Advanced CT scans use imaging agents to enhance specific areas of the body, with different agents used for different scans. Patients may experience minor side effects, and those with certain medical conditions are at higher risk. CT scans can diagnose abnormalities in various organs and tissues, and have revolutionized diagnostic medicine.
An advanced computed tomography (CT) scan takes X-ray images of the body after a patient has been injected with an imaging agent, sometimes called a contrast agent or dye, into the veins to enhance the areas a doctor chooses to view . The anatomical images are then viewed on a computer which uses a math program to construct 3D images from the collected data. Different agents are used for different scans. They can sometimes be taken orally or rectally depending on the area of the body being scanned. Imaging agents are considered safe, but on occasion the patient may experience a negative reaction, although this is rare.
An intravenous catheter is attached to the patient’s arm when performing an advanced CT scan, and the imaging agent is introduced a few minutes before it is placed inside the scanner. Patients often report feeling a slight flushing sensation when the agent begins to flow through their veins. Sometimes they may feel a little nauseous, although this passes quickly. Because of this, patients are typically instructed not to eat for at least four hours before an advanced CT scan. Those with a history of asthma, heart disease, or kidney disease are at higher risk of allergic reactions during the procedure.
The various types of CT scans include scans of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, lungs, esophagus, internal organs, and brain. Barium sulfate is usually used when the agent is administered orally. Iodine dye is used when the agent is injected into the vein. Another scanning method used to contrast and diagnose brain abnormalities is xenon-enhanced CT. This procedure requires the patient to inhale xenon gas during the CT scan and can also help medical personnel evaluate blood flow in the brain after a head injury.
Diagnostic medicine transformed with the invention of the CAT scan. Early versions of the machine were capable of producing images 100 times more detailed than regular X-rays. Now, highly sensitive detectors record the X-rays whirling around inside the scanner at a rate of one revolution per second. With advanced CT scanning, doctors are able to view fine details in muscles and soft tissue. It has also helped with procedures such as radiation therapy, allowing doctors to gauge the amount of radiation needed in relation to the size and texture of cancerous tumors.
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