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Alfa Scan is proud to announce the
presence of Multislice (64 channel) CT scanners (MSCT) in all of its
three branches.
CT scan provides a different and more detailed picture
of tissue and bone than is possible with a routine X-ray. The scan
itself is painless and very safe. Your radiation exposure is slightly
more than a routine X-ray.
Multislice CT scanners provide
thinner, more detailed slices of the scanned part of the body in a much
faster time and less exposure to the patient. This has led to the
facilitation of doing more techniques of areas of the body that were not
available before the production of these scanners.
What is CT
scan?
Are there risks in
obtaining a CT scan?
Available equipment
Contrast
media
Anaesthesia
Available techniques
MSCT techniques
A computerized axial tomography scan is an x-ray
procedure that combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to
generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images
of the internal organs and structures of the body. Computerized axial
tomography is more commonly known by its abbreviated names, CT scan or
CAT scan. A CT scan is used to define normal and abnormal structures in
the body and/or assist in procedures by helping to accurately guide the
placement of instruments or treatments.
A large donut-shaped x-ray machine takes x-ray images at
many different angles around the body. These images are processed by a
computer to produce cross-sectional pictures of the body. In each of
these pictures the body is seen as an x-ray "slice" of the body, which
is recorded on a film. This recorded image is called a tomogram.
"Computerized Axial Tomography" refers to the recorded tomogram
"sections" at different levels of the body.
Imagine the body as a loaf of bread and you are looking
at one end of the loaf. As you remove each slice of bread, you can see
the entire surface of that slice from the crust to the center. The body
is seen on CT scan slices in a similar fashion from the skin to the
central part of the body being examined. When these levels are further
"added" together, a three-dimensional picture of an organ or abnormal
body structure can be obtained.
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A CT scan is a very low-risk
procedure. The most common problem is an adverse reaction to intravenous
contrast material. Intravenous contrast is usually an iodine-based
liquid given in the vein, which makes many organs and structures, such
as the kidneys and blood vessels much more visible on the CT scan. There
may be resulting itching, a rash, hives, or a feeling of warmth
throughout the body. These are usually self-limiting reactions that go
away rather quickly. If needed, antihistamines can be given to help
relieve the symptoms. A more serious allergic reaction to intravenous
contrast is called an anaphylactic reaction. When this occurs, the
patient may experience severe hives and/or extreme difficulty in
breathing. This reaction is quite rare, but is potentially
life-threatening if not treated. Medications which may include
corticosteroids, antihistamines, and epinephrine can reverse this
adverse reaction.
Toxicity to the kidneys which can
result in kidney failure is an extremely rare complication of the
intravenous contrast material used in CT scans. People with diabetes,
dehydrated individuals, or patients who already have impaired kidney
function are most prone to this reaction. Newer intravenous contrast
agents have been developed, which have nearly eliminated this
complication.
The amount of radiation a person receives during a CT
scan is minimal. In men and non-pregnant women, it has not been shown to
produce any adverse effects. If a woman is pregnant, there may be a
potential risk to the fetus, especially in the first trimester of the
pregnancy. If a woman is pregnant, she should inform her doctor of her
condition and discuss other potential methods of imaging, such as an
ultrasound, which are not harmful to the fetus.
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Normal ionic contrast media
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Low-osmolar, non-ionic contrast media (for
hyperallergic and sensitive patients)
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Anaesthesia, local or general, may be
available upon request. For children or irritable patients, anaesthesia
will be inevitable.
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Please call our hotline 16171 or (202) 3336-3310 (Mohandeseen),
(202) 2417 5556 (Heliopolis) or (202) 2528 4888 (Maadi) to speak with a
radiologist if you have any questions. It is best to call between 10
a.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday through Thursday. |
