Preparing for your CT exam
Most CT examinations do not usually require any special patient preparations. However, in some body regions a detailed display is possible only with the help of a contrast medium. The contrast medium is administered immediately prior to the examination and is usually well tolerated by the patient. This medium contains iodine, which might cause an allergic reaction in some patients. Please inform the Regents Imaging staff prior to your exam if you are allergic to iodine, or have had any reactions to CT contrast previously.
We recommend you wear loose fitting clothing with no buttons or metal zippers. You may continue to take your usual medications, but should avoid caffeine and smoking for four hours before the exam.
If you have had recent exams to diagnose this same or a similar problem at another facility, it would be helpful for the radiologist to see those exams. If available, please bring prior studies with you.
Some patients are at high risk of allergic reaction or kidney failure when given Iodine-based IV contrast. If you have any of the following occurrences in your medical history please inform the staff at the time you are scheduling your appointment:
- Allergic to Iodine
- Previous reactions to CT IV contrast
- On dialysis
- High Creatinine level
Are you?
- Diabetic and taking Glucophage or Metformin
- More than 50 years old
- On Chemo or Radiation treatment
- Do you have kidney or renal dysfunction
Patients who answer yes to any of the questions above must have BUN and Creatinine lab results within 30 days prior to their CT exam.
Please do not eat within 4 hours of your exam, but drink plenty of water before if you will have IV contrast for your study.
Diabetic patients will need to stop Glucophage or Metformin the night before the exam.
Do not re-start medication until BUN and Creatinine labs are drawn and normal results received.
