Services

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.

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.

• 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

Get Your Imaging Results

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.

CONTRAINDICATION 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. 
• 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 CT scanning.

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