CT SCAN OF LOWER ABDOMEN (INCLUDING PELVIS) WITH CONTRAST

A CT Scan of the Lower Abdomen (including Pelvis) with Contrast is a powerful and highly detailed diagnostic imaging tool. It provides your doctor with a clear view of the internal organs, blood vessels, and soft tissues in your lower torso, helping them make an accurate and timely diagnosis. This advanced scan uses a special injectable contrast material, also known as a dye, to significantly enhance the visibility of these structures, allowing for a more thorough evaluation.

At Cadabams Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with a comfortable and informed experience. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about your upcoming procedure, from what the test is to how to prepare and what the results might mean.

Types of Abdominal & Pelvic CT Scans

While this page focuses on the Contrast-Enhanced CT (CECT), it is helpful to know that other types exist. A non-contrast CT scan (without the dye) is also commonly performed. It is particularly useful for specific conditions, such as diagnosing kidney stones or assessing for certain types of internal bleeding. Your doctor will order the specific type of scan that is best suited to evaluate your symptoms and medical condition

When a radiologist—a doctor specially trained to interpret medical images—reviews your scan, they systematically examine numerous structures for any signs of disease or injury. For a CT Scan of the Lower Abdomen & Pelvis with Contrast, this includes a detailed evaluation of:

• Solid Organs: Appendix, spleen, pancreas, liver, and the lower portions of the kidneys.
• Hollow Organs: The small intestine (small bowel), large intestine (colon), and the urinary bladder.
• Pelvic Structures (Female): Uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
• Pelvic Structures (Male): Prostate gland and seminal vesicles.
• Other Structures: Blood vessels like the aorta and iliac arteries/veins, lymph nodes, the pelvic bones, and the muscles and tissues of the abdominal wall.

The most common reason a doctor orders this scan is to find the cause of unexplained symptoms.

A CT scan for lower abdominal pain is one of the most effective ways to pinpoint the source of discomfort, which could range from a simple infection to a more serious condition. Other key reasons for conducting the test include:

• Investigating unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, or blood in the urine or stool.
• Diagnosing the source of suspected internal bleeding or a severe infection (abscess).
• Evaluating the extent of injuries to abdominal and pelvic organs after trauma, such as from an accident.
• Staging cancer: determining the size, location, and spread of tumors in the colon, ovaries, bladder, or kidneys.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of cancer treatment or checking for recurrence.

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Scan of the Lower Abdomen & Pelvis with Contrast?

Your doctor may order this test for a variety of reasons. It is a key diagnostic tool for patients who are experiencing symptoms without a clear cause. Common indications include:

• Persistent or severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Significant and unexplained bloating or swelling.
• Investigating abnormal findings from a previous test, such as an ultrasound or a physical exam.
• In emergency situations, it is often the first-line imaging test to quickly diagnose acute conditions like appendicitis, bowel obstruction, or internal injury after trauma.

Benefits of Taking the Test

The advantages of undergoing a CT Scan of the Lower Abdomen & Pelvis with Contrast are significant, especially when a diagnosis is urgently needed.

• Fast and Accurate Diagnosis: The scan provides exceptionally detailed images, often leading to a definitive diagnosis quickly.
• Comprehensive Evaluation: It allows doctors to assess organs, blood vessels, and bones all in a single examination.
• Guides Treatment: The results are crucial for planning medical treatments, guiding surgical procedures, or directing other interventions like draining an abscess.
• Non-Invasive: Apart from the small IV injection for the contrast, the procedure itself is painless and non-invasive.

Conditions Diagnosed with CT Lower Abdomen (Including Pelvis) With Contrast

This powerful imaging test can help diagnose a wide range of conditions, including:

• Inflammatory Conditions: Appendicitis, diverticulitis (inflammation of pouches in the colon), pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Infections: Abscesses, which are collections of pus that can form in the abdomen or pelvis.
• Cancers and Tumors: Cancers of the colon, ovaries, bladder, kidneys, as well as lymphomas and other tumors.
• Vascular Issues: Aneurysms (bulges in blood vessels like the aorta) or blockages and clots in arteries or veins.
• Traumatic Injuries: Lacerations or bruising of the liver, spleen, kidneys, or bowel.
• Other Conditions: Bowel obstructions, hernias, and kidney or bladder stones.

Proper preparation is essential for a successful and safe scan. Please follow these instructions carefully.

Instructions:

• Fasting: You will likely be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before your scheduled appointment. This ensures your stomach is empty and helps prevent complications if you have a reaction to the contrast dye. You can usually take your regular medications with a small sip of water.
• Medication: It is crucial to inform our staff and your doctor about all the medications you are taking. If you take Metformin (also known as Glucophage) for diabetes, you will be given specific instructions on when to stop taking it before the scan and when to resume afterward.
• Clothing: On the day of your scan, wear loose, comfortable clothing without metal parts like zippers, snaps, or belt buckles. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown.

Prerequisites:

• A doctor's referral (prescription) is required to schedule a CT scan.
• You may need to have a recent blood test to check your kidney function (serum creatinine level) before a scan with contrast.

Best Time to Take the Test:

• Your scan will be scheduled for a specific appointment time. Cadabams Diagnostics also performs these scans on an emergency basis, 24/7, through hospital emergency departments.

Eligibility:

• Most adults are eligible for a CT scan. Please be sure to discuss all your health conditions, especially allergies and kidney problems, with your doctor and our radiology staff before the procedure.

CECT Abdomen and Pelvis Procedure

Knowing what to expect can help ease any anxiety about the test. Our team at Cadabams Diagnostics will guide you through every step.

1. Check-In: You will arrive at our reception desk, where you will check in and may be asked to fill out a detailed safety questionnaire regarding your medical history, allergies, and current health.
2. Preparation: You will be taken to a changing area and asked to change into a hospital gown.
3. IV Placement: A certified technologist will explain the procedure to you. They will then place a small intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm or hand. This is for the injection of the contrast material.
4. Positioning: You will be asked to lie down on the motorized CT scanner table, usually on your back. The table will be adjusted to the correct position.
5. Initial Scans: The table will slide into the large, donut-shaped opening of the scanner. The technologist may take a few initial images, called scout scans, to ensure you are positioned correctly.
6. Contrast Injection: The technologist, from an adjacent control room, will start the injection of the contrast dye through your IV line. It is very common to feel a warm sensation spreading through your body and sometimes experience a metallic taste in your mouth. This is a normal reaction to the dye and will pass quickly.
7. Imaging: The scanner table will then move slowly through the machine as the X-ray tube rotates around you, capturing the images. The technologist will speak to you over an intercom and may ask you to hold your breath for short periods (about 10-15 seconds) to prevent blurring the images.
8. Completion: The entire procedure on the scanner table typically takes only 10 to 30 minutes. Once all images are acquired, the technologist will help you off the table and remove the IV line. You can then change back into your clothes.

Caution Before Taking the Test

For your safety, it is absolutely essential that you inform the technologist before the scan begins if you:

• Are or think you might be pregnant.
• Have a known allergy to iodine or have had a previous reaction to CT contrast dye.
• Have any history of kidney disease, kidney failure, or diabetes.
• Are currently taking Metformin (Glucophage) for diabetes.