Cost of Brain CT Scan with Contrast in India
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What is CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast?
The Computed Tomography Brain (CT) scan with Contrast is an imaging process that uses a contrasting dye and rotating beams of X-rays to make a comprehensive three-dimensional picture of the skull and brain in order to identify damage or disorders of the brain and skull.
A CT scan of the head can reveal greater information than a typical X-ray, which is especially beneficial when a doctor wishes to examine the body’s blood arteries and soft tissues.
Why is the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast done?
CT scans of the brain with contrast is done:
- To identify a skull fracture or brain injury caused by trauma
- To detect any internal bleeding in the brain
- To evaluate the risk of stroke or the location of any obstruction in blood flow causing a stroke
- Detecting the presence of illnesses such as hydrocephalus
- To identify inflammation of the meninges (the covering of the brain and spine) and guide treatment treatments for it
- To detect the existence of tumours and guide treatment operations for it
Who should undergo CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast done?
A CT head scan may be used by a technician to get pictures in a crisis, to make a diagnosis, or to assess how effectively therapies are working.
A doctor may request a head CT scan for a variety of reasons, including:
- Searching for potential head trauma injuries such as soft tissue injuries, brain haemorrhage, and bone injuries
- Examining a person who is experiencing stroke-like symptoms to check whether there is any evidence of a blood clot or brain haemorrhage
- Checking for a probable brain tumour or other problem in the brain
- Determining the efficacy of medicinal therapy in reducing a brain tumour
- Appraising a person with a history of hydrocephalus, a disease in which a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid causes the expansion of the brain ventricles
A doctor may request a head CT scan to ensure that a brain abnormality is not the underlying reason for a person’s brain-related symptoms, such as changes in personality or impaired mobility.
Disclaimer: It is advised to always consult your doctor for interpreting the test reports.
What precautions should I take?
- Please follow the instructions suggested by your doctor
- Inform if one is on any medications or if any treatment going on
- Show your old reports, if any
- Inform if one is pregnant or breast-feeding or menstruating
What does the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast measure?
The contrast material absorbs X-rays and shows white on pictures, helping to highlight blood arteries and other structures. You may be given I/V (intravenous) contrast.
What all tests are included in the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast?
- Diagnose bone cancers and fractures, as well as muscle and bone problems.
- Determine where a tumour, infection, or blood clot is located. Surgery, biopsy, and radiation therapy are all examples of operations that can be guided.
- Diseases and disorders such as aneurysm, stroke, bleeding and brain tumours, can be detected and monitored
A blood test may be required prior to your planned CT scan. The blood test ensures that the healthcare professional selects the correct dye.
CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast Preparation
To your exam, dress comfortably in loose-fitting attire. For the procedure, you may need to change into a gown. Metal artefacts, such as jewellery, eyeglasses, dentures, and hairpins can cause CT pictures to be distorted. Leave them at home or take them off before the examination. Hearing aids and removable dental work must be removed for some CT tests. Metal underwire bras will need to be removed by women. If feasible, you should remove any piercings.
Tell your doctor about any recent illnesses or other medical conditions you’ve had, as well as any family history of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, renal disease, or thyroid issues. Any of these factors might raise the chance of a negative reaction. If you have asthma, multiple myeloma, or any heart, kidney, or thyroid gland issue, or if you have diabetes (especially if you are on Metformin), the radiologist should know. If there is any chance that a woman is pregnant, she should always tell her doctor and the CT technician.
CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast Procedure
- A cranial CT scanner uses X-rays to create a sequence of images.
- The X-ray images are then combined by a computer to produce detailed images of your head. These photos aid in the diagnosis of your condition.
- In most cases, the operation is performed in a hospital or an outpatient imaging clinic. Your scan should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
- You must take off all jewellery and other metal objects on the day of the treatment. They have the potential to harm the scanner and cause X-ray interference.
- You’ll almost certainly be asked to put on a hospital gown. Depending on the purpose of your CT scan, you’ll lie face up or face down on a small table.
- You must remain motionless throughout the exam.
- Even a small amount of movement might cause the pictures to blur.
- The CT scanner can be uncomfortable or claustrophobic for some people.
- To keep you relaxed throughout the procedure, your doctor may prescribe a sedative.
- A sedative will also assist you in remaining motionless. For the same reasons, if your child is undergoing a CT scan, their doctor may prescribe a sedative.
- The table will gradually move forward until your head is inside the scanner. You may be asked to hold your breath for a brief length of time.
- The X-ray beam from the scanner will spin around your head, providing a series of pictures from various angles. Individual pictures are referred to as slices.
- Three-dimensional graphics are created by stacking the slices.
- On a monitor, images may be viewed right away. They will be saved and printed for later viewing.
- The CT scanner contains a microphone and speakers for two-way communication with the scanner operator for your safety.
What to expect after the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast is done?
A CT scan can be performed at a hospital or an outpatient facility. CT scans are painless and only take a few minutes with modern devices. The entire procedure usually takes around 30 minutes.
You can resume your usual routine after the exam. You might be given additional instructions if you were provided contrast material. In certain situations, you may be required to stay for a brief period of time following the exam to check that you feel okay. Following the scan, you will most likely be advised to consume plenty of fluids to assist your kidneys in removing the contrast material from your body.
When will I get the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast report?
Your test will be reviewed by a neuro-radiologist (imaging specialist), and the results will be provided to your doctor within 48 hours. Your doctor will go through the results with you and explain what they indicate in terms of your health.
Disclaimer: The time may vary based on your condition and the availability of the radiologist.
How will I get the report of the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast?
The pictures will be analyzed by a radiologist, a doctor who is uniquely educated to monitor and interpret radiology tests. The radiologist will provide the doctor who ordered the exam with an official report.
You may require a follow-up examination. If this is the case, your doctor will explain why. A follow-up test may be necessary to further analyze a suspected problem with more views or particular imaging technology. It may also check to determine whether a problem has changed over time. Follow-up assessments are frequently the most effective approach to determine if therapy is effective or whether an issue requires attention.
How to interpret the result of the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast?
Examine the brain for
- Symmetry (sulci and gyri should be the same on both sides).
- Grey-white distinction – the loss of the grey-white interface on a CT scan is the first indicator of a CVA.
- Shift – the falx should be in the midline, with ventricles on both sides being the same.
Is there any risk involved?
The CT scan is a non-invasive, painless treatment that doctors usually regard to be safe. It may, however, pose certain hazards.
Because a CT scan exposes a person to radiation, there is a chance that the individual will acquire cancer as a result of the high radiation doses. However, the chances of occurring following a single CT head scan are negligible. A person should consult with their doctor if they are concerned about the radiation exposure from a CT head scan.
Doctors frequently advise pregnant women to avoid having CT scans. However, because a single CT scan is unlikely to represent a major danger, a doctor can advise you on whether the advantages exceed the risks.
A CT scan may be rather loud. This loudness, or the dread of being in an enclosed place, can sometimes cause anxiety in a person. As a result, doctors may occasionally administer sedative medications to patients before they enter the CT scanner.
If a person is given a contrast dye during the operation, they may have an allergic response to the dye.
Contrast dye can also create additional symptoms that are unpleasant but not allergic. A heated sensation throughout the body, a burning sensation, or a metallic taste in the tongue are some of the symptoms. Before receiving the scan, a doctor may prescribe a steroid or advise a patient to take diphenhydramine.
What equipment or instruments are used for CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast?
A CT scanner is a huge, doughnut-shaped piece of equipment with a short tube in the centre. You’ll be lying on a tiny table that glides in and out of this little tunnel. The x-ray tube and electronic x-ray detectors are situated opposite each other in a ring called a gantry, which rotates around you. A separate control room houses the computer workstation that handles the imaging data. This is where the technician runs the scanner and supervises your exam nearby. Using a speaker and microphone, the techie will be able to hear and speak to you.
How long does the CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast take?
During your exam, the technician will always be able to see and hear you. This treatment normally takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
How do I book a CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast through the MFine app?
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Frequently asked questions on CT Scan of the Brain with Contrast
What might a CT scan of the head reveal?
In patients with head trauma, doctors frequently employ head CT to identify hemorrhage, brain damage, and skull fractures. In a patient suffering from a severe headache, bleeding caused by a burst or leaky aneurysm. a blood clot or bleeding within the brain in a patient suffering from stroke symptoms.
What should you avoid doing before a contrast-enhanced CT scan?
If your doctor has ordered a CT scan with contrast, you should not eat anything three hours before the scan. It is recommended that you consume clear beverages. You may also take any drugs given to you before your checkup.
Is a CT scan of the brain dangerous?
The CT scan is a non-invasive, painless treatment that doctors usually regard to be safe. It may, however, pose certain hazards. Because a CT scan exposes a person to radiation, there is a chance that the individual will acquire cancer as a result of the high radiation doses.
Can a CT scan detect a bleed in the brain?
Soft tissue injuries and other anomalies are frequently missed by CT scans. These may or may not be detected by an MRI. TBIs might take a long time to manifest. Long after you’ve attended the emergency department, a small brain hemorrhage or nerve fiber injury may not occur for hours or even days.
Is it necessary to use contrast in a CT scan of the brain?
A CT scan of the brain can be performed with or without contrast. However, it is seldom necessary. In general, it is preferable to leave the choice of contrast or no contrast to the imaging physician’s judgment.
After a CT scan with contrast, how much water should I drink?
You should drink six to eight glasses of water after receiving a contrast dye injection to help flush it out of your system. An imaging physician who specializes in CT scan interpretation will review your report. The findings will be provided to your doctor within 48 hours, on average.
What may I expect following a contrast-enhanced CT scan?
After a CT scan, what happens next? If contrast dye was used during your treatment, you might be watched for a period of time for any contrast dye-related adverse effects or reactions, such as itching, swelling, rash, or trouble breathing.
Is it possible to acquire a headache following a CT scan?
Minor responses to the IV contrast used in CT scans may include nausea, vomiting, headache, or dizziness, which are normally short-lived and do not require treatment. There are certain incidences of hives (urticaria) and rash that can be treated with antihistamines or other drugs.
How long does it take to have a CT scan of the head?
During your exam, the technician will always be able to see and hear you. This treatment normally takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
What medications interact with contrast?
Renin-angiotensin system blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, diuretics, and metformin may enhance the risk of CI-AKI during contrast imaging in patients with cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and/or diabetes.
Disclaimer: The content is uniquely informative and is meant for educational use. Kindly use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified or registered healthcare provider.