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PATIENT GUIDE
MRI
CT
MRI
What is MRI?
MRI is a way of creating pictures of your body that does not use X-rays or radiation. The MRI machine makes pictures by organising and collecting the magnetic fields that naturally occur within the body. MRI pictures show the soft tissues of the body (muscles, nerves, brain discs, ligaments etc.). In many situations MRI offers unique information to help your doctor better plan your treatment and care.
What will the MRI examination involve?
During the scan you will be asked to lie very still on a comfortable bed inside a C-shaped machine, and thus open at three sides. You will not feel anything whilst the scan is proceeding, but you will hear a knocking sound. This is quite normal. The Radiographer will be in contact with you throughout the examination, which typically takes between 25-40 minutes.
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Preparation for MRI
There is no need to stop medication. However, we do ask that you do not eat or drink two hours before the examination. For abdominal investigation please do not eat 5 hours before the scan.
It is important not to bring any metal into the scan room without letting the radiographers know. Before the scan you will be asked to remove your watch, keys, coins, credit cards, phone cards and mobile phones.
When you arrive at the MRI Unit, you will be asked a series of questions to find out if you have any metal or implants in your body.
You may be asked to change into a gown as zips may degrade the quality of the images. Ladies will be asked to remove eye make-up.
Depending upon the type of examination you may be required to have a small injection in your arm. This will not affect your ability to drive.
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Important Safety Information
It is NOT possible to have an MRI examination if you have:
· A HEART PACEMAKER
· SURGICAL CLIPS WITHIN YOUR HEAD
· METALLIC HEART VALVES
· INNER EAR IMPLANTS
· METAL FRAGMENTS WITHIN YOUR EYE OR HEAD
· NEURO ELECTRICAL STIMULATORS
If you are pregnant, or suffer from claustrophobia please consult the MRI radiographers
If you have fillings or other dental fixtures, the MRI examination can still be carried out.
How will I receive the results?
A Consultant Radiologist will interpret your MRI scan and the results( report and film )will be issued to you.
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CT
Computed Tomography What For ?
You have been given an appointment for a computed tomography scan or CT scan. If this is your first CT scan, you will, of course, have many questions on your mind: “What can I expect before, during and after such a procedure?”This brochure is designed to give you some answers to these questions. But first of all, one thing is certain: a CT examination is fast, straightforward and painless. So there is no need to worry about your CT appointment.CT is a radiological method which has been used since 1974 to visualize certain regions of your body slice by slice. Today, CT technology is an indispensable tool in medicine. It is used for routine examinations of the entire body.
For example, CT can assist your physician in:
• Detecting strokes, head injuries,herniated discs, abscesses
• Locating fractures
• Determining the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in trauma patients; in such cases it is
especially helpful to have an imaging procedure which allows a fast first diagnosis
• Diagnosing changes in various organs
• Diagnosing or excluding diseases
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What Happens During the Examination?
During the examination you will be lying on a comfortable patient table (usually on your back). This table will then slowly move you through the opening of the examination unit called the gantry. All you need to do now is pay attention to the instructions of the CT personnel who
may, for example, ask you to briefly hold your breath or not to move certain regions of your body.
As with conventional X-ray examinations, you will not feel the acquisition of CT images at all; you
will only hear a low whirring noise. The patient table will move slightly during the entire examination. As the table moves through the gantry of the CT unit, the X-ray system rotates around
the patient; images of the body are acquired in “spiral movements”.
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How Is the CT Image or CT Scan Made?
While you are The CT examination is called“scanning” by the experts, and not image acquisition. Scanning is a computer-controlled electronic procedure comparable to digital photography. Whether you call it a scan or an image: after the examination you and your physician will be able to look at an extraordinarily precise image of the inside of your body. And this is exactly what counts! in the gantry, the X-ray system is taking extremely detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Based on the data acquired, the computer thengenerates the so-called result images.
This way it aids your physician in reliably and precisely visualizing and then diagnosing the presence or absence of disease inside your body.
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Contrast Medium – What & Why?
Depending on the examination, a contrast medium may be administered to aid in strengthening
the resulting diagnosis. Most people tolerate the contrast medium without any problems and merely feel flushed for a moment.
Since the contrast medium contains iodine which may cause an allergic reaction in some people, you should consult with your physician regarding any existing allergies prior to the examination. Should you feel any discomfort during the examination, you can communicate this to the CT
team any time. Modern scanners are equipped with an intercom system for this purpose.
How Should You Prepare?
To ensure that optimal results are obtained, your cooperation is required. Please talk to the physician referring you to CT. He will give you detailed information on how to prepare yourself for the examination. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Like other X-ray
examinations, CT scans should not be performed during pregnancy because of the exposure to radiation.
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A few general tips:
• If you have images from previous examinations (including X-rays), please bring them with you
• For head and neck examinations: please remove all jewelry, hairpins, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures or leave them at home
• For abdominal examinations: please ask your physician how many hours prior to the examination you should refrain from eating or drinking
• It is very important to let your physician know if you have had previous allergic reactions to a
contrast medium, iodine or shellfish or if you have asthma
• If you have diabetes or take medication: Please inform the radiologist or his team.
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What You Should Know About Radiation Exposure.?
CT scanners use X-rays. Your radiation exposure is kept to a minimum. The competent and experienced CT staff nowadays have a whole series of dose saving functions at their disposal. Modern CT scanners are designed to ensure the consistent reduction of radiation exposure to
patients and staff.
Today’s CT scanners offer an optimal combination of low radiation exposure and short examination times while maintaining excellent image quality. However, X-rays may harm a developing fetus. Pregnant women should therefore avoid having a CT scan.
What Happens After the Examination?
A Consultant Radiologist will interpret your CT scan and the results( report and film )will be issued to you.
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