CT Head Scan

If there is a possibility of pregnancy, please inform the technologist prior to the date of your examination. Please advise our department prior to your procedure if you have allergies or previous contrast media reaction.

What to expect

Your physician has requested that you have a CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan. This procedure is done to produce detailed images of a selected part of your body. You will be positioned on a table that moves through the scanner. It is very important that you lie still while the images are being taken.

On the day of your exam

Please arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to allow for parking and registration. Please plan to spend approximately 1-2 hours in our department. If you bring friends or family to the appointment they will be asked to wait in a waiting room during your scan. Children cannot be left unattended during your scan. Please arrange for a caregiver

Preparation and procedure

There are no preparations for the following exams:

  • Sinus without contrast
  • Brain Scan without contrast
  • Temporal Bone without contrast
  • Orbits/Facial Bones without contrast

The following exams require an injection of contrast media into a vein in your arm. Please see further directions under contrast studies.

  • Brain Scan with contrast
  • Brain Scan with and without contrast
  • Carotid Arteries
  • Orbits/Facial Bones with contrast
  • Sinus with contrast
  • Temporal Bone with contrast

Contrast studies

You may be required to have a blood test prior to the examination to determine kidney function. The final determination of contrast administration is typically decided by the radiologist. At times the scan is changed from contrast to non-contrast or vice versa on the day of your exam. If this should occur and you have not had a lab test, the imaging department will help to facilitate this step.

Results

Our radiologist will study your examination and a report will be forwarded to your practitioner, from whom you may obtain the results. If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact our department at 608-342-4740.

Date of appointment _______________________________________ Time_____________________

Your procedure will be performed at Southwest Health at 1400 Eastside Road – Platteville, WI 53818. Please use the Main Hospital Entrance and check in at the Registration Desk prior to your scheduled procedure.

If you cannot keep your appointment please contact the radiology department at 608-342-4740 so that we may accommodate another patient.

NOTE: It may take 2-3 days to obtain verification from your insurance company for exams that require prior authorization, such as CT, MRI, Nuclear Stress, Injections, etc.