CT ABDOMEN AND PELVIS WITH CONTRAST

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast is a powerful and highly effective diagnostic imaging test. If your doctor has recommended this scan, it's a proactive step toward getting a clear and detailed look inside your body. The goal of this non-invasive procedure is to create detailed, cross-sectional images of your abdominal and pelvic organs, blood vessels, and soft tissues, providing crucial information for an accurate diagnosis. This test uses a combination of advanced X-ray technology and a special intravenous (IV) contrast dye, which helps to significantly enhance the visibility of your internal structures. At Cadabams Diagnostics, we are committed to ensuring your experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

What is a CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast?

Understanding the technology can help demystify the process. A Computed Tomography (CT) scanner is a sophisticated X-ray machine that rotates around your body. It captures numerous images from different angles, which a powerful computer then compiles into detailed, two-dimensional "slices." These slices can be viewed individually or stacked together to create 3D models of your organs and tissues.

The "with contrast" part of the name refers to the use of a special contrast material, usually an iodine-based liquid. This material is safely injected into a vein, typically in your arm, and it travels throughout your bloodstream. As it circulates, it highlights your blood vessels and organs, making them appear brighter and stand out more clearly on the CT images. This enhancement is vital for helping our radiologists spot subtle abnormalities that might be missed on a scan without contrast.

Types of CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast

Not all CT scans are the same. A radiologist will select a specific scan protocol based on your symptoms and what your doctor is looking to evaluate. This can include single-phase scans (one set of images after contrast) or multi-phase scans.

A common multi-phase protocol is the triphasic CT abdomen protocol. This highly specialized scan is often used for a detailed evaluation of organs like the liver or pancreas. It involves scanning the abdomen at three distinct times after the contrast injection:

1. Arterial Phase: Captures images when the contrast is primarily in the arteries.
2. Venous Phase: Captures images when the contrast has moved into the veins.
3. Delayed Phase: Captures images a few minutes later as the contrast is being processed by organs like the kidneys.

This timed approach provides comprehensive information about blood supply and how tissues are functioning.

During the interpretation of your scan, our radiologists meticulously analyze a wide range of parameters for every visible organ and structure. They look for any deviation from normal.

Key structures evaluated include:

• Solid Organs: Liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and adrenal glands.
• Hollow Organs: Stomach, small and large intestines, appendix, and bladder.
• Reproductive Organs: Uterus and ovaries (in females), prostate gland (in males).
• Other Structures: Blood vessels (like the aorta and its branches), lymph nodes, and the abdominal wall.

Radiologists look for:

• Abnormal growths such as tumors (cancerous or benign), cysts, or abscesses.
• Signs of inflammation or infection.
• Blockages in the bowel or urinary tract.
• Evidence of internal bleeding or injury.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Vascular abnormalities like aneurysms (bulges in blood vessels).
• Kidney and bladder stones.

Your doctor may refer you for this CCECT (Contrast-Enhanced CT) based on a specific set of symptoms or clinical suspicions. Common reasons include:

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain without a clear cause.
• Suspicion of acute conditions like appendicitis, diverticulitis, or pancreatitis.
• Evaluation of injuries to internal organs following an accident or trauma.
• To accurately diagnose the location and size of kidney or bladder stones.
• To detect, diagnose, stage, and monitor the response to treatment for cancers, including those of the liver, kidney, pancreas, colon, and ovaries.
• As a roadmap for planning surgery or other procedures like biopsies or abscess drainages.
• Follow-up on an abnormality seen on a previous imaging test, like an ultrasound.

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast?

A doctor may order a CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast for a wide variety of reasons. It is one of the most common and valuable tools for investigating complex symptoms and conditions affecting this area of the body.

Common reasons for this scan include:

• Investigating the cause of unexplained abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Determining the source of specific symptoms like blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss, or persistent fever.
• Diagnosing, staging (determining the extent of), and monitoring various types of cancer.

Patient groups who frequently benefit from this test are:

• Individuals with suspected infections, such as abscesses, appendicitis, or diverticulitis.
• Trauma patients who have sustained injuries to the abdomen or pelvis.
• Patients with chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, to monitor disease activity.

Benefits of the Test

The CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast offers significant advantages in diagnosing and managing health conditions.

• Speed and Detail: CT scans are incredibly fast, which is crucial in emergency situations. They provide exceptional anatomical detail, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of multiple organs in a single examination.
• Accurate Diagnosis: The high-resolution images are instrumental in providing a definitive diagnosis for many conditions, which helps eliminate diagnostic uncertainty and guides your doctor toward the most effective treatment plan.
• Guiding Treatment: The scan can precisely locate abnormalities, enabling doctors to plan surgeries with greater accuracy or perform minimally invasive procedures like biopsies or draining fluid collections.

Illnesses Diagnosed through CT Abdominal and Pelvic Scan with Contrast

This powerful scan directly answers the question: what does a CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast show? It can reveal a wide range of conditions.

• Infections and Inflammatory Conditions: Appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), colitis, abscesses, and pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
• Cancers: It is highly effective at detecting and staging tumors in the liver, pancreas, kidneys, ovaries, colon, as well as lymphomas affecting the abdominal lymph nodes.
• Vascular Issues: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), blood clots in major vessels (thrombosis), and sources of internal bleeding.
• Obstructions: Blockages in the small or large bowel, as well as blockages in the ureters (tubes from the kidneys) due to stones or tumors.
• Traumatic Injuries: Damage, bruising, or lacerations to organs like the spleen, liver, or kidneys resulting from an accident.

Proper CT abdomen pelvis contrast preparation is essential for ensuring the highest quality images and your safety. Please follow these instructions carefully.

• Fasting: You will be asked not to eat solid foods for approximately 4-6 hours before your scheduled appointment. You may be allowed to drink clear liquids, but our staff will provide you with specific instructions.
• Hydration: It is a good idea to drink plenty of water the day before your test to ensure you are well-hydrated. This can help your kidneys process the contrast material more efficiently.
• Medication: Inform our staff at Cadabams Diagnostics about all medications you are currently taking. You must specifically mention if you are taking Metformin (Glucophage) for diabetes. You may be asked to pause this medication for a short period before and after the scan. Do not stop any medication without consulting your doctor or our team.
• Clothing: Wear loose, comfortable clothing without metal zippers, snaps, or buckles. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown for the procedure.
• Creatinine Test: You must have a recent blood test (within the last 30 days) to check your creatinine levels. This test measures your kidney function and is required to ensure it is safe for you to receive the IV contrast.

Pre-requisites

To proceed with your scan, please ensure you have the following:

• A valid doctor's prescription or referral for the CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast.
• Your recent kidney function test (Serum Creatinine) results.
• You will be asked to read and sign a patient consent form before the procedure.

Best Time to Take the CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast

This is a scheduled procedure, not typically an emergency walk-in test (unless ordered from an emergency room). The "best time" is as soon as you can schedule it with Cadabams Diagnostics after receiving the referral from your doctor. Timeliness is often important for diagnosis, so we recommend booking your appointment promptly.

Eligibility

The scan is suitable for most adults. However, there are some contraindications:

• Absolute Contraindication: A known history of a severe allergic reaction to iodine-based contrast material.
• Relative Contraindications (requiring careful consideration):
  • Pregnancy: The risk to the fetus from radiation means the scan is only performed if absolutely necessary, after a thorough risk-benefit analysis with your doctor.
  • Severe Kidney Failure: Patients with poor kidney function may not be able to safely receive IV contrast.
  • Uncontrolled Hyperthyroidism.

Procedure for Taking a CT Abdomen and Pelvis with Contrast

We want you to know exactly what to expect on the day of your scan.

1. Arrival: You will check in at the reception, where our staff will confirm your details and review your safety questionnaire.
2. Preparation: You may be asked to change into a hospital gown to ensure no metal interferes with the images.
3. IV Placement: A trained technologist or nurse will place a small, thin intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm or hand. This is for the injection of the contrast dye.
4. Positioning: You will be asked to lie down comfortably on your back on the cushioned CT scanner table. The table will then slowly move into the center of the large, ring-shaped scanner (the gantry). The machine is open at both ends, so it is not a long tunnel.
5. Communication: The technologist will be in an adjacent control room but can see, hear, and speak to you at all times through an intercom system.
6. Contrast Injection: During the scan, the contrast will be injected through your IV. It is very common to feel a warm sensation spreading through your body and a metallic taste in your mouth. This is normal and passes within a minute or two.
7. Scanning: The table will move through the scanner as the images are taken. You will be asked to hold your breath for short periods (about 10-15 seconds) at certain points to prevent motion from blurring the images. It is very important to remain as still as possible.
8. Completion: The entire time in the scanner room is typically about 15-30 minutes. Once finished, the IV line will be removed.

Caution Before Taking the Test

For your safety, it is critical that you inform the technologist before your scan if you:

• Are or think you might be pregnant.
• Have any known allergies, especially to iodine, shellfish, or a previous X-ray contrast dye.
• Have any kidney problems, kidney disease, or diabetes.
• Are currently taking Metformin (Glucophage).
• Suffer from severe claustrophobia.