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Abdominal CT scan

Abdominal CT scan

An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of
the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography.
How the Test is Performed

You will lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Most often, you will
lie on your back with your arms raised above your head.

Once you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. Modern spiral
scanners can perform the exam without stopping.
A computer creates separate images of the belly area. These are called slices. These images can
be stored, viewed on a monitor, or printed on film. Three-dimensional models of the belly area
can be made by stacking the slices together.
You must be still during the exam, because movement causes blurred images. You may be told to
hold your breath for short periods of time.
In many cases, an abdominal CT is done with a pelvis CT.
The scan should take less than 30 minutes.
How to Prepare for the Test

You need to have a special dye, called contrast, put into your body before some exams. Contrast
helps certain areas show up better on the x-rays.

Contrast can be given through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. If contrast
is used, you may also be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours
before the test.

You may have to drink the contrast before the exam. When you drink it will
depend on the type of exam being done. Contrast has a chalky taste,
although some are flavored so they taste a little better.

The contrast will pass out of your body through your stools.

Let your health care provider know if you have ever had a reaction to
contrast. You may need to take medicines before the test to safely receive
this substance.

Before receiving the contrast, tell your provider if you take the diabetes
medication metformin (Glucophage). People taking this medicine may have to
stop taking it for a while before the test.

Let your provider know if you have any kidney problems. The IV contrast can
worsen kidney function.

Too much weight can damage the scanner. Find out if the CT machine has a weight limit if you
weigh more than 300 pounds.
You will need to take off your jewelry and wear a hospital gown during the study.

How the Test will Feel

Lying on the hard table may be a little bit uncomfortable.

If you have contrast through a vein (IV), you may have:

Slight burning sensation

Metallic taste in the mouth

Warm flushing of the body

These feelings are normal and go away within a few seconds.

Why the Test is Performed

An abdominal CT scan makes detailed pictures of the structures inside your belly (abdomen)
very quickly.
This test may be used to look for:

Cause of abdominal pain or swelling

Hernia

Cause of a fever

Masses and tumors, including cancer

Infections or injury

Kidney stones

Appendicitis

What Abnormal Results Mean

The abdominal CT scan may show some cancers, including:

Cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter

Colon cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Lymphoma

Melanoma

Ovarian cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Pheochromocytoma

Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)

Testicular cancer

The abdominal CT scan may show problems with the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, including:

Acute cholecystitis

Alcoholic liver disease

Cholelithiasis

Pancreatic abscess

Pancreatic pseudocyst

Pancreatitis

Blockage of bile ducts

The abdominal CT scan may reveal the following kidney problems:

Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy

Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy

Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy

Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy

Complicated UTI (pyelonephritis)

Kidney stones

Kidney or ureter damage

Polycystic kidney disease

Abnormal results may also be due to:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abscesses

Appendicitis

Bowel wall thickening

Retroperitoneal fibrosis

Renal artery stenosis

Renal vein thrombosis

Risks

Risks of CT scans include:

Allergy to contrast dye

Exposure to radiation

Damage to kidney function from contrast dye

CT scans expose you to more radiation than regular x-rays. Many x-rays or CT scans over time
may increase your risk for cancer. However, the risk from any one scan is small. Talk to your
doctor about this risk and the benefit of the test for getting a correct diagnosis of your medical
problem.
Some people have allergies to contrast dye. Let your doctor know if you have ever had an
allergic reaction to injected contrast dye.

The most common type of contrast given into a vein contains iodine. If you
have an iodine allergy, you may have nausea or vomiting, sneezing, itching,
or hives if you get this type of contrast.

If you must be given such contrast, your doctor may give you antihistamines
(such as Benadryl) or steroids before the test.

Your kidneys help remove iodine from the body. You may need extra fluids
after the test to help flush the iodine out of your body if you have kidney
disease or diabetes.

Rarely, the dye may cause a life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis. Tell the scanner
operator right away if you have any trouble breathing during the test. Scanners come with an
intercom and speakers, so the operator can hear you at all times.

Alternative Names

Computed tomography scan - abdomen; CT scan - abdomen; CAT scan - abdomen; CT abdomen
and pelvis
References

Kim DH, Pickhardt PJ. Diagnostic imaging procedures in gastroenterology. In: Goldman L,
Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders;
2011:chap 135.
Shaw AS, Prokop M. Computed tomography. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, et al. eds.
Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 6th ed. New York,
NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2014:chap 4.
Update Date 10/22/2014

Updated by: Jason Levy, MD, Northside Radiology Associates, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Browse the Encyclopedia
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Normal external abdomen

Read More

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair - open

Abscess

Acute cholecystitis

Acute kidney failure

Addison disease

Alcoholic liver disease

Amebic liver abscess

Aortic aneurysm repair - endovascular

Appendicitis

Atheroembolic renal disease

Bilateral hydronephrosis

Cancer - renal pelvis or ureter

Cholangiocarcinoma

Choledocholithiasis

Chronic cholecystitis

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic pancreatitis

CT scan

Cushing syndrome

Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor

Cyst

Cystinuria

Echinococcus

Gallstones

Glucagonoma

Hairy cell leukemia

Hodgkin lymphoma

Hydronephrosis of one kidney

Hyperaldosteronism - primary and secondary

Injury - kidney and ureter

Intestinal obstruction

Irritable bowel syndrome

Kidney stones

Liver cancer - hepatocellular carcinoma

Medullary cystic kidney disease

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II

Nephrocalcinosis

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Ovarian cancer

Pancreatic abscess

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic islet cell tumor

Pancreatic pseudocyst

Pheochromocytoma

Polycystic kidney disease

Pyogenic liver abscess

Reflux nephropathy

Renal cell carcinoma

Renal vein thrombosis

Retroperitoneal fibrosis

Sclerosing cholangitis

Swollen lymph nodes

Testicular cancer

Ureterocele

Wilms tumor

Wilson disease

X-ray

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Patient Instructions

Aortic aneurysm repair - endovascular - discharge

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Page last updated: 23 August 2016