What should be noted before and after CT scan of the neck?

Posted by Specialist Doctor I Vu Thi Hanh - Radiologist - Radiology Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

CT scan of the neck is an imaging method that is conducted based on a combination of X-ray and computerized methods to capture detailed images of the cervical spine. So what should patients pay attention to before and after CT scan of the neck to give the most accurate results?

CT scan of the neck, also known as computed tomography of the cervical spine. This method is conducted based on the combination of X-ray and computer methods to capture detailed images of the cervical spine.
The cervical spine consists of the first 7 vertebrae and is the highest part of the spine. Based on those images, the doctor can easily observe and detect abnormalities, injuries caused by trauma or pathologies in the cervical spine (if any) to offer effective treatment. fruit.

Because the CT scan takes place in a short time and gives results very quickly, it is often applied in emergency situations. In addition, the doctor may also order a CT scan of the neck to detect:
Congenital cervical spine malformations in young children. Injury to the cervical spine in patients with contraindications to MRI. Injuries to the upper spine. Fracture . Cancer or bone tumors. Injury causing compression of the cervical spine.

3.1. Before taking the picture Depending on the specific case of the patient, the doctor will consider whether to use contrast or not. Therefore, if the patient has a history of diabetes or is allergic to contrast, the doctor must be informed in advance. Although rare, there are cases where patients are allergic to contrast and lead to dangerous reactions.
If a CT scan is indicated, the patient should be careful not to eat and drink for at least 4-6 hours before. In addition, to avoid affecting the imaging results, the patient needs to remove all metal objects on the body such as jewelry, glasses, hearing aids, phones,...
Besides, weighing scales The patient's weight is also an issue to consider because some scanners will have a weight limit. Therefore, if your weight exceeds 100kg, you should tell your doctor. Especially for pregnant women, they should carefully consider having a CT scan because it can negatively affect the fetus. Pregnant women should only conduct CT scans if absolutely necessary and prescribed by a clinician.

3.2. After the scan, the CT scan process is relatively quick and non-invasive, so once it's done, the patient can return to normal activities. In case of using contrast, the patient should drink a lot of water to eliminate all contrast from the body through the urine.
Usually within 48 hours from the time the CT scan is completed, the results will be available. Depending on the results, the doctor will evaluate and consider whether additional diagnostic methods are needed.
If a CT scan of your neck is normal, it means you don't have any damage to your neck. Conversely, abnormal results can be due to bone problems, fractures, arthritis, birth defects of the cervical spine,...
If there are any questions regarding the CT scan results, You can consult a radiologist for more specific answers.

The CT scanner will be attached to a table. The patient will be asked to lie on the table.
At the beginning of the CT scan, the table will move and bring the body inside the scanner so that the probes can project X-rays around the area to be scanned. Normally, modern cameras like today will perform continuous shooting.
The resulting image will be displayed on the computer as a slice of the body, also known as a tomography image. These images can be viewed directly on a computer and stored or printed on film. Based on these slices, the computer will also build a 3-D image of the spine.
Note, during the shooting process, the patient needs to stay in the same position to avoid shaking and blurring the photograph. At the same time, when shooting it is best to hold your breath for a few seconds. Usually, a CT scan takes between 5 and 15 minutes.

Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is equipped with a 64-slice CT scanner TSX - 301C manufactured by Toshiba capable of supporting diagnosis on an area of ​​up to 16cm wide, fast speed allows one rotation of diagnostic imaging. Optimal diagnosis of musculoskeletal diseases. In particular, this machine can reduce radiation dose by 90%, so it can be taken for pregnant women when indicated.