CT Scan

(Spanish Version       English Version)

	Computed tomography, or CT, uses normal x-rays to produce pictures of the inside of your body without hurting you. This test is extremely useful and is used to examine both children and adults all over the world. Even as I speak, children in almost every part of the globe are getting tested with CT scanners. In order to protect your health, these studies are done using the very lowest radiation dose possible in order to obtain the pictures needed to help us understand what may be making you sick.
	CT scans look for a wide variety of problems which include: tumors or growths, injuries to the brain, spinal column, and the chest and lung, and infections.
	If we find any of these problems, we can often avoid the need to use other tests. Sometimes, because of the pictures that we get, we can even avoid surgery.
	A CT test is completely painless and often does not last for more than 10 or 20 minutes. It may take longer depending on the type of information we are trying to find.
	Let's take a look at how the test is performed.
	First, you will be given a special medicine mixed with water or juice to drink. It is called "contrast" or "dye." When you drink this dye, it will make it easier for your doctors to see with their x-rays. We may need to insert a needle. If this happens, we will rub emla cream over your skin. This makes your skin numb so that you can hardly feel the needle.
	Next, you lie down on a table. All you have to do is keep yourself very still. A technician will operate the equipment by remote control. While you remain perfectly still, the table will move into a large round machine called a CT scanner. It will make a humming noise while it takes pictures of you. If you like, we can arrange to have your parents in the room with you while this is happening.
	The machine will never touch you but it will take pictures that a radiologist is trained to understand. The radiologist will let your doctor know the results of the study.
	When you leave the CT scanner, you will be in exactly the same condition that you were in when the test began.