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The physicians and staff at Crozer-Keystone Health System are committed to providing patients with a quality medical imaging experience. That's the reason we're making it easier than ever for you to request an appointment at any of our imaging facilities.
Choose one of the following:
1. Complete the secure online request form.
A representative will contact you to confirm your appointment the next business day.
2. Call 1-866-5-CK-XRAY (1-866-525-9729). _______________________________________
Computed Tomography (CT Scan) or CAT scan directs multiple narrow beams of X-rays (radiation) around a specific body site. A computer is used to produce thin, cross-sectional views (like a slices of bread) of the site. By taking a series of such images, a technologist can create a multi-dimensional view of at patient’s body. This enhances a physician’s ability to accurately diagnose certain medical conditions.
A CT scan provides very detailed pictures of the head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis and is generally ordered by a physician when a patient has had a trauma or is suspected to have a tumor, kidney stones or internal bleeding. Because of the sophisticated technology used by a CT scanner and its ability to view both soft tissue and bones, CT scans are often able to detect some conditions that conventional X-rays cannot. These scans can often replace exploratory surgery.
To have a CT scan performed, the patient is asked to lie on a table within a large circular tunnel. The patient is expected to lie completely still during the procedure, and he/she may be asked to drink a contrast agent or have one injected for some procedures.
A relatively new procedure that is now being performed in CT is Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). This test is performed on the hospital’s 16-slice, state-of-the-art Siemens machine. The procedure uses the same principles used in CT, but instead images blood vessels. CTA is used to look for aneurysms, blood clots and other abnormalities of the arteries or veins.
The patient is injected with an X-ray dye, then scanned in two different planes at the same time. The pictures are taken with narrower sections and reconstructed in shorter time frames than standard CT. After the procedure is complete and the patient leaves the department, the technologist will review the images and use a computer to reformat the images from different angles.
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