The information below is about a procedure at the Queensland Children's Hospital and may not apply to other hospitals and health facilities.
A CT scan, also known as a CAT scan, takes X-rays images and can be done on any part of the body.
Why does my child need a CT scan?
Your child may need a CT scan if a health professional needs to:
- investigate a head injury
- look at the shape or structure of different body parts
- check for signs of disease
- help with planning before an operation
- plan follow-up treatment after a procedure.
There may also be other reasons and your health professional will let you know if your child needs one.
Before the CT scan
Before you come to the hospital, a nurse will call to confirm your child’s appointment. They’ll also let you know what type of preparation you need to do for the scan.
Make sure your child doesn’t wear clothing with metal clips or snaps to their appointment and has removed all jewellery.
When your child arrives for their appointment, they may need to have a contrast dye. This helps highlight parts of the body so the radiologist can see them better. How they have this depends on what part of the body they need the scan for.
Abdominal scans
Your child may be a need to drink an oral contrast dye 90 minutes before their scan. We can mix this with your child’s favourite drink, so bring some with you on the day of their scan.
Other scans
Your child may need to have an X-ray dye, called intravenous (IV) contrast, injected before their scan. To do this we’ll need to insert a cannula, this is like having a blood test. Before inserting the cannula, we may apply a numbing cream or cool sense to the area.
Your child will get a warm flush or metallic taste in their mouth after the IV contrast is injected. Letting your child know this is going to happen before their scan can help them stay calm.
During the CT scan
The CT scanner looks like a big doughnut. For the scan, your child will need to lie on a table that moves through the middle of the doughnut and try to stay still.
If your child is having a chest and abdomen scan, they may need to hold their breath for up to 5 seconds at a time. We encourage you to practice breath holds and lying still at home with your child before their appointment.
After the CT scan
If your child didn’t have a contrast dye, they can go home straight away. If they did, they’ll need to stay for 15 minutes so we can make sure they don’t have a reaction. Reactions are very rare. We’ll remove their cannula after this time.
The radiologist will prepare a report about your child’s CT scan and send it to the health professional who referred them. The health professional should let you know when they get them.
Watch a video on having a CT scan
Meet Sophie and find out more about what it’s like to have a CT scan.
Hi, my name is Sophie, and today my doctor would like me to have a CT scan. A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of my body using special cameras in this donut. This doughnut is really cool, can be changed to your favourite colour. Mine is blue. You can also have monkeys playing on the outside to keep the company.
The person who takes my pictures is called a radiographer. This is Chris and he'll be taking my pictures today. He is watching me the whole time with special cameras to make sure I am okay. Having a CT scan is really easy. All you have to do is stay really still on the table as it moves in and out the doughnut. It doesn't hurt and it's very quick. And you are still in the bed for five minutes.
You might need to hold your breath in, you get your pictures taken. It's important that you try to take a breath in like this.
You'll only need to hold your breath for around three seconds. Hold your breath, helps the doctors get nice, clear pictures.
And that's it. Like I said, super a quick and easy. If you have any questions on the day, please don't hesitate to ask your friendly radiographer. Bye.