.
- Possible kidney stone or appendicitis.
CT scans can identify tumors, infections, bowel obstructions, kidney stones, appendicitis , diverticulitis and other emergency cases of abdominal emergency situations. CT scans are also helpful when physical examination and conditioning tests are not evidently pointing towards any specific diagnosis.
Why might you need a CT Scan?
There are many potential reasons your provider may order a CT scan. For example, a CT scan can:
Evaluate muscular and/or bony issues such as bone tumors and bone fractures.
Assist in procedures such as surgical, biopsy or radiotherapy.
Detects and monitors progression of disease and/or conditions such as cancer, coronary artery disease, lung nodules and liver masses.
Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for some diseases, such as cancer treatments.
Evaluate internal injury caused by trauma as well as any bleeding.
Does a CT Scan Show?
CT scans can find bone and joint problems such as complicated bone fractures and tumors.
They can show internal injuries and bleeding, such as after a car accident.
They can help find a tumor, blood clot, excess fluid, or infection.
Doctors use CT scans for treatment plans, it guides them with procedures like surgeries, and radiation therapy.
Identify The Cause Of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain, specifically in the back or spine, can originate from many different locations. Sometimes, a fracture, or a problem with another area of your body can be producing chronic back pain. This is known as referred pain. A CT scan can help your doctor evaluate the origin of your chronic pain so that you can get the right treatment.
This is an important test to help your doctor assess if there is a fracture, herniated disk, or scoliosis. CT allows your doctor to visualize your spine prior to surgery, and then post-operatively as well. In some cases, a CT scan may be used with an MRI to more accurately assess arthritis or infections.
Conclusion
The recommendation for a CT scan is an example of the good faith to which patients are entitled concerning providers giving diagnostic tests or ordering referrals for diagnostic tests to monitor, or search for, health-related issues. This may be an important element of the overall decision-making process to arrive at the best diagnosis to ultimately give you the best health care; however, it does not necessarily mean that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Should I be worried if I had a CT scan?
CT scans use radiation and there is a small theoretical possibility of cancer with any kind of radiation exposure, many doctors and experts agree that a CT scan has more benefits than risk, especially if it is medically important. Doctors make sure to put together the benefits and risks before recommending the availability of a CT scan.
Q. Is getting a CT scan a big deal?
While a CT scan can offer some beneficial information for diagnosis, there is some radiation exposure and a few small risks that you might like to keep in mind. Whether the CT scan is a ‘big deal’ truly depends on individual aspects of your situation and reasons for having the CT scan.
Q. What are the symptoms that require a CT scan?
CT scans may be requested for a range of symptoms and diagnoses including a head injury, suspected stroke, suspected aneurysm, unexplained headaches or dizziness, abdominal pain or abdominal masses, suspected kidney stones or obstructions; such as in kidney, ureter, bladder scans. CT scans are also used to diagnose and monitor cancers, heart disease, blood clots, conditions of the bowel, and multiple conditions of bone and spine disease.
Q. Is it serious to get a CT scan?
Reasons Why You May Require a CT Scan – Health Images
Although CT scans involve an exposure to radiation, it is a relatively low risk that often is far worth the actual risk of gaining the correct diagnosis and getting the correct treatment. Scans are effective at detecting many different conditions. The doctors are appropriately weighing the risk versus benefits before recommending a CT scan.
Q. What is the Full form of CT scan?
CT scan stands for the Computed Tomography scan.
