Radiology

A CT (computed tomography) scan is an X-ray test that lets us look at your body more accurately than is possible using normal X-rays, by producing a cross-section or slice of the body.

The scanner itself looks rather like a huge ‘ring doughnut’ with a table moving through it. During the scan, the table moves backwards and forwards to allow the scanner to take pictures of the body.

What happens when I arrive at the hospital?

Buckland Hospital, Dover

When you arrive at the hospital, please report to the main reception desk. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the CT Department will be told you have arrived. If after 10 minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please tell the receptionist.

Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C), Canterbury

When you arrive at the hospital, please report to the X-ray reception desk; this is in the main X-ray Department. You will be given a card to take with you and directed to the CT waiting room.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate

When you arrive at the hospital, please report to the reception desk in the Medical Imaging Department; this is off the main corridor at the Ramsgate Road entrance to the hospital. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the CT Department will be told you have arrived. If after 10 minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please tell the receptionist.

William Harvey Hospital (WHH), Ashford

When you arrive at the hospital, please report to the reception desk in the CT / MRI Unit; this is in the CT and MRI building, behind the Emergency Department. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the CT Department will be told you have arrived. If after 10 minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please tell the receptionist.

What happens before my scan?

For scans of the abdomen and pelvis you may need to arrive before your appointment time, unless otherwise stated in your appointment letter, so that we can prepare you for your scan.

Please do not eat for two hours before your examination, although you may drink clear fluids up to your appointment time.

You must continue taking any medication as normal, unless you are asked specifically to stop.

For scans of the abdomen and pelvis, you may be asked to drink a jug of liquid before your scan; it could be water or contrast. This will outline your stomach and bowel, and it may be needed to fill your bladder, to improve the quality of the pictures.

• For female patients of child-bearing age - if you think there is a possibility you may be pregnant, please contact the CT Department before your scan

• Diabetic patients - if you are a tablet controlled diabetic, please contact the Radiology Department x-ray nurses urgently. Their contact telephone number is 01843 23 45 65

• Children - please note that due to the nature of the examination we cannot have unaccompanied children in the department

• Clothing - if possible, please wear metal-free clothing.

What happens during my scan?

When it is time for your scan, you will be taken to the examination room by a member of CT staff.

You may need to remove some clothing and jewellery, as metal can interfere with your scan.

During your scan, it is often necessary to give you an injection of a contrast medium into a vein in your arm or hand through a cannula. This makes it easier to see your organs and blood vessels and improves the quality of the pictures. If the injection is necessary, the radiographer will ask you some questions about your general health.

During the injection, it is common to notice a warm feeling and a metallic taste in your mouth; this is normal and will pass quickly.

It is important that you lie still during your scan. You may be asked to hold your breath to make the pictures come out more clearly.

During your scan, the radiographer will be able to see you at all times from the control room, and you can talk to each other through an intercom. If you are worried or have any questions, please speak to the radiographer.

How long will my scan take?

The scan itself will take between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on how difficult the examination is. Generally you should expect to be in the department for about one to two hours.

What will happen after my scan?

As soon as your scan is completed you can get dressed.

You can go to the toilet, and eat and drink normally.

If you have had an injection of x-ray dye, the cannula in your arm will be removed and we ask that you stay in the hospital for one hour after your injection. This is to make sure you are feeling well before you go home.

Are there any risks involved in having a CT scan?

CT scanning does involve x-rays, and so has the usual risks associated with radiation. Far more x-rays are involved in a CT scan than in an ordinary x-ray. Therefore doctors do not ask for this examination without a good medical reason.

In very rare cases, patients may have side effects from the contrast medium injection. Staff working in the CT Department are fully trained to deal with this if it happens.

Despite these slight risks, your doctor believes it is advisable for you to have this examination. Remember that there may be greater risks from missing a serious illness by not having the scan.

When will I get my results?

Whilst the radiographer can tell you that they have the appropriate images, they will not be able to give you any idea of the results at the time of your scan. Your scan must be carefully analysed and interpreted by a radiologist or an advanced practitioner radiographer, who will prepare a report and send it to your doctor. Your doctor will tell you the results and discuss them with you.

Further information

If you need to contact us concerning your appointment, please telephone the Radiology Department on 01843 23 45 65.

An MRI scan provides detailed pictures of the inside of your body.

The scanner is a large tube that you lie in.

It can give us information that helps us make a diagnosis and find the best treatment for you.

Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRI scans do not use ionising radiation. It is a very safe procedure for most people.

However, the scan uses strong magnets. This means it might not be suitable if you have any metal in your body (such as heart pacemakers).

When you arrive

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Please report to the main reception desk in Radiology Department upon arrival. This is situated in the x-ray building , please follow the sign for x-ray department. Please park in the out patient parking and enter through the fracture clinic entrance. You will be directed to the appropriate waiting area in the department and staff booked to see you will be informed of your arrival. Should there be any delays, the Receptionist will ensure that you are kept informed.

William Harvey Hospital

Please report to the reception desk in the CT / MRI unit upon arrival. This is situated in the CT and MRI building, located behind the Accident and Emergency department. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the MRI department will be informed of your arrival. Should there be any delays, the Receptionist will ensure that you are kept informed.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital

Please report to the main reception desk at the Radiology department upon arrival, this is situated at the Ramsgate Road entrance. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the MRI department will be informed of your arrival. Should there be any delays, the Receptionist will ensure that you are kept informed.

Further information

For more information on having an MRI scan, please see the Trust's MRI Scan leaflet.

Useful websites

• NHS website - MRI scan

• Royal College of Radiologists

• MRI safety

If you have any concern about your scan and would like to speak to one of the Radiographers you can contact the MRI scan teams on:

Kent and Canterbury Hospital: 01227 783084

William Harvey Hospital: 01233 633331

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital: 01843 230699

Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of different parts of the body. A small hand-held sensor, which is pressed carefully against the skin surface, generates sound waves and detects any echoes reflected back off the surfaces and tissue boundaries of internal organs. The sensor can be moved over the skin to view the organ from different angles, the pictures being displayed on a screen and recorded for subsequent study. Most people think that this type of scan is only used for examining the unborn child but its use is widespread in medical practice.

Ultrasound images complement other forms of scans and are widely used for many different parts of the body. They can also be used to study blood flow and to detect any narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, for example, in the neck.

An ultrasound scan is also occasionally used for intimate examinations; for example, of the prostate gland in men or of the womb or ovaries in women. For some of these examinations, it may be necessary to place an ultrasound probe in the vagina or the rectum to look at internal structures. If you are having an intimate examination, the ultrasonographer will describe the procedure to you, and your consent will be sought. If you wish, a chaperone is available upon request.

It is important that you read your appointment letter carefully as some scans require you to have a full bladder or have fasted.

The examination

The examination is carried out by a Consultant Radiologist (a doctor), or an ultrasonographer (a radiographer) that specialises in ultrasound examinations.

If necessary you may be asked if you wish to change into a hospital gown for some examinations.

You will be asked to lie down on a couch and some warmed gel will be placed on the part of the body to be examined. A small plastic probe is then moved gently across the skin to obtain the image for the ultrasonographer or doctor to look at, on the monitor. Sometimes you will be asked to hold your breath or roll to your side.

If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to ask them.

Afterwards

There are no after effects and you may resume normal activities after the examination.

The Radiographer or Radiologist will issue a report to the doctor who requested the examination. If this was your GP then the result should be with them within ten days.

Fluoroscopy is a radiological technique, which gives a real time video image on television monitors using X-rays. It is useful for seeing dynamic bodily functions, such as the swallowing action.

We use a range of dyes which can be drunk or introduced through a variety of catheters depending on the part of the body. The equipment is a gentle giant which can move all around you and your examination will either be standing up or lying on the table.

• Barium swallows – looking at the oesophagus

• Barium meals – looking at the stomach

• Barium follow through – looking at the small bowel

• Barium enema – looking at the large bowel

• Herniograms – looking for abdominal hernias

• Sialograms – looking at salivary glands

• Dacrocystograms – looking at the tear ducts.

When you arrive

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Please report to the reception desk in the department upon arrival. This can be found by using the fracture clinic entrance and crossing the main corridor in the main building, You will be shown where to wait and staff will be informed of your arrival. If, after ten minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please inform the receptionist.

William Harvey Hospital

Please report to the reception desk in x-ray upon arrival. This can be found behind the coffee shop in the main reception. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the department will be informed of your arrival. If, after ten minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please inform the receptionist.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital

Please report to the reception desk in the Radiology department upon arrival. This is situated at the Ramsgate Road entrance which is at the rear of the Accident and Emergency department. You will be shown where to wait and staff in the MRI department will be informed of your arrival. If, after ten minutes a member of staff has not been to see you, please inform the receptionist.

How does a fluoroscopy examination work?

The Radiographer carrying out the examination will explain what is involved. Depending on the part of the body to be examined, you may be asked to undress and put on a hospital gown. You may be required to lie on a special X-ray examination table or stand against an X-ray film holder. You will be asked to keep the part being examined quite still or to hold your breath for a moment while the X-ray film is taken.

If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to ask the radiographer. 

Nuclear medicine provides a wide range of diagnostic scans all of which provide information that indicate how the body is working. Scans are performed following the administration of a radio-pharmaceutical using a gamma camera.     

Nuclear medicine also performs therapeutic procedures that are primarily involved in the treatment of a range of thyroid conditions.

When you arrive

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

The nuclear medicine department is situated at the far end of the hospital towards the outpatient clinics, junction 13 on the hospital map. When you arrive please report to the reception desk.

William Harvey Hospital

The nuclear medicine department is situated within the yellow zone of the hospital, inside the radiology area. On arrival please report to the nuclear medicine reception desk. If a receptionist is not present please take a seat in the nuclear medicine waiting area and a technologist will be with you shortly.  

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital

Please report to the reception desk in the Radiology department upon arrival. This is situated close to the Ramsgate Road entrance to the hospital. The receptionist will give you a white card to take to the nuclear medicine waiting area. Once inside the technologists will know you have entered the waiting room and will be with you shortly.    

How does nuclear medicine imaging work?

Nuclear medicine imaging relies primarily on functional processes within the body. Generally, a radio-pharmaceutical will be injected into a vein, although it may also be ingested or inhaled depending on the scan being performed. The radio-pharmaceutical will be processed naturally by the body. An image of the distribution of the radio-pharmaceutical is produced using a gamma camera.  

For example, a bone scan involves an injection of a radio-pharmaceutical that contains nutrients that the body uses to form new bone cells. This enables the whole skeleton to be visualised as the body continually replaces old cells with new ones – much like the skin cells on your hand. If the body uses more nutrients in an area, for example to repair a broken bone, then this area will be highlighted as a ‘hotspot’ in the final image. This process makes a nuclear medicine bone scan a very sensitive way of studying the skeleton.

Are there any risks or complications?

The risk of having a nuclear medicine scan is comparable to that of having an X-ray or CT scan, depending on the type of scan you have. The radiation exposure is small and the radiopharmaceutical will not make you feel any different.

What if I am pregnant?

Please inform staff prior to the radio-pharmaceutical administration if you think you are pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant. If you are female and between the ages of 12 to 55 you will asked if you are pregnant.   

What if I am breastfeeding? 

If your are breast feeding it may be necessary for you to stop for a period of hours after the radiopharmaceutical administration. This is because some of the radio-pharmaceutical may be present in your breast milk. If this is the case you may wish to express milk for the short time period when it is not advisable for you to breast feed your baby. If you have any concerns please contact the nuclear medicine reception at Kent and Canterbury hospital.          

Why do I need a nuclear medicine scan?

There are a wide variety of reasons for requiring a nuclear medicine scan. These scans will provide functional information that will enable the doctor who has referred you to care for you appropriately.   

Who will be doing the nuclear medicine scan?

The scan and radio-pharmaceutical administration will be performed by a nuclear medicine technologist at both the WHH and QEQM sites. At K and C a consultant or nurse may also perform the radio-pharmaceutical administration and the scan will be performed by a nuclear medicine technologist. The scan will be reported by one of our nuclear medicine consultants.    

How do I prepare for a nuclear medicine scan?

Your appointment letter will advise you on what to do and what not to do before your scan. Please read it carefully as some scans will not be possible to perform if the advice on the appointment letter has not been followed.

Generally for our scans it is best to wear clothing with either none, or small amounts of metal. For example, zips and bras are generally acceptable but jeans with big metal buttons should be avoided. Gowns may be provided if required.    

Can I bring a relative or friend?

Yes. During most scans it is acceptable for relatives or friends to be present in the scanning room. Ideally the relative or friend you bring with you would not be pregnant. If you have any concerns please contact the nuclear medicine reception at Kent and Canterbury hospital.    

What happens during a nuclear medicine scan?

A nuclear medicine scan will generally involve an injection, although the radio-pharmaceutical may also be ingested or inhaled. Generally a nuclear medicine scan will involve lying down on our imaging bed, remaining still and breathing normally. The scan itself does not involve any loud noises or a tunnel. As you remain still the gamma camera will gradually build up the images required.  

How long will it take?

Scan durations vary from ten minutes to up to an hour. Your appointment will state the estimated duration of your scan. Many of our scans also involve an uptake period to enable the radio-pharmaceutical to be processed by the body. This time period will be indicated on your appointment letter.   

When will I get the results?

The consultant's report will take a week to ten days to get back to the doctor that referred you to us. The referring doctor will then communicate the results back to you.

Further information

• British Nuclear Medicine Society

• SNM - Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy