CT/CAT Scans

The CT scan (or CAT scan), short for computed tomography, is an imaging technique that produces more detailed pictures than conventional x-rays.  While traditional x-ray machines focus beams of radiation towards a particular part of the body, CT scan machines go one step further.

CT scans use an X-ray generating device that rotates around your body.  Attached to a very sophisticated computer, this devise creates numerous cross-section images – sometimes known as “slices” - of the inside of the body. 

Will I Need a CT Scan?

If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, one of the tools used for diagnosis might be a CT scan.  The scan can help detect and monitor cancers like mesothelioma and help pinpoint the location of a tumor.  CT scans are also used to guide procedures such as surgery, biopsy and radiation treatments.

Preparing for a CT Scan

There’s very little you’ll need to do to prepare for a CT scan.  If your test requires a contrast dye, which blocks x-rays and appears white on images, you’ll need to ingest that at a set time interval before your test. 

The scan can be performed either in the hospital or in an outpatient facility.  You’ll lie on a table inside a circular machine.  An x-ray tube inside the machine rotates around your body, taking “pictures” from many angles.  The table may be raised, lowered, or tilted during the procedure to ensure accurate pictures.  Straps and/or pillows may assist you in maintaining the correct position on the table.

You may be asked to hold your breath while the table moves through the machine and you’ll probably hear clicking and other noises while the CT scan is in progress.  During the entire procedure, a technician monitors the scan to be sure that everything is working properly.

A CT Scan is painless and not to be feared.  Technicians and other staff will be sure that you are comfortable and if nerves are a problem, a sedative may be administered.  Pregnant women should avoid CT scans and seek alternative imaging options.

Results

You won’t receive the results of your CT scan immediately.  The images will be interpreted by a radiologist (a doctor who specializes in imaging) and the results forwarded to your doctor.