GP Referral for CT (Computed Tomography) or Ultrasound Scan for Abdomen Mass Department of Radiology Information for Patients i Radiology Leaflet No. 104
Introduction Your GP has referred you for a rapid-access CT or Ultrasound scan to examine the mass or swelling in your abdomen. Which scan you have will be decided by a specialist Doctor in the Radiology Department. You will receive a letter or phone call to tell you which scan you will be having and the date and time of your appointment. This will be within 14 days. Your appointment can be at any site so please check which hospital you must attend for your appointment. What is a CT scan or Ultrasound scan? Both scans give detailed images of your organs. A CT scan uses X-rays. The CT scanner is a large ring shape - a bit like a giant polo mint. An Ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves. It is a way to look at the different parts of your body. It uses sound that we cannot hear but the machine can detect. 2
How to prepare for your scan It is very important that you follow any preparation instructions given to you. If you are taking tablets or medicines for any reason, do not stop taking them without first consulting your doctor. Please bring with you any sprays, inhalers or angina tablets that you are taking. If you are a diabetic patient please speak to your normal diabetes care provider about any eating / drinking instructions you may be given. Please tell the staff on arrival if you are diabetic. For CT scan appointments only: If there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, please contact the Radiology Department immediately. Your appointment may need to be rescheduled. Failure to do so may result in your examination being postponed. You may be asked to drink up to 1 litre of water before your scan. This may take up to 1 hour. You will be told when your appointment is arranged if this is necessary. How to prepare for your scan CT scan: A radiographer or Assistant Practitioner will carry out the CT scan. Ultrasound Scan: A Sonographer or Radiologist will carry out the ultrasound scan. For either CT or ultrasound scan: During the examination there may also be a radiology assistant in the room. As we are a teaching hospital, a student may also be present. If you wish you can request that the student is not present during your examination. 3
What happens during the scan? On arrival at the Radiology Department you will be directed to the relevant waiting area. If you are having a CT scan you may be asked to drink some water. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown. You will be taken into the scan room where the examination will be explained to you and you may ask any questions that you have. You will be asked to lie still on the scan table. For a CT scan you will be asked to hold your breath several times during the examination. The radiographer will tell you when to do this over the intercom. If you have any difficulties lying flat or holding your breath for short periods (up to 20 seconds) please tell the staff on arrival. An injection of a contrast agent (a colourless liquid that shows up on x-rays and CT scans) into a vein in your arm may be necessary to show your blood vessels. The supervising doctor will decide this before your scan and you will be fully informed. For an Ultrasound scan a water-based gel will be placed on your skin and the ultrasound probe will be passed over your abdomen. Female patients who are having a scan of their pelvis may need to have an internal scan as well, which will often provide more detail. If an internal scan is required then it will be explained to you on the day and you will be kept fully informed. 4
Important information For CT scans: The CT contrast agent contains iodine and is excreted in your urine by the kidneys. Please tell the CT staff when you arrive: If you are allergic to iodine, have any other allergies or suffer from asthma. If you have reacted previously to an intravenous contrast agent, the dye used for kidney x-rays and CT scanning. If you are on renal dialysis, have any problems with your kidneys or are seeing a kidney specialist. How long will it take? A CT scan can take between 10 and 30 minutes. However you may need to drink water for up to an hour before the scan. An Ultrasound scan can take between 10 and 30 minutes. The time will vary for each patient. What happens after the scan? After the CT scan you may need to stay in the Radiology Department for a short time (15-30 minutes) before you go home. After the Ultrasound scan the gel will be wiped off. You will then be free to go home. You should have no after effects from either examination. You can eat and drink normally after the examination. You should then be free to return to work / normal daily life. 5
Risks and benefits CT scan: A CT scan produces detailed images of organs and blood vessels. There is a very small risk from the effects of the injection. Some patients get a warm feeling and / or a metallic taste when the injection is given and sometimes can feel sick. If you do get these feelings they usually last about one minute. We are all exposed to natural background radiation every day of our lives. This comes from the sun, the food we eat, and the ground. Each examination gives a dose on top of this natural background radiation. The radiation from the x-rays during a CT scan is about the same as receiving up to five years of natural background radiation. The risks of radiation are slightly higher for the unborn child so we must ask female patients aged 10 to 55 years if there is any possibility that they might be pregnant. The benefits of this examination outweigh any potential risk and the risk from not having the examination could be greater. We will take all safeguards to minimise the amount of x-rays you receive. Ultrasound scan: There are no known risks for an US scan. How do I get the results? The results will not be given to you immediately. There are two ways you will receive your results: 1. A member of the radiology patient support team will contact you by phone to discuss any next steps with you. This will happen within 1 week from having the test. 2. You and your GP who sent you for the test will receive a letter explaining what your test showed. This will be within 1 week of the test. Before you leave. Please make sure that the hospital have your up to date phone number and address. 6
Support for people with learning difficulties There is support available in our hospitals for patients with learning disabilities. Please contact the learning disability specialist nursing team on (0116) 250 2809 telling them when the appointment is and what examination has been booked. Additional hospital information Relatives and escorts You may wish to bring a friend or relative to accompany you to and from the Radiology Department when you have your examination although they may not always be allowed into the examination room. This may be useful if you do not understand English very well or if you have any special needs. Children Baby changing facilities are available. Please ask to be shown to them if you wish to use them. We are unable to offer childcare facilities. If you need to bring your children with you, please bring along an adult who can supervise them whilst your examination is being carried out. Radiology staff are not able to supervise your children. Facilities available: Refreshments: Refreshments including hot and cold drinks are available in the hospital. Please ask a member of staff for directions. Shops: Each hospital contains a shop selling magazines, newspapers, sweets and drinks. Please ask a member of staff for directions. 7
Additional information How was it for you? If you wish to make any comments or suggestions regarding your visit to the Radiology Department please fill in a suggestion form or speak to a member of staff. Suggestion forms are located in all waiting areas within the department. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust also has a Patient Information and Liaison Service (PILS), and you are welcome to contact them on: Freephone: 08081 788337 email: pils.complaints.compliments@uhl-tr.nhs.uk Other sources of information Websites: For general information about radiology departments visit the Royal College of Radiologists website: www.goingfora.com For information about the effects of x-rays read the NRPB publication: X-rays how safe are they, on the Health Protection Agency website: www.hpa.org.uk Please note that the views expressed in these websites, do not necessarily reflect the views of UHL or the NHS. University Hospitals of Leicester website: www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk NHS Direct: For health advice or information you can call NHS on: 111. 8
Directions and car parking For information about getting to the hospital please see the hospitals website: www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/patients/getting-to-hospital Hospital car parking is available to all hospital patients and visitors. Spaces are limited so please allow plenty of time to find a car parking space. Parking charges are payable, please check tariff boards or the hospital website for full details. As well as the hourly rates there are a range of saver tickets available for patients and prime carers. Dedicated disabled parking bays are also available. Marked disabled bays exist outside of the public car parks for which there is no charge. If you park in the car parks the fee will apply. Drop off bays exist at the main entrances, these bays have a 20 minutes maximum stay. Certain qualifying benefits as notified by the Department of Social Security entitle the patient to free or reduced parking. For more information contact the Cashiers office. 9
Bus services to the hospital For information on bus routes and times contact Traveline on 0871 200 2233. The hospital Hopper service runs from Monday to Friday, every 30 min from 06:30 hours until 18:00 hours and every hour from 18:00 hours until 21:00 hours. The Hopper stops at our three hospital sites, as well as other key locations such as Leicester train station, Beaumont Leys centre and Hamilton centre and also St Nicholas circle. For more information about the hospital hopper service and to view a timetable, please see the hospitals website: www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/patients/getting-to-hospital/bustravel/hospital-hopper-bus/ We review our information leaflets on a regular basis. If you have any comments about how we can improve these leaflets please speak to a member of staff. 10
Any questions? If you have any questions, write them down here to remind you what to ask when you speak to your nurse/consultant. 11
Edition 1. Leaflet Produced: June 2017. Next Review: June 2022. Imaging Patient Information Group - CMG CSI (Mear)IMA118-0517 Today s research is tomorrow s care We all benefit from research. Leicester s Hospitals is a research active Trust so you may find that research is happening when you visit the hospital or your clinic. If you are interested in finding out how you can become involved in a clinical trial or to find out more about taking part in research, please speak to your clinician or GP. If you would like this information in another language or format, please contact the service equality manager on 0116 250 2959