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We offer a wide range of services
in the South Florida area
A Better CT Experience
Convenience is important, so we can often accommodate same-day exams and flexible scheduled appointments. The cost of a CT exam is substantially lower than the cost of the same exam performed at a local hospital. We believe that offering value, without compromise, is the right thing to do.
What is a CT Scan / CTA?
A Computerized Axial Tomography scan is more commonly known by its abbreviated name, CAT scan or CT scan. It is an X-ray procedure which combines many X-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body.
Imagine the body as a loaf of bread and you are looking at one end of the loaf. As you remove each slice of bread, you can see the entire surface of that slice from the crust to the center. The body is seen on CT scan slices in a similar fashion from the skin to the central part of the body being examined.
When these levels are further combined together, a three-dimensional picture of an organ or abnormal body structure can be obtained.
CTA (Angiogram) refers to CT scans of the arteries. Areas of interest include arteries in the brain, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper and lower extremities.
What to Expect?
You will lie on a padded table and, once comfortably positioned, the table top will move across a gantry (shaped like a large donut), which houses the X-ray tube and a set of detectors. Multiple doses of X-rays pass through the body at different speeds. The detectors acquire images that measure the X-rays passing through the body. The computer processes this information to form an image that the radiologist will review and interpret.
Once the contrast is injected, you may feel a warm, flushed sensation and experience a metallic taste in your mouth that lasts about two minutes.For abdominal and pelvic CT scans, you may need to consume an oral contrast agent (barium sulfate). You will be given instructions in advance. Depending on the type of exam, your CT scan may take 15 to 20 minutes.
Preparation
Preparation for your CT scan will depend on the type of exam; a Vital Imaging representative will call you prior to your appointment to provide specific instructions. Please notify our staff if you are breastfeeding or if there is a possibility that you are pregnant. Bring X-rays or CT scans prior to your exam, if instructed. Arrive 15 minutes early to verify your registration.