Is a CT Scan Really Necessary?

You’ve suffered a fall and your doctor believes that there’s a break involved. Unfortunately, the X-ray just doesn’t provide enough information for treatment to proceed. Needing to know more, your doctor schedules a CT Scan for a more comprehensive and definitive diagnosis.

Is this really necessary or is it overkill?

If your doctor believes a bone is broken or there might be soft tissue damage adding to your pain, the CT Scan is precisely the tool required to enable him or her to "see" inside your body and uncover the source of your discomfort. Without it, proper treatment may not be provided since those X-rays didn’t turn up anything.

Why CT Scanning is Necessary

CT stands for computerized tomography. This type of test goes beyond a traditional X-ray because it enables the body to see not only the bones, but also the soft tissues in greater depth than an X-ray reveals. When the issue is a possible broken bone, a slight fracture, for example, might not be visible on the X-ray, but it will show up on the CT Scan. These scans are also incredibly helpful for detecting a host of other problems including internal injuries, bleeding and cancer.

What to Expect

An order for a CT Scan might sound scary to those who have never undergone the procedure, but the truth is it’s a fairly simple test. This procedure is fast and painless and most importantly non-invasive. All you need to do is show up, change into a gown and lie on a small table. The technician will take it from there. In some cases, a dye may be used to highlight potential trouble spots more easily for the machine.

When a doctor orders a CT Scan, there’s no reason for concern. This relatively simple test might be exactly what it takes to reveal the source of your pain when other methods fail.

About Author

PET / CT of Las Colinas was developed with both patients and physicians in mind and our services have been used for various types of disease; primarily in detecting, staging and monitoring cancer, but also in heart disease and brain disorders.

The PET / CT of Las Colinas is conveniently located within the Las Colinas Cancer Center on the Southwest corner of HWY 161 and Las Colinas Blvd. It is located adjacent to the Regions Bank and across HWY 161 from the Las Colinas Medical Center.