Computed Tomography (CT) scan

Please arrive for your scan 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete a medical questionnaire regarding any chronic conditions, allergies, medication you are taking and any possible contraindications to undergoing a CT scan.

​For certain CT scans (e.g. of the abdomen and pelvis), a contrast agent is administered to obtain a clear image of the area being examined. Both intravenous and oral contrast agents are used, as well as intraintestinal contrast agents administered as infusions. The contrast agents we use are very safe and rarely cause allergic reactions. If oral administration of the contrast medium is required, please arrive at least one to two hours before your scheduled appointment and bring 1.5–2.5 litres of still mineral water with you. A technician or nurse will prepare the contrast solution, which you should then drink slowly in small sips. If the contrast is to be administered intravenously just before the examination begins, a nurse will insert an intravenous cannula.

Most CT scans follow a similar procedure. The patient lies down on a special movable table and remains in a lying position throughout the scan, usually on their back (or, alternatively, on their side or stomach), whilst the table moves through the scanner ring.

The scan is painless; although some patients may experience discomfort when the contrast agent is administered, this is not usually the case. A technician, a doctor and a nurse are on hand to look after the patient, and instructions are given via a microphone from an adjoining room separated by a glass partition.

During the scan, the patient may be asked to hold their breath and remain still, as any movement of the body may cause errors in the images obtained, which could result in a reduction in the quality of the results. The scan usually lasts from a few to a dozen or so minutes.

Following a scan involving the administration of a contrast agent, the patient is asked to remain in the scan suite for several dozen minutes as a precaution. Provided there are no adverse reactions, the patient may leave the premises.

The patient is asked to drink two litres of fluids a day for the next two days, as drinking plenty of fluids helps to ensure that the contrast medium is efficiently excreted from the body.

At reception, patients will be informed of the date on which they can collect their test results, which are sent to our specialists for interpretation and consultation. Results can be collected in person or by another person, provided the relevant authorisation form has been completed. The results consist of a medical report and a disc containing the CT scan images, together with a description.

It is also possible to elektroniczny odbiór wyników.

to determine the cause of headaches and dizziness, to rule out the presence of vascular malformations, brain and spinal cord tumours, to diagnose degenerative brain diseases, including dementia, to diagnose the cause of back pain, and to investigate other symptoms of neurological disorders.

to diagnose suspected brain and spinal tumours, and to identify the presence of vascular malformations, post-traumatic lesions and neoplastic lesions of the skull and spine.

to diagnose suspected brain and spinal tumours, and to identify the presence of vascular malformations, post-traumatic lesions and neoplastic lesions of the skull and spine.

for the diagnosis of pathologies of the lungs and chest wall in both benign and malignant conditions, and for the assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes, diagnosing disorders of the oesophagus, pulmonary embolism, pneumoconiosis and pulmonary fibrosis, and assessing the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

for the diagnosis of disorders of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, uterus and ovaries.

to assess the pituitary gland in patients for whom there are contraindications to an MRI scan of the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands.

to assess the musculoskeletal system following injury and surgery, and prior to planned surgery, as well as in the diagnosis of tumours, degenerative diseases, osteitis, Paget’s disease and fibrous bone dysplasia.

to locate and determine the extent of the cancer, as well as prior to planned treatment, during treatment, and to monitor the effects of treatment.

to diagnose acute and chronic surgical conditions of the abdomen and pelvis, and following injuries to the torso or chest. A CT scan is often performed to assess the condition of major blood vessels, such as the aorta, prior to planned surgery.

to determine the nature of nodular lesions of the neck, including those of the larynx, and of diseases of the paranasal sinuses, the nasal cavity, the throat, the ears and the salivary glands.

in order to improve the diagnosis of inflammatory, neoplastic and post-traumatic changes in the orbit.