My visit and explanation of what a CT scan is

CT scans (or CAT scan as it is sometimes called) stands for Computerised (Axial) Tomography. This just means a scan that takes pictures from all around your body and uses a computer to put them together.  You can either scroll down the page to read all the information below, or use these links to go directly to a section on

• How a CT scanner works 
• What will happen? 
• Preparation for the scan 
• Abdominal CT scans 
• CT scans of the head 
• CT scans of the chest 
• Pelvic CT scans 
• Spiral CT scans 
• Can a CT scan be dangerous? 
• The results

 

How a CT scanner works?

A CT scanner uses X-rays. Like an X-ray, it is painless. The CT machine takes a lot of pictures of your body from different angles. These pictures are fed into a computer. The computer puts them together to give a series of cross sections or 'slices' through the part of the body being scanned. A very detailed picture of the inside of the body can be built up in this way.

Together these cross sections give a very accurate picture of where a tumour is and how big it is. They also show how close major body organs are to the area that needs to be treated or operated on.

A CT scanning machine is a large machine that is shaped rather like a doughnut. There is a couch that you lie on.  The couch can slide backwards and forwards through the hole of the doughnut. The pictures are taken as you move through the machine.

This is a CT scan of the pelvis marked for radiotherapy treatment.

What will happen

When you arrive, you check in with the receptionist so the radiographers know you are there.  Then you usually take a seat in the waiting room until someone calls you for your scan.

When you are called, you may first go to a cubicle to take off your outer clothing.  You may have to strip down to your underwear and put on a hospital gown.  If you are just having a CT of your head, you may not be asked to undress.  You must take off any jewellery that is in the area to be scanned because metal interferes with the machine.

When you are ready, the radiographer or helper will take you into the scanning room. You will probably have to lie down on the machine couch on your back. Sometimes the scan is done with you on your side or lying on your front. You need to lie as still as you can, but breathe normally.

Once you are in the right position on the couch, the radiographer will leave the room. This is because there will be X-rays in the room and it would be dangerous for the staff to be exposed to these.  They see patients having X-rays and CT scans all day, every day and if they stayed in the room, would be exposed to far more X-rays than any patient.

The radiographer will be able to see you on a TV screen and you can talk to each other through an intercom. The radiographer will control the position of the couch from outside. The couch can move automatically through the CT scanner so that the part of the body to be scanned is in the machine. The radiographer will tell you that he or she is about to start the scan and remind you to keep as still as you can. When the scan is over, the radiographer will come back into the room and help you down from the couch.

Most scans take about half an hour.  A lot of that is for setting up the scan, rather than actually taking it.  Lying still for that long can be uncomfortable.  If you are getting stiff and need to move, tell the radiographers through the intercom.  During the actual scan, you have to try to keep as still as possible, and not cough or swallow, particularly if your head is being scanned.  Mostly, you can breathe quietly but normally throughout the scan.  For some scans, your radiographer may ask you to hold your breath at various times during the scan.  If this is going to happen, they will tell you beforehand.  You should be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.

Before I left the hospital My Doctor came in and gave me the results of my Biopsy that I had done 2 weeks earlier.

This is when I was told I had Non-Hodgins Lymphoma.

Even though I had hoped it wouldn't be cancer, I was half expecting it. I didn't feel particularly worried at that point. I guess because I have been healthy all my life and at the moment I felt fine.

Time to ponder this and like I always do, it was time to do some research.

Getting a Lymph Node Biopsy

 The only way to get a definite diagnosis of the cause of an enlarged lymph node is to remove it and look at it under the microscope.  This is called a lymph node biopsy.  It is a small operation, usually done in hospital under a general anaesthetic. 

When you wake up, you will have a few stitches where the lymph node has been removed.  These will be covered by a dressing.  You will probably be able to go home the same day, as soon as you have recovered from the anaesthetic.  You will probably have to go to your GP surgery to have your stitches removed, about a week to 10 days later.

My biopsy was done with a local anesthetic. The surgeon froze the area around the lymph he was removing.

It's a weird feeling having him cut while you are a wake. A few times I coud feel it and he had to do more freezing.

It was a fairly standard operation and I was out the door in 20 minutes.

I headed for home again to await results. Its a 3 hour bus ride. I preffer the bus to driving.

When I arrived home I had a message from my Doctor telling me he was scheduling a CT scan.

Another trip to the hospital.