If you are experiencing stomach pain, blood in your urine, or other concerning symptoms involving the abdomen, you want answers and relief as quickly as possible. An imaging test called an abdominal CT scan can bring you closer to both.
Physicians might not be able to see or feel the cause of abdominal symptoms with a physical exam alone. To determine why symptoms are occurring, they need images of the abdominal organs. That’s where a computed tomography scan, or CT scan, comes in. This noninvasive test takes pictures of your stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and other abdominal organs from many angles. These pictures can help a radiologist identify the problem so your referring physician can confirm a diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
What Is an Abdominal CT Scan?
Think of a CT scan as a type of next-level X-ray. Both tests use radiation and take multiple images. A CT scan, however, takes many cross-sectional images called slices as an X-ray beam rotates around your body. Radiologists can digitally stack these slices atop one another to create 3D images of the abdomen. This 3D image can provide more precise and detailed images of soft tissues and blood vessels than a standard X-ray.
Radiologists can perform CT scans on specific areas of the body, such as the head, or to obtain images of certain organs, such as the heart or lungs. An abdominal CT scan produces images of the organs in your abdomen, which can help physicians diagnose a wide range of injuries and diseases.
Inside Information: What an Abdominal CT Scan Can Show
Many symptoms may indicate a problem stemming from the abdomen, from pain and swelling to a fever or blood in your urine. Physicians use abdominal CT scans to diagnose various conditions, including:
- Abscesses
- Appendicitis
- Bile duct blockages
- Cholecystitis (irritation of the gallbladder)
- Crohn’s disease
- Hernias
- Injuries to abdominal organs
- Kidney problems, including kidney stones, blockages, swelling, and damage
- Masses and tumors, including cancers of the colon, kidneys, pancreas, and ovaries
- Pancreatitis
- Ulcerative colitis
More Than a Diagnostic Test
In addition to helping your physician find what’s responsible for abdominal symptoms, a CT scan of the abdomen can be valuable in other aspects of your care. Your physician may use this test to:
- Guide biopsies and procedures for inside the abdomen
- Plan and administer cancer treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy
- Plan surgeries and assess surgical results
How Long Does an Abdominal CT Scan Take?
The scan itself takes less than 30 minutes, with many completing in as little as 15 minutes. If contrast dye is required, the process may take slightly longer. By comparison, an abdominal MRI may take 30 minutes to an hour or longer.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Preparing for Your Scan
You can take steps to help your abdominal CT scan go smoothly. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do to get ready for the test:
- Do wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your scan. You may have to change into a hospital gown, so choose clothes you can remove quickly and easily.
- Don’t wear metal jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures, or clothes with metal zippers or wires. These items may affect the images.
- Do remove piercings and hearing aids for the scan if the imaging team requests it. These items may also interfere with the images.
- Don’t eat or drink anything leading up to the test as instructed by your physician. You may need to refrain from eating or drinking for four to six hours beforehand if your test requires the use of contrast.
- Do share important medical information with your physician and imaging team. They need to know about any allergies, especially any previous allergic reaction to contrast material. You should also inform the providers about recent illnesses, the medications you take, any history of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, and if you are or think you might be pregnant.
What to Expect During the Scan
If you need contrast for your abdominal CT scan, the imaging team may administer it through an IV in your hand or arm. As the material moves through your bloodstream, you may experience a warm flushing of the body and a metallic taste in your mouth. Both sensations are normal and will pass after a few seconds.
Depending on the type of exam, you may be able to drink the contrast instead of receiving an IV injection. Oral contrast can cause a chalky taste in your mouth, but it will fade quickly.
You’ll get into position for the scan by lying flat on your back on a narrow table that slides into the CT scanner. Once you’re inside, the X-ray beam will rotate around you, taking several images of different areas of the abdomen as it moves. Some scans require multiple passes through the machine to complete.
Even slight movements during the scan can interfere with image quality. You’ll need to stay as still as possible, and you may need to hold your breath for short periods. Eliminating movement helps produce clear images and aids your physician in making the most accurate diagnosis possible.
If you’re worried about feeling claustrophobic in the CT scanner or being able to hold your breath during the scan, talk with your physician or imaging team beforehand. They can suggest calming strategies or may administer medication to help you relax.
After Your Abdominal CT Scan
If you received contrast by injection, the imaging technologist will remove the IV from your hand or arm once the scan is over and cover it with a bandage. With the scan completed, you can go home, return to work or school, or run errands. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
A Windsong Radiology board-certified, subspecialized radiologist will review your images and send their findings in a detailed report to your referring physician, typically within 3-4 business days. Your physician will share the findings with you. Based on the results, you may need additional testing, or your physician may diagnose the problem and recommend a treatment plan to get you on the path to wellness.
