Your doctor has decided to send you for a CT Scan and you have been given an appointment to come to the Western General Hospital for this. The CT Scanning department in Main X-ray is based on the first floor of the Main Out Patient department at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. The closest entrance to this department is accessed via Porterfield Road off Crewe Road South.
CT(Computed Tomograpghy) is a method of obtaining high quality images of the human body using x-rays, which are then processed by a powerful computer. The CT scanner is used to take cross-sectional pictures of the body and can show both bone and soft tissues, assisting the doctors to make a diagnosis. Your CT appointment will be sent to you and will include the date and time of your appointment and how long you will be expected to be in the department.
When you arrive in the Main X-ray Department please report to reception with your appointment letter. They will direct you to the CT Scanning Department.
Once you have given your details to the receptionist you will be shown to the waiting room. You are welcome to bring one other person with you to your appointment, but space in the waiting room is limited. The person accompanying you will have to remain in the waiting room while you are having your scan to avoid unnecessary exposure to x-rays.
Sometimes it is necessary to give you a drink of x-ray contrast up to an hour before your scan (this highlights the bowel). This will be built in to your appointment time and you will be asked to drink this in the waiting room.
You may be asked to change into a gown as zips/clips in your clothing may affect the images. Alternatively, you may prefer to wear clothing with no zips/clips or metal and, therefore, avoid the need to change into a gown.
It may be necessary to inject x-ray contrast into a vein in your arm (this highlights your blood vessels). If so, you will be taken to the preparation area where a radiographer will insert a venflon (small tube) into your arm. You will then be taken into the scanning room where the radiographer will position you on the scanner table and, if applicable, connect a pump to your venflon.
The radiographer will explain the scanning procedure to you and answer any questions you may have regarding the scan. The table slides into the scanner, which is open at both ends. The table will move periodically throughout the scan. It is very important that you keep still and relax during the scan. You will not feel anything but you will hear the noise of the scanner as it moves around you (it sounds like a washing machine!).
Staff cannot stay in the room whilst the scan is in progress but they can speak to you, hear you and keep a careful watch on you throughout the scan. The radiographer can talk to you through an intercom system. The CT scan takes between 5 and 10 minutes to take all the pictures required.
Once your scan is complete and the pictures have been checked to ensure we have all the information we need, you will be able to go home. If you have had an injection of contrast you will be asked to remain in the department for 15 minutes while you body absorbs it. You should experience no discomfort and can return to your normal daily routine.
The radiologist - a doctor who specialises in CT scanning - will examine you scan. The result will be sent to your doctor or the consultant who asked for the CT scan. They will send you a follow up appointment/letter to discuss your CT results with them; please do not contact the CT scanning department for results.