CT scan of the abdominal cavity with contrast can be prescribed for a variety of diseases and indications, but it is important for the patient to know exactly how this procedure is performed. In particular, one must correctly understand how to prepare for it in order to achieve the most reliable result.
When should I see a doctor?
Quite often, it happens that before a person is prescribed a CT scan of the abdominal cavity with contrast, he complains of abdominal pain or is concerned about any other symptoms coming from the abdominal organs. At the same time, both the person himself and his attending physician can not just determine the possible cause of this problem. The standard diagnostic procedure, which includes all kinds of analyzes, x-ray studies and ultrasound, often does not allow to determine the cause of this ailment, and it is in this situation that CT of the abdominal cavity with contrast is prescribed.
About 20 years ago, doctors did not even know what to do if the above methods did not bring the proper result. However, today technologies provide much more modern and highly informative diagnostic methods. One of them is computed tomography or, as it is called, CT scan of the abdominal cavity with contrast.
In fact, CT is a significantly modernized version of standard radiography, which allows you to achieve much more accurate results and at the same time is much safer. But, one way or another, its implementation is carried out today exclusively in the case of the appointment of a treating doctor.
When is he appointed?
There are several indicators by which a CT scan of the abdomen with contrast can be prescribed by a doctor. Preparation can be carried out if the following conditions are present:
- Various diseases of the liver or biliary system, which include anomalies in the structure of the ducts, tumors, cholelithiasis, cholangitis and many others.
- All kinds of pancreatic diseases, such as negative neoplasms, cysts and inflammatory changes.
- Pathology of the intestines and stomach. In this case, mainly only in the diagnosis of tumors, doctors prescribe abdominal CT with contrast. Preparation for this procedure may begin almost immediately after this diagnosis.
- Damage to the abdominal cavity.
- Diseases and injuries of the spleen.
- Interloop abscesses, as well as abscesses of various organs.
This is only the main list of reasons why this procedure may be prescribed, so in any case it is best to get professional advice from your treating specialist.
What does this show?
If the correct preparation was carried out, as well as a specialized diet was observed before contrast CT scan of the abdominal cavity, then in the process of this procedure you can get a fairly large amount of useful information. The process itself involves the creation of a large number of images, each of which displays a separate tissue layer. All these images are characterized by the highest degree of detail and allow you to get a complete picture of what processes occur in the internal organs of the patient.
There are many factors that show CT scan of the abdomen with contrast. The result of this procedure in the vast majority of cases allows you to obtain data regarding the work of the following bodies:
- The lymph nodes;
- pancreas;
- liver;
- blood vessels;
- nerves;
- spleen;
- bile ducts;
- gall bladder.
It is also important that in the process of this study you can see the structure of the hollow organs, including the intestines and stomach, which is impossible for standard MRI technology. In addition, the doctor can make a conclusion about the condition of the lumbar vertebrae from the pictures, since CT provides excellent visualization of bone tissue.
Benefits
The doctor must explain a lot of information if he sends the patient to a CT scan with contrast of the abdominal cavity: how to prepare, how to eat, how the procedure will be carried out and much more. But in any case, the conduct of such a study guarantees the receipt of the most reliable information regarding the state of any structures of the abdominal cavity, even if there are any serious pathological changes or hidden processes that spread simultaneously to several organs.
Thus, abdominal CT scans with contrast are left positive by both patients for whom the procedure is as convenient and painless as possible, and by doctors who receive all the necessary information necessary for making a diagnosis and prescribing subsequent treatment of the patient.
What is it used for?
In the overwhelming majority of cases, abdominal CT scans are usually performed with contrast. Using a contrast agent provides a significant improvement in the detail of images and the overall quality of the images, which, accordingly, positively affects the results of the diagnosis. At the same time, it must be correctly understood that CT of the abdominal cavity is not always made a contrast, since in some situations when conducting an examination on specialized multi-helix platforms, its use is optional (but this point should be discussed with your doctor in advance).
The only case in which the use of contrast is required without fail is a suspicion that the patient has any pathological diseases. CT of the abdominal organs with contrast is carried out here regardless of what type the tomograph belongs to, because a standard examination is in any case less accurate compared to contrast.
By itself, the contrast is characterized by the ability to gradually accumulate in the tumor tissues, due to which the foci of tumor cell development in the pictures become much more noticeable. Thanks to this, the doctor receives comprehensive information about the boundaries of primary metastases and tumors, as well as their number, which greatly helps in planning treatment. Experts know why an abdominal CT scan is performed with contrast, which is shown in the image and how to interpret it. Ultimately, the doctor has the opportunity to prescribe treatment in full accordance with a reliably defined stage of the process, which can already count on the success of its implementation.
How to prepare?
In any case, the patient should independently prepare for computed tomography, and the procedure should be approached as responsibly as possible, if in the end you want to achieve really accurate results.
The main goal of the preparation is to achieve the ultimate visualization of the pictures taken. When it comes to examining the abdominal cavity, the quality of imaging can be seriously affected due to the presence of a crowded, swollen intestine. For this reason, during the preparation process, it will be necessary to take care of the normal functioning of the digestive tract at the time of the study. To achieve this, 2-3 days before the abdominal CT is performed (without contrast or with contrast), special procedures are carried out, the main purpose of which is to prevent increased gas formation or the occurrence of constipation.
During this period, the patient should be extremely responsible for the issue of nutrition. In particular, foods that cause flatulence or stool retention should be completely eliminated from the diet. If a person is accustomed to compiling his own menu in accordance with the rules of healthy eating, he will not have any difficulties in order to adjust his diet, and he will easily transfer any diets so that computer tomography of the abdominal cavity shows the most accurate result.
Preparations
It is also worth noting that during this period it is recommended to take special sorbent preparations, and in most cases, doctors prescribe standard activated charcoal, which you need to drink two tablets twice a day. Also, if desired, you can use other drugs. In particular, the Smecta drug can be used as a sorbent and at the same time a pretty good remedy for flatulence.
In the event that a person has any really serious problems with the digestive tract and its individual functions, the preparation plan for CT scan of the abdominal cavity should be previously agreed with the attending physician. For various indications, you may need to take laxatives, antispasmodics, or even an enema.
You need to come to the study exclusively on an empty stomach, and after the previous meal should take about 6-8 hours. For this reason, the most convenient is the diagnosis in the morning, until breakfast has been taken. It is also not recommended to use any liquid two hours before this procedure, as it can provoke lively peristalsis, which prevents the normal diagnosis.
Is it possible to carry out the procedure for children?
CT scan of the abdominal cavity is carried out today for both adults and children, since the radiation load received by the patient during the scan is extremely low and can not threaten the health of the child. In the overwhelming majority of cases, modern clinics accept children from 14 years old to carry out this procedure, but in some centers this age restriction is reduced to 10, and in some places even to 7 years. Young children, too, can undergo computed tomography, if necessary, but the study of such patients is carried out in specialized centers or in fairly large pediatric clinics.
The thing here is that in the process of conducting the study, patients should remain completely still, and this is quite difficult to achieve from very young children. In this regard, their examination is carried out in conditions of special medical sleep using safe drugs and under the close supervision of a professional anesthesiologist.
What does the conclusion show?
Based on the results of the procedure, the doctor draws up a report that contains all the information about the state of human health that was obtained in the process of this event. The doctor describes not only patients, but also healthy organs, including their main anatomy features, sizes and other information. The conclusion is issued to the patient along with fully printed images.
At the same time, one must correctly understand that CT results are not a diagnosis, they are only a description of the main changes in internal organs. It should be noted that the pictures pretty much help in the diagnosis. Quite often, this procedure completes the diagnosis, since its implementation allows the attending physician to obtain all the necessary information to determine the exact disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Price
By itself, computed tomography differs by an order of magnitude lower cost in comparison with MRI, but this is still not the cheapest procedure. You also need to understand that the cost directly depends on which particular clinic you are contacting.
Basically, the price is determined depending on several factors. First of all, the apparatus on which the study is conducted plays a role here. In other words, a standard procedure will cost less compared to diagnostics on spiral and multispiral devices. Also, the price rises if the study applies contrast. Among other things, the location of a particular clinic, the qualifications of the doctors participating in the study, and a host of other factors also play a role.
In the vast majority of cases, the cost of computed tomography is directly proportional to its quality, but in fact such a rule is not always true. A sufficiently large number of modern centers offer retirees, students, as well as a number of other persons many discounts. All kinds of promotions are also often held, at the time of which diagnostics are also available at a reduced price to everyone.