Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan in Paris

What is an Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan ?

Abdominal and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT) scans are medical imaging technologies that help create detailed images of internal organs. These scans play a crucial role in diagnosing, monitoring, and planning treatment for various medical conditions.

Common uses of the Abdominal and Pelvic Scan

Abdominal scan and pelvic CT scans play a pivotal role in diagnostic radiology, offering high-resolution, non-invasive images crucial for diagnosing diverse diseases. Here’s how they prove invaluable:

1. Evaluation of Gastro-intestinal Pathology: CT scans detect inflammation and anomalies in the intestines and gastro-intestinal tract. It aids in the diagnosis of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-intestinal cancers.
2. Identification of Organ Abnormalities: CT scans identify anomalies in organs like the liver, spleen, and kidneys. It allows for quick treatment of conditions like liver cirrhosis, renal cysts, and spleen diseases.
3. Diagnosis of Symptomatic Conditions including abdominal pain, blood in the urine, abnormal blood test results, persistent fever, and hernias.
4. Tumors and masses detection: CT scans are important for locating and measuring tumors, which helps catch them early and monitor treatment progress.
5. CT scans diagnose infections and injuries like appendicitis, kidney and bladder stones, and internal organ trauma.
6. Managing inflammatory conditions involves diagnosing diseases like Crohn’s disease, ulceratice colitis, and pancreatitis, which helps plan treatments for symptoms and the diseases themselves.
7. Guidance for Surgical and Procedural Interventions: CT scans aid in surgical planning, biopsy guidance, and minimally invasive procedures. It optimizes patient outcomes and minimizing procedural risks.
8. Planning Radiation Therapy by defining tumor boundaries and surrounding structures facilitates. It helps in accurate radiation therapy planning, maximizing treatment efficacy while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues.

Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan : the procedure

How to get prepared for an Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan ?

Proper preparation is crucial for ensuring a smooth and accurate abdominal and pelvic CT scan procedure. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment, as you may need to change into a hospital gown. Remove all metal objects, including jewelry, eyeglasses, hairpins, and dentures, since these can interfere with the imaging. Women should remove bras with metal underwires and any body piercings if possible.

In case of need of intravenous (IV) contrast agent, your doctor might instruct you not to eat or drink for several hours before the scan. Inform your doctor about all medications you are taking and any known allergies, particularly to contrast material. If an allergy is present, a physician may prescribe a steroid or medication to mitigate a reaction. In cases you have kidney disease, and need IV contrast for a scan, it’s important to have recent kidney function test results.

Always inform your physician and the CT technologist if there’s a chance you could be pregnant. Additional precautions might be necessary to protect the fetus. To prevent delays, talk to your doctor ahead of your scan date if you have any questions about the procedure or its side effects.

Following these guidelines will ensure the technician conducts your CT scan safely and efficiently. Providing your healthcare team with high-quality images for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

How is the exam performed ?

An abdominal and pelvic CT scan is a detailed procedure designed to capture images of your internal structures. Here’s a simplified overview of the process:

A technologist will assist you onto the CT exam table, where you’ll lie flat on your back and asked to stay still. For children who struggle to stay still, sedation may be necessary to prevent blurry images resulting from movement.

During the scan, you might get contrast material through an IV, by mouth, or, rarely, as an enema to help see certain areas better. The exam table quickly moves through the scanner to find the right start position, then slows down for the scan. You may need to change positions or hold your breath at times to avoid motion artifacts.

After the scan, you’ll wait briefly while the technologist checks the image quality. The scanning process lasts a few minutes, but you might need to arrive early if you need oral contrast.

This overview should help you feel prepared and understand what to expect during your CT scan.

What to expect after a Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan ?

After you undergo an abdominal and pelvic CT scan, the process of analyzing and interpreting the images begins. Here is what you can expect following the scan:

A radiologist will examine your CT scan images, analyze them, create a report, and send it to your doctor.

Depending on your initial CT scan results, a follow-up exam may be necessary. Your doctor will explain the need for further evaluation or additional imaging to assess a potential issue. Follow-up scans might also monitor changes in a previously detected condition or evaluate treatment effectiveness. Understanding these potential steps can help you feel prepared for your ongoing care journey.

What are the risks of an Abdominal and Pelvic CT scan ?

An abdominal and pelvic CT scan offers detailed internal imaging but carries several risks. The primary concern is exposure to ionizing radiation, which can increase cancer risk, especially with repeated scans. This risk is more acute in young adults and children because of their heightened sensitivity to radiation. Pregnant women should also be cautious, as radiation can potentially harm the developing fetus.

For breastfeeding mothers, the use of contrast dyes during some CT scans is an additional concern. These dyes can enter breast milk and potentially affect the infant. Moreover, these dyes might trigger allergic reactions or cause kidney issues in susceptible individuals. People who have a known allergy to contrast agents should discuss alternatives with their healthcare provider.