A CT scan of the abdomen may be performed to assess the abdomen and its organs for tumors and other lesions, injuries, intra-abdominal bleeding, infections, unexplained abdominal pain, obstructions, or other conditions, particularly when another type of examination, such as X-rays or physical examination, is not ...
Examples of conditions that we would not diagnose on CT scan or ultrasound include viral infections ('the stomach flu'), inflammation or ulcers in the stomach lining, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis), irritable bowel syndrome or maldigestion, pelvic floor dysfunction, strains ...
A CT scan of the belly can help find problems such as kidney stones, infected pouches in the colon (diverticulitis), and appendicitis. It also helps find tumours and abscesses.
An abdominal CT scan uses a special X-ray machine to take pictures of the liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, stomach, intestines, pancreas, and adrenal glands, blood vessels, and lymph nodes .
A CT scan can see nearly all parts of the body and is used to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment.
CT scans utilize X-rays to form images of organs and tissues inside the body (for example, abdominal organs, brain, chest, lungs, heart) while colonoscopy is a procedure that can visualize only the inside surface of the colon.
Sometimes, due to fatigue, stress, and other factors, doctors can misread CT Scan's or miss important details, resulting in misdiagnosis, a common form of medical malpractice. When these mistakes happen, it can be life-threatening and it is important for patient's to know their rights.
Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis is a diagnostic imaging test. Doctors use it to help detect diseases of the small bowel, colon, and other internal organs. It is often used to determine the cause of unexplained pain. CT scanning is fast, painless, noninvasive and accurate.
MRI is more accurate than a CT scan or other tests for certain conditions but less accurate for others. The function of the small and large bowel (intestines) is not readily visible. Disadvantages include the high cost, long duration of the scan, and sensitivity to movement.
CT is occasionally used as the initial modality to evaluate an abdominal wall mass, particularly when the patient has a history of malignancy, and metastasis is considered in the differential diagnosis. An imaging approach to initial workup of abdominal wall masses is presented in Figure 3.
Standard imaging tests for gastric conditions include upper gastrointestinal series (UGI), ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans and X-rays. For an even clearer picture of the gastrointestinal tract, a barium swallow or barium enema may be used in conjunction with an X-ray.
IBS cannot be seen on an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or colonoscopy. Patients who see a gastroenterologist for abdominal pain will often have testing and imaging (most commonly an ultrasound or a CT scan) completed to rule out other causes of abdominal pain.
Tests for abdominal pain
Your doctor may order urine, blood and stool tests. Imaging tests are also helpful for detecting abnormalities inside your digestive system and other organs. These tests may include X-rays, CT scan, ultrasound, barium enema or endoscopy.
CT scanning has no part in the primary detection of gastric ulcers; however, this modality has a role in the detection of subphrenic and other collections that may occur after a perforation of a gastric ulcer.
“The report authors recommend that all patients with suspected bowel obstruction are promptly sent for a CT scan with contrast, however, a significant number of patients are missing out on those scans, and restricted access to scanning equipment can delay diagnosis and treatment for those that do get them.
Both procedures are relatively safe; CT does expose you to radiation (at a safe level) and if IV contrast dye is used to enhance CT images, some people may be allergic or have the possibility of kidney damage while endoscopy has the risk of bowel perforation and allergic reaction to anesthesia drugs.
An upper endoscopy provides better detail than a CT scan or an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, which uses X-rays.
For instance, the CT is much better at screening for certain types of cancer tumors and finding various abnormalities within the body. Also, CT can be used with other screening techniques like MRI's to further enhance its accuracy and definition. Ultrasound is often used to image muscles, internal organs, tendons, etc.
Chronic back pain or an injury to the spine are among the most common reasons to have a CT scan. A doctor may also order a spinal CT scan to: Evaluate spinal fractures. Assess the condition of the spine before and after surgical procedures.
In a number of studies, CT colonography has displayed results equivalent to colonoscopy in both cancer and polyp detection. CT colonography has been shown to rapidly and effectively examine the entire colon for lesions.
After analysing the images, the radiologist will write a report and send it to the doctor who referred you for the scan so they can discuss the results with you. This normally takes a few days or weeks.
Ultrasounds have some limitations to the structures they can find, and this is usually limited to internal organs. Ultrasounds are not typically ordered for images of bony structures. In contrast, CT scans can provide detailed images of soft tissues, bones, and blood vessels.
A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis can help diagnose problems in the bladder, uterus, prostate, liver or bowels.
A traditional colonoscopy is the most widely known colorectal cancer screening procedure, but many patients are choosing a non-invasive CT (computerized tomography) Colonography instead. A CT Colonography doesn't require sedation and is just as accurate at detecting most precancerous polyps.