Preparing for a CT Scan

There are minimal preparations for a CT scan. We will inform you of any steps you may have to take when you schedule your appointment.

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your CT exam. You must also remove any articles of clothing or jewelry that might degrade the CT images, such as belts, earrings, bras, glasses, dentures, hairpins, etc. Zippers and snaps common in many clothes can also cause image degradation. In some cases, you may be asked to wear a patient gown.

For many types of CT exams, for example CT of the chest or abdomen, you are asked to hold your breath and remain perfectly still for less than 30 seconds while the technologist takes an image. At any time during the CT examination, you may communicate with the technologist using an intercom. The technologist controls the CT examination from a workstation console in the control room located next to the CT scanner's room.

A technologist watches over you during the exam to ensure your comfort and monitors the progress of the image acquisition. You may hear the CT scanner rotating during the study. Depending upon the type of study being performed, the whirring noise may be very quiet or more noticeable. The table will move very slowly during the CT data acquisition.

Once the CT examination is complete, the technologist will ask you to get dressed and wait while the CT images are reviewed.