CT PELVIS

A Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the pelvis, often simply called a CT Pelvis, is a fast, powerful, and very common diagnostic imaging test. Its primary purpose is to generate detailed, cross-sectional images—like digital slices—of your pelvic region. This allows our radiologists at Cadabams Diagnostics to see your bones, organs, blood vessels, and other soft tissues with remarkable clarity. While the procedure is considered non-invasive, it may involve an IV injection of a special dye, known as contrast, to enhance the visibility of certain structures.

What is a CT Pelvis?

A CT Pelvis scan uses advanced technology that combines a series of rotating X-ray beams with sophisticated computer processing. This process creates highly detailed, two-dimensional images of your pelvic anatomy from multiple angles. Unlike a standard X-ray that shows a flat image, a CT scan provides a much more comprehensive view, making it an invaluable tool. Its unique strength lies in its ability to visualize bone structure, soft tissues like the bladder and reproductive organs, and the intricate network of blood vessels all in a single examination.

Types of CT Pelvis

Depending on what your doctor is looking for, there are two main types of CT Pelvis scans:

• Without Contrast: This type of scan is often the best choice for visualizing bone injuries. It is the primary method used when performing a ct scan for pelvic fracture, providing clear images of the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
• With Contrast: This method is essential for highlighting blood vessels, internal organs, and abnormalities like tumors, inflammation, or abscesses. It involves injecting a contrast dye into a vein, which makes these structures appear brighter and more detailed on the scan. This requires specific ct pelvis with contrast preparation, which our team will explain to you.
• Comparison: CT Urogram vs CT Pelvis: It's helpful to understand the difference between these two tests. A standard CT Pelvis provides a broad, comprehensive view of all the structures within the pelvic region. In contrast, a CT Urogram is a more specialized and targeted exam that focuses specifically on the entire urinary tract—the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. It involves a specific protocol of imaging at different times after the contrast injection to evaluate urinary system function and structure in detail.

One of the most common questions we receive is, what does a ct scan of the pelvis show? The scan provides a detailed look at numerous anatomical structures, including:

• Pelvic Bones: The ilium, ischium, and pubis (hip bones), as well as the sacrum and coccyx. The scan checks for fractures, degenerative changes like arthritis, and bone lesions.
• Urinary System: The urinary bladder and the lower portions of the ureters that connect from the kidneys. The scan can detect stones, tumors, wall thickening, and other abnormalities.
• Gastrointestinal Tract: The rectum, sigmoid colon, and often the appendix. It is highly effective for identifying inflammation (like diverticulitis or appendicitis) and tumors.
• Reproductive Organs: In females, the uterus, cervix, and ovaries are assessed for masses, cysts, or fibroids. In males, the prostate gland and seminal vesicles are evaluated for enlargement or tumors.
• Other Structures: The scan also clearly visualizes lymph nodes, major blood vessels (arteries and veins), muscles, and other surrounding soft tissues.

Your doctor may order a CT Pelvis to:

• Investigate the cause of acute pelvic pain or long-term chronic discomfort.
• Diagnose or definitively rule out a pelvic fracture after trauma.
• Stage various cancers, including bladder, prostate, rectal, ovarian, or cervical cancer, to determine the extent of the disease.
• Detect abscesses, fluid collections, or inflammatory conditions like appendicitis and diverticulitis.
• Plan for complex surgeries or guide radiation therapy treatment.
• Follow up on abnormal findings that were initially seen on other imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or X-ray.

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Pelvis?

Your doctor may recommend a CT Pelvis scan for a variety of reasons. Common scenarios where this scan is essential include:

• Trauma: Following an accident, fall, or injury to evaluate for pelvic fractures or internal bleeding.
• Pain Investigation: To find the source of unexplained or persistent pelvic pain.
• Cancer Detection & Monitoring: To detect, diagnose, or monitor the progression and treatment response of tumors in the bladder, prostate, rectum, ovaries, or other pelvic structures.
• Infection or Inflammation: To diagnose conditions like appendicitis, diverticulitis, or the presence of an abscess (a collection of pus).

This scan is frequently performed on trauma patients, individuals with suspected cancer, and patients who present with gastrointestinal or urinary symptoms that are localized to the pelvic area.

Benefits of Taking the Test

The CT Pelvis offers several key advantages:

• Speed: The scanning process is incredibly fast, often taking less than a minute. This speed is critical in emergency and trauma situations.
• Detail: It provides excellent, high-resolution images of bone structures, making it the gold standard for diagnosing complex fractures.
• Comprehensive View: It allows for the simultaneous evaluation of bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels in a single examination.
• Diagnostic Accuracy: It has a very high rate of accuracy for detecting a wide range of conditions, from fractures to cancers to infections.

Illnesses Diagnosed with CT Pelvis

A CT Pelvis scan is instrumental in diagnosing numerous conditions, such as:

• Complex pelvic bone fractures and joint dislocations.
• Kidney stones that have traveled down into the lower ureters.
• Inflammatory bowel conditions like appendicitis and diverticulitis.
• Abscesses within the pelvic cavity.
• Cancers of the bladder, prostate, ovaries, uterus, and rectum.
• Vascular problems like aneurysms (bulges in blood vessel walls).

Proper preparation is key to ensuring the quality of your scan.

General Preparation:

• Please remove any metal objects, including jewellery, piercings, belts with metal buckles, and clothing with zippers or snaps, as they can interfere with the images.
• It is best to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your appointment.

Preparation for a CT Pelvis with Contrast:

• Fasting: You will likely be instructed not to eat or drink anything for 4-6 hours before your scheduled scan time. This is part of the standard ct pelvis with contrast preparation.
• Hydration: You may be encouraged to drink clear fluids like water before the fasting period begins.
• Blood Test: To ensure your kidneys can safely process the contrast dye, we may require a recent blood test that checks your creatinine levels (a measure of kidney function). Our team at Cadabams Diagnostics will inform you if this is needed.

Pre-requisites

• A doctor's referral or prescription is required for a CT Pelvis scan.
• Please bring any previous, relevant imaging reports (such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or prior CTs) to your appointment.
• Ensure you have informed our staff about your kidney function, especially if a contrast scan is planned. [Link to: CT Scans Service Page]

Best Time to Take the CT Pelvis

For non-urgent, scheduled appointments, the test can be performed at any time that is convenient for you. In emergency or trauma situations, the CT Pelvis scan is available 24/7 at appropriate facilities to ensure immediate diagnosis and care.

Eligibility

Most people are eligible for a CT Pelvis scan. However, it is crucial to inform our radiology team if you:

• Have severe kidney disease or kidney failure.
• Have a known allergy to iodine or have had a previous major reaction to CT contrast dye.
• Are, or think you might be, pregnant.

Procedure for Taking a CT Pelvis

The procedure is straightforward and designed for your comfort.

1. A friendly technologist will greet you, confirm your details, and guide you to the scanning room.
2. You will be asked to lie down on your back on a motorized table that gently slides into the center of the CT scanner, which is a large, doughnut-shaped machine.
3. If your scan requires contrast, an IV line will be placed in a vein in your arm or hand. When the dye is injected, it's normal to feel a temporary warm sensation spreading through your body or a metallic taste in your mouth. These feelings pass quickly.
4. The scanner will rotate silently around you as the table moves slowly through the machine. You will need to lie very still. The technologist will communicate with you over an intercom and may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time.
5. The actual scanning portion is very quick, typically completed in under 5 minutes. The entire appointment usually takes about 30 minutes.

Caution Before Taking the Test

For your safety, please remember these crucial points:

• Pregnancy: Always inform the technologist if you are or could be pregnant.
• Allergies: Disclose all your allergies, particularly any known allergy to iodine or a past reaction to contrast media.
• Medical Conditions: Inform our team if you have kidney problems, diabetes (especially if you take Metformin), or significant heart conditions.