A computed tomography (CT) examination usually takes just a few minutes. To keep the radiation dose as low as possible, only the required body area is examined. For the examination you lie on a positioning couch which is moved through the ring of the CT machine. During the examination, our medical technical staff always keeps an eye on you from the control room and is in contact with you via a microphone.

To ensure good image quality, it is essential that you do not move during the examination. Therefore it is necessary for you to hold your breath briefly during some examinations, such as a lung examination.

During some examinations, it is necessary for us to administer X-ray contrast agent intravenously for the examination to enable evaluation of organ tissue and vessels. The contrast agent is well tolerated and allergic reactions are very rare. However since the contrast agent contains iodine, we need some information about your thyroid function before the examination. For this purpose, your TSH level should be determined beforehand. In the case of hyperthyroidism, medications must be administered if necessary to prevent iodine uptake in the thyroid or no contrast agent is administered if necessary.

The contrast agent is completely eliminated from the body in a short time with normal kidney function. If possible, your creatinine level should be determined to enable evaluation of kidney function. If this level is not available, it can be determined in our surgery before the examination.

Please inform us of any possible allergies or intolerances before your examination. You must also tell us, before your examination if you are aware you have hyperthyroidism or potential poor kidney function.

The intake of some medications for diabetes mellitus should be discontinued before the examination. We will ask you if you take such medications when you ask for an appointment.

For abdominal examinations, it is sometimes necessary for you to drink some contrast agent over a period of 10 to 45 minutes to enable contrasting of the gastrointestinal tract prior to image acquisition.

Computed tomography cannot be performed only in rare cases.

Especially in the case of young patients, It should always be considered whether it is better to perform an MRI examination instead of a CT examination due to the radiation exposure.

CT examinations should be avoided in pregnant women and only performed in urgent cases.

X-ray tube and receiving detectors

A computed tomograph consists of an X-ray tube and receiving detectors that rotate very quickly around a patient's body as they are slowly pushed through the machine's ring-shaped casing. The X-ray tube generates a so-called X-ray fan beam, which penetrates the body and is attenuated to different degrees within the body by the various structures, such as organs and bones. The receiving detectors opposite the X-ray emitter receive the signals of different strengths and forward them to a computer, which uses the received data to put together layered images of the body.

Computed tomography (CT) and radiation-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often presented as competitors. However, we see both methods as complementary diagnostic measures. Depending on the region to be examined, the diagnostic question, the patient's personal situation, etc. your doctor will decide in each individual case which diagnostic method is best suited and whether the use of computed tomography is indicated. In emergency situations, for example, a CT is more likely to be performed because it provides a diagnosis within a few minutes. The examination using magnetic resonance imaging, on the other hand, takes between 15 and 30 minutes.

In our practices, we use state-of-the-art multislice computer tomographs (multi-slice or multi-detector devices) in which patients are only exposed to a minimum of radiation. With these devices, the detector system rotates around the patient several times per second and the patient bench is pushed forward continuously. The information measured thereby describes a spiral. This special form of examination, which we carry out, is called "spiral CT" and enables a complete recording of the examination area. In addition, our computer tomographs have parallel tube detector systems with which they emit and receive several fan beams at the same time. In this way, up to eight layer images can be generated simultaneously with one rotation. This not only reduces the radiation exposure, but also the examination time.