The duration of a spinal CT scan is usually between 10 to 30 minutes. The actual scan itself takes only a few minutes, as the entire appointment time can differ quite a bit, with some scans lasting an hour or more that includes some prep time,
What is Spine CT Scan?
When considering the spine, CT clearly and accurately depicts the bony structure of the spine vertebrae, along with the intervertebral disks and a degree of the spinal cord soft tissues Just as with standard x-rays, multiple images, or “pictures” of the inside of the body are produced.
How does it all work?
A conventional x-ray examination directs a very small amount of radiation through the body part being examined and captures the image using a special electronic image recording plate. Bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue appears in shades of gray and air appears black.
In contrast, during a CT scan, a large number of x-ray beams and electronic x-ray detectors rotate about you, measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout your body. In addition, the examination table may move during the scan. A large amount of data is analyzed using a special computer program and then transformed into a two-dimensional cross-sectional image of your body.
Preparation Stage
This usually will take between 5 and 10 minutes. There are scan sequences which also use a contrast material to increase clarity of the images, and during this phase you may be provided with an oral or intravenous contrast material. If a contrast material is required, there may be some additional explanations and allergy checks, but this adds very little time overall.
Procedure of Spina CT Scans
The technologist may ask you to lay still and while they take the scan ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds to avoid making any motion and creating artifacts that would make the images look blurry.
Modern spiral scanners don’t stop and are fast, thus, they can take a number of cross-sectional images of your spine in the time frame it takes for the table to pass through the scanner.
The actual scan time will be very fast, typically the lumbar or cervical region should take no longer than 10-15 minutes. If the scan is for more than one region, or for the whole spinal region, the length of time slightly increases, but because of the technology advances in CT scanning, even with the whole spine it could be done quickly.
Tech Advances
The introduction of spiral and multidetector CT technology has drastically improved scan speed, allowing whole-spine imaging to be performed in just a few minutes, which is useful in trauma or emergency situations. Older CT technology was more time-consuming, and required more stops, although the new machines take way less time and the scanning is more forgiving to some slight movement by the patient.
Conclusion
Normally, spinal CT studies take approximately 15 to 30 minutes from getting set up to leaving after the study is done. The scanner is on for usually around 10 to 15 minutes. These time intervals may change slightly based on the region of the spine being scanned with or without contrast and other patient factors; but in general, this is likely one of the quickest modalities you can get for a quality detailed spinal study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does a CT scan on the spine take?
CT scans of the spine usually take about thirty to sixty minutes in total time, however the actual scanning time is usually measured in minutes.
Q. How is a spinal CT scan done?
The scanner rotates around your body while taking many pictures of your spine, which is done with X-rays right above and below your spine.
Q. How long does it normally take to get a CT scan back?
A radiologist will review the images and write a report that is sent to the doctor who referred the patient for the scan.
Q. Is a CT scan better than an MRI for back pain?
MRI versus CT Scan; Diagnosing Spine & Neck Injuries To reiterate, for back pain, neither is “better” than the other; it depends on the specific scenario and what the doctor is ultimately trying to diagnose.
Q. Is a CT scan noisy?
CT scan doesn’t act noisy, just a little or tiny amount of noise that is not loud or uncomfortable.
Q. What is a CT scan test for?
CT scan is used to detect tumors, fractures, infections, and internal injuries.
Q. Are imaging centers cheaper than hospitals?
Yes, imaging centres don’t involve room and other charges so it can be cheaper than private hospitals. To find the cheapest imaging centres near you contact carebox.
