Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
CT scans are commonly employed to make an initial determination that the patient does potentially have malignant mesothelioma. CT scans can also be helpful in determining the extent that the cancer may have spread.
The CT scan is an x-ray procedure with a large doughnut-shaped machine that creates detailed cross-sectional images of the body. Instead of taking just one picture, like a traditional x-ray, a CT scanner takes several photographs as it rotates around the body. A computer then combines the pictures to make a single image of a slice of the body at a given point. The CT machine makes pictures of multiple slices of the portion of the body that is being studied. The CT scan allows technicians and doctors to create a three-dimensional image of the inside of the body.
CT scans are performed at a hospital or an outpatient facility. The scans are painless and no anesthesia is necessary. The patient lies on a table, which the technician will position in such a way as to make the most accurate pictures possible. A pillow is provided and the technician will ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
Many times, after the first pictures are taken, the patient will be given an IV (intravenous) line through which a dye or radio-contrast agent is administered to assist in outlining structures within the body. Then a second round of pictures are taken. The injection may cause some patients to experience redness and a warm feeling. Occasionally, people experience allergic reactions such as hives or, rarely, difficulty breathing and low blood pressure. The doctor should be informed of any previous adverse reaction to a contrast material used for x-rays. At times, patients are asked to drink one or two pints of a contrast material solution to help in outlining the intestine.
CT scans can be more exhausting than routine x-rays because they take longer and require the patient to lie still on a table inside a ring while the scanner rotates around the body taking pictures. As with other technology, however, improvements are being made all the time to make the process faster and less tiresome.
Usually test results from a CT scan are available within a few days. The images are reviewed by a doctor who specializes in interpreting the detailed images produced by a CT scanner. The patient’s doctor will receive a summary of the specialist’s findings and will in turn explain the results with the patient.