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When Do You Need a CT Scan?

Whenever a person gets hurt, injured, or sick, they often visit their doctor to determine what’s wrong with them and receive treatment if needed. The doctors might be able to figure out what’s wrong with them by examining them and listening to the symptoms they are feeling. Oftentimes, doctors need more diagnostic testing to further explore why the patient is experiencing these symptoms. That’s when the doctors refer their patients to a medical diagnostic center like Vital Imaging, so they have a better idea of what’s causing their symptoms and what is happening with their body.

When it comes to diagnosing certain medical issues, diagnostic imaging is crucial because it enables physicians to examine the internal area of your body that is affected.  Naturally, there are numerous types of scans and tests, but the most common and most effective procedures are CT scans. These scans use X-ray beams to create images of the internal areas of a person’s body.

During the scan, the patient is laying down while X-ray beams are sent through the body by an arc and collected on the other end. In doing so, the physician will have a very detailed image of the affected internal area of the patient’s body. While many people are familiar with what a CT scan is, not everyone has undergone the procedure. Nor do they know why someone would need such a diagnostic scan.

Why would you need a CT Scan?

If your doctor ever recommends a CT scan, there’s probably a valid reason for doing so.  Here are 9 reasons why you might need this type of scan:

  • You need an examination of an area of your body that contains small bones.
  • You suffered some type of head trauma and need a scan of your brain.
  • You were seriously injured in some type of accident and your doctor wants to determine if you’ve suffered any internal injuries.
  • You’re having surgery to remove a tumor.
  • You’re undergoing a treatment for cancer.
  • You’ve suffered soft tissue damage.
  • Your doctor has determined that you cannot undergo an MRI and the best alternative is a CT scan.
  • Your doctor has recommended that you have your blood vessels examined.
  • Your doctor orders a bone scan in order to rule out a skeletal disease.

While there may be other reasons why your doctor would recommend undergoing a CT scan, these are the most common. CT scans are critical when it comes to providing doctors with images of bones, the brain, large blood vessels, muscles, nerves, organs, and soft tissues. It helps them get a better insight into the physical functions and internal injuries so they can customize a treatment plan just for you. For more information about CT scans or any other diagnostic imaging procedures we offer, contact Vital Imaging today.