Abdomen CT
An abdominal CT scan uses x-rays to take detailed images of a patient’s organs, blood vessels, lymph nodes, and bones in the abdominal cavity. The resulting cross-sectional images can be combined by a computer to create 3-D representations, allowing our radiologist to view internal organs from various angles and in greater detail. These 3-D images provide flexibility and assist in diagnosis.
Reasons for an Abdomen CT Scan
Your doctor may order a CT scan of the abdomen to examine organs in the gastrointestinal, urinary, and endocrine systems. These organs include the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, bladder, stomach, intestines (small or large), adrenal glands, and other structures in your abdominal cavity.
Examining these internal organs can help your doctor assess:
- Unexplained abdominal pain
- Obstructions
- Possible tumors
- Kidney stones
- Infections and inflammatory processes such as appendicitis
- Traumatic injury
Abdomen and Pelvis CT (Combined Scan)
Sometimes your doctor may order a combined abdomen and pelvis CT exam for a total assessment of a specific system – gastrointestinal, endocrine, etc. Some organs span the abdominal and pelvic regions; therefore, it is logical to image respective systems in their entirety.
Duration
An abdominal CT scan generally takes less than 1 minute to perform. Your entire visit should take less than 30 minutes, depending on the specifics of your requisition.
Exam Preparation
Being prepared for your abdomen CT scan helps us take the best possible images for diagnosis. Please visit our exam prep page for more instructions specific to abdominal CT preparation.
