You can use this information to prepare for most CT exams. You need to follow special instructions to prepare for a SPECIAL STUDY like CT angiography

  • CT Appointment: Most plain studies are done on a walk-in basis, but the contrast studies and some special studies are done only in the presence of a Radiologist. Please check with Department and get an appointment.

INSURANCE CASES

  • Please meet the WARD MANAGER, available in his Counter, if you want the Bill to be paid through CMCHIS. Please carry with you, the PROPERLY FILLED Request from the Doctor, who will affix his/her Full signature and Seal, along with the copies of previous investigations, your Aadhar, Ration card first page, and your Insurance ID card. Upon submission of the Documents, the Ward Manager will upload the Documents, and inform you over phone, the Appointment Date and Time, upon receiving the PreAuthorisation approval for the Test.

Checking In

When you check in, you will be required to pay for the CT Examination, as per the FEE STRUCTURE PRESCRIBED BY THE TNMSC, which maintains the CT SCAN CENTRE. We ask for the Doctor’s Request, and you will be asked details including your name, date of birth and some details about your clinical condition. You will be asked to provide some Lab Reports, if necessary.

PLEASE CARRY ALL RELEVANT TEST RESULTS /CASE DETAILS ON THE DAY OF THE SCAN.

TNMSC Charges:

  • PLAIN CT – ONE REGION – RS.500/-

  • CONTRAST  CT – ONE REGION – RS. 500+300 TOTAL RS.800/-

  • CT ANGIOGRAM – ONE REGION – RS.3000/–

PLEASE PAY THE AMOUNT IN THE TNMSC BILL COUNTER ONLY, AND MAKE SURE YOU COLLECT THE RECEIPT.

PAYMENT BY DIGITAL MODES FACILITY AVAILABLE, THROUGH POS AND BY G-PAY.  

YOU WILL BE ASKED TO SHOW THE RECEIPT AT THE TIME OF SCAN AND AT THE TIME OF COLLECTING YOUR FILM/REPORT.

How to Prepare for a CT

  • You may be asked to provide some clinical information and lab data about your Serum Creatinine and blood UREA levels.
  • Dietary Restrictions (If Needed) – If Scan needs contrast, Please do not eat solid food four hours before your appointment. Please drink plenty of fluids such as water or clear soup.
  • For scans of the abdomen or pelvic area, it’s important to have an empty stomach for clearer images.
  • If you are fasting, please avoid taking diabetes medications or insulin injections.
  • Please do not avoid medicine for Hypertension or cardiac medicines unless you are asked to.
  • Your  referring doctor  can tell you if you have any other restrictions.
  • ALWAYS INFORM THE TECHNICIAN IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, OR IF YOUR PERIODS ARE MISSED. A study like CT scan involves radiation, and doctor might suggest an alternative scan, if there are chances that you may be pregnant.
  • Contrast – You may need contrast for your CT. There are two kinds: the kind you drink in the waiting room (oral contrast) and the kind you get through an IntraVenous (IV) line.  Contrast helps us see the images more clearly. We can usually tell you before your appointment if you need contrast. Sometimes we get information on the day of your exam that changes how we image you and if you need contrast.
  • Co- morbity (If present) – Always inform the Technician, if you are a Diabetic/ Cardiac/Renal failure Patient. ALWAYS INFORM ABOUT ANY DRUG ALLERGY, IF KNOWN, or you have  a known Allergic condition like Bronchial Asthma/Urticaria.
  • You may experience a warm sensation, a metallic taste, or even a feeling of needing to urinate, while the IV Contrast is being administered. These are normal and temporary.
  • Clothing – If you can, try to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing with no metal like zippers or underwear in bras. Anything that contains metal (like dentures or hearing aids) may need to be taken off, depending on the area being scanned. Jewelry, glasses, or hairpins should be removed. Metal (like buttons, zippers, or jewelry) can blur the images.
  • We may ask you to change into hospital attire for clearer images. 
  • Valuables – We suggest you leave your valuables at home so you don’t have to worry about them. You can keep your things with you during your exam. 
  • Children – Children are not allowed in the exam room. If you need to bring kids, please bring someone to watch over them in the waiting room, but it is better to avoid bringing children to a Radiation Zone.
  • Sedation (If Needed) : For children or anxious patients, sedation or calming techniques might be recommended to help them stay still and relaxed during the procedure.

What to Expect at a CT Exam:

A CT exam is a test using special X-ray equipment that takes clearer, more detailed pictures than traditional X-rays. A CT machine rotates to take X-ray images from different angles around your body. A computer puts these images together for a radiologist to read.

We perform many types of CT exams including cardiac CT, CTA, CT colonography, dental CT and low-dose CT for lung screening. Most exams take less than 15 minutes on the scanner. Some exams can take longer.

  • Positioning: The patient will need to lie on a table
  • During the scan:
    • The bed/Cough slowly moves into the doughnut-shaped scanner. At this point, you’ll need to stay as still as possible because movement can blur the images.
    • You may also be asked to hold your breath for a short period of time, usually fewer than 15 to 20 seconds.
    • When contrast is injected, there can be mild discomfort and sense of warmth
    • When the exam is over, the table moves back out of the scanner.

CT and Radiation:

We pay special attention to minimizing radiation exposure. It could mean a shortened scan, reduced exposure factors, choosing low radiation protocols and other safety measures which are technical. Rest assured

Turn Around Time:

After your imaging exam, the technologist will issue the films within 15 minutes  for your doctor’s perusal. And you will be informed as to the time when your report will be made available.  Provisional Reports will be sent to your Doctor  for Emergency cases.

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR CT:

Absolute Contraindications:

Pregnancy: Radiation exposure during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, can be harmful to the developing fetus.  Alternative methods of scanning is preferable.

Allergy to Contrast Agents:  Patients with a known allergy to iodinated contrast agents used in CT scans should not undergo a contrast-enhanced CT. 

Relative Contraindications:

Renal Impairment:  Patients with kidney problems may have difficulty processing/excreting the contrast agent, potentially leading to complications.  Serum Creatinine levels above 1.5 per mg/dl are contraindications for a Contrast CT. If you are still medically advised a CT scan, please inform us beforehand, and drink a lot of water after the scan, to facilitate contrast excretion, and limit any possible renal damage. If you are a patient undergoing Dialysis, the Contrast CT may be scheduled on the day of Dialysis itself.

Claustrophobia:  Patients with severe claustrophobia may find it difficult or impossible to tolerate the enclosed space of the CT scanner.

Inability to Cooperate: Patients who are unable to hold their breath or remain still during the scan may not be able to undergo certain studies like HRCT.

Other Factors to Consider:

Metal Implants:  Metal objects like dental implants, shrapnel, or surgical clips can cause artifacts (distortions) in the CT images.

Metformin Use: Patients taking metformin, a medication for diabetes, may need to temporarily discontinue it before a CT scan, especially if contrast is used.

Weight and Gantry Size Limits:  CT scanners have weight and gantry size limitations, which may restrict some patients

What happens during a Doppler ultrasound?

Be prepared : Wear loose fitting clothes. Fasting is not necessary for most of the studies, except for some, like Renal Doppler. The test may take 15 -30 minutes, depending upon the study. Empty Urinary Bladder before study.

Please carry old reports, and details of treatment. The test is performed by a doctor, who may need to look at your clinical details.

Be prepared to remove any surgical dressing of wounds in the involved body parts.

COMMON INDICATIONS FOR CT SCAN:

Head CT Scan:

  • Trauma: Suspected skull fracture, intracranial hemorrhage (epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intracerebral)
  • Stroke: Rule out hemorrhage, assess infarction (especially acute stroke)
  • Headache: Especially if sudden onset (“thunderclap”), or with neurologic signs
  • Seizures: New-onset seizures or change in seizure pattern
  • Altered mental status: Unexplained confusion, coma
  • Hydrocephalus: Suspected increased intracranial pressure
  • Infection: Suspected abscess, encephalitis, or complications of sinusitis
  • Tumors: Evaluation of known or suspected intracranial mass
  • Preoperative planning: Neurosurgery planning
  • Follow-up: Post-op changes or surveillance of known pathology
  • Evaluation of Congenital Brain anomalies

Neck CT Scan

  • Trauma: Cervical spine injuries, soft tissue injury
  • Infection: Deep neck infections (e.g. retropharyngeal or peritonsillar abscess)
  • Tumors/Masses: Evaluation of neck masses, thyroid/parathyroid pathology
  • Lymphadenopathy: Unexplained or persistent cervical lymph nodes
  • Foreign body: Ingestion or penetration
  • Salivary gland disease: Stones, infection, or tumors
  • Vascular abnormalities: Carotid dissection, aneurysm
  • Preoperative evaluation: Thyroidectomy, neck dissection
  • Voice/swallowing issues: Structural evaluation in ENT workup

Chest CT Scan

  • Pulmonary embolism (PE)
  • Lung nodules or masses: Detection and characterization
  • Infection: Pneumonia complications, abscess, TB
  • Trauma: Rib fractures, lung contusions, hemothorax, pneumothorax
  • Interstitial lung disease: Fibrosis, sarcoidosis
  • Mediastinal masses: Thymoma, lymphoma, goiter
  • Staging of cancer: Lung or metastatic spread
  • Aortic pathology: Dissection, aneurysm
  • Preoperative planning: Lung surgery, transplant evaluation

Abdomen CT Scan

  • Abdominal pain: Evaluation of appendicitis, diverticulitis, bowel obstruction
  • Trauma: Solid organ injury (liver, spleen, kidney)
  • Infection: Intra-abdominal abscess, pancreatitis
  • Tumors: Detection and staging of abdominal masses
  • Kidney stones: Non-contrast CT KUB
  • Liver disease: Masses, cirrhosis, assessment of portal hypertension
  • Aortic aneurysm: AAA evaluation or rupture
  • GI bleeding: Localization in hemodynamically stable patients
  • Postoperative complications: Leak, abscess, obstruction

Pelvis CT Scan

  • Pelvic pain: Especially in women (e.g. ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy with contrast)
  • Trauma: Pelvic fractures, internal bleeding
  • Urinary tract issues: Bladder masses, stones
  • Bowel disease: Inflammatory bowel disease, abscess
  • Tumors: Cervical, uterine, ovarian, rectal, or prostate cancer staging
  • Infection: Pelvic inflammatory disease, abscess
  • Vascular pathology: Pelvic aneurysm, AV malformations

Paranasal Sinuses (PNS) CT Scan

  • Chronic sinusitis: Especially before surgery
  • Recurrent acute sinusitis
  • Nasal obstruction: Deviated septum, polyps, tumors
  • Facial trauma
  • Preoperative assessment: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
  • Suspected complications: Orbital cellulitis, abscess, intracranial spread

Extremities CT Scan

  • Trauma: Complex fractures, especially intra-articular
  • Bone tumors: Characterization and staging
  • Infection: Osteomyelitis
  • Preoperative planning: Especially in orthopedic surgery
  • Vascular injury: CT angiography in extremity trauma
  • Soft tissue masses: Characterization and relationship to bone/muscle
  • Joint assessment: Detailed evaluation of complex joints (elbow, wrist, ankle)

Spine CT Scan

  • Evaluation of spinal Trauma
  • Congenital Spinal deformities
  • Evaluation of Spinal metastasis
  • Radiotherapy Planning