CT Module 8 Flashcards
(133 cards)
HOUNDSFIELD UNIT
A CT number that represents the attenuating properties or density of each tissue.
- Water is the reference tissue which is given a value of zero
- Tissue it’s the highest value will be white
- Tissue lower than the range will be black
WINDOW LEVEL
The CT # of the tissue of interest. Which CT # are displayed on the image
WINDOW WIDTH
It determines the gray levels to be displayed in the image.
This can be decreased or increased to produce an image
INCREASE WINDOW WIDTH
Wider range of values will be included into the grayscale,
- the image will have lower contrast
DECREASE WINDOW WIDTH
Less range of values included ,
- Image will have higher contrast
WIDE WINDOW WIDTH
More shades of gray with in the lung tissue
- Longer gray scale
Eg- Lung window WW: 1000, WL:-700
NARROW WINDOW WIDTH
Fewer shades of gray resulting into higher contrast image
Eg. Mediastinal window, soft tissue window. WW: 529, WL : 24
Lungs are completely black
PATIENT PREPARATION IN CT
- Verify patient -
- Briefly explain the procedure
- Obtain written consent for invasive procedures
- Describe to the patient how they will be positioned and table movement
- Provide time frame of procedure
- Explain what is expected of the patient for the procedure- breathing , no movement etc
- Describe the type of contrast to be used and it’s purpose
- Check for allergies if contrast is required
- Provide lead protection where appropriate
- Provide post procedural instructions
PUPOSE OF PATIENT HISTORY SHEET
- Patient safety- For contraindications
- Protocol Selection
- Clinical information - Help radiologist with diagnosis
-
BUN ( blood Urea nitrogen ) and Serum Creatinine
Used to measure patient kidney function
GFR ( glomerular filtration rate)
Normal values
120 ml/ min
Contrast will be given for a GFR greater than 30 ml/min
BUN ( blood urea nitrogen)
Normal values
7-21 mg/dl
SERUM CREATININE
NORMAL LEVEL
Male: 60-120 umol/L
Females: -100 umol/L
BLOODWORK
For Biopsy or drainage patients on warfarin
Prothrombin Time PT, Partial thromboplastin Time PTT and Platelet count will be viewed due to the increased risk of bleeding .
- patients on warfarin , heparin , plavix or aspirin may be instructed to discontinue before the procedure due increased risk of bleeding
aPURPOSE OF CONTRAST MEDIA IN CT
To distinguish adjacent structures on a CT image, creating a difference in attenuation values
- Used in CT to distinguish normal anatomy from pathology and to make various disease processes more visible
POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIA
- Absorbs more radiation than the surrounding tissues therefore appears white or light on images
- Has high atomic number
- Positive Hounsfeild unit
- Radiopaque
- Eg Barium #56, Iodine # 53
NEGATIVE CONTRAST MEDIA
- Penetrated by X-rays more than surrounding tissues therefore appears black on images
- Low atomic number
- Radiolucent
- Negative Hounsfeild unit
- Eg, Air , CO2 and water
aGASTROINTESTINAL POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIA IN CT
Barium Sulphate is used
- Introduce orally
- Used to distinguish the stomach, small intestine and large bowel from the surrounding soft tissue organs
- Only 1-3 % barium suspension is needed in CT due to its greater contrast resolution
- Patient drinks 450 ml of barium1-2 hours of scan and an addition of 100-200 ml is given just before the scan to fill the oesophagus, stomach and small bowel
- Contra indication- PERFORATION suspicion - this may cause peritonitis
aGASTROINTESTINAL POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIA IN CT
WATER SOLUBLE CONTRAST MEDIA ( Gastrografin )
- Indicated for Abdo and pelvis scans when a perforation is suspected
- Has a bitter taste, often mixed with juice for palatability
- 2-5 % solutions is utilised in CT
- Patient drinks 300 ml of water mixed with 25ml of gastrografin
- Gatrografin is hypertonic thus May causes dehydration
- very dangerous when administered to elderly, infants or patients that are dehydrated,
GASTROINTESTINAL NEGATIVE CONTRAST MEDIA IN CT
WATER
- Negative contrast media/ enthral neutral
-Causes equal distension in the bowel as barium sulfate
- Use in clinical practice is increasing
GASTROINTESTINAL NEGATIVE CONTRAST MEDIA IN CT
CO 2
- Radiolucent contrast appears black on images
- Indicated for virtual colonoscopy exams
- Rectally administered
- Small flexible rectal tube is inserted and CO2 is administered via an automated insufflation system
- CO2 will distend the colon to better visualise polyps
- CO2 is absorbed in the body and excreted via the lungs
IV CONTRAST MEDIA
- Iodinated water soluble injectable contrast media eg omnipaque/ visipaque
- Indications to identify tumours, vascular structures, vascular pathology, renal function
- Two tissues must differ by at least 10 HU to be visibly different on CT scan
- Administration of contrast media May increase the attenuation difference between adjacent structures by 40-75 HU
CT MEDICAL HISTORY
Ask for the following
- Allergies history
- Chronic diseases
- Diabetes
- Renal dysfunctions
- Congestive heart failure
- patient older than 60
If yes to the above questions, patient must have a recent blood test to check Serum Creatinine levels
CONTRASTED CT
FOR PATIENTS TAKING METFORMIN
Contrast can be administered
- if eGFR is below 30mil/ min and contrast was administered, METFORMIN May be withheld 48hrs after the injection
- If renal dysfunction occurs post contrast METFORMIN could accumulate in the bloodstream and cause lactic acidosis