Computerized Tomography (CT) Procedures
The Radiology department at Sarasota Memorial has four CT machines located at
three different sites for convenience and accessibility. All of our CT scanners
are state of the art high-speed spiral scanners. Our staff is top notch with
each site having technologists with over 20 years of experience in Radiology.
What is a CT scan?
A Computerized Tomography (CT) scan is a special x-ray that takes pictures of
the inside of your body. A narrow x-ray beam moves around a section of your
body. A picture is taken quickly and fed into a computer. The images it produces
are "cross-sectional"-patterned much like slices of bread. A series of these
pictures is made to focus on the body part(s) your doctor needs to see.
What can I expect during my CT scan?
Depending on the type of exam and the reason for the exam, you may be asked to
drink an oral contrast agent. The exam may also require an x-ray contrast
material to be injected into your blood stream through a vein in your arm. The
technologist will inform you of the specifics of your exam prior to commencing.
All of the exams will require you to lie down on a cushioned table where you
will remain for the duration of the procedure. The technologist will be in
constant contact with you and may give you breathing instructions. The procedure
will usually take between 10 and 30 minutes.
What's New . . . The Radiology Department at Sarasota Memorial
has taken another leap forward in meeting the needs of our patients. We have
recently installed a new CT machine called the Sensation 16 from Siemens
Medical.
This new scanner
delivers fast results. Standard CT procedures can now be performed up to 8 times
faster. A complete CT lung scan can be completed in one breath hold of about 6
seconds. The Sensation 16 is also extremely economical in terms of radiation
dose. The ultra fast technology saves up to 30% on dose compared to other CT
Scanners.
New Frontiers in Imaging
Anatomy, such as the heart and lung, can now be imaged virtually motion-free. A
complete high-resolution lung study can be acquired in a fraction of one breath
hold thus improving imaging results even with uncooperative patients. With its
.42-second cardiac scanning mode, Sensation 16 provides state-of-the-art
clinical studies such as synchronized acquisition of the heart, coronary
arteries and vascular systems with 3D Visualization.
Cardiac Calcium Scoring to help assess the risk of coronary artery
disease by calculating the amount of calcium in the patient showed on their CT
images. The results are given in a "Agaston Score"
Cardiac CTA (CT Angiography) of the coronary vessels CT images of the
vessels of the heart
CTA Thorax
scans to determine if there are pulmonary emboli (blood
clots) in the lungs
Perfusion CT
Evolution of Acute Stroke. This study is to evulite IV
Contrast perfusing through the brain, letting the Doctor view function and map
infarcts and ischemic regions
Pediatric Protocols: the x-ray exposure is adapted to the Childs
weight and age. This substantially reduces the patient's radiation dose. With
our fast scanning capability we have decreased the number of scans needed to be
repeated due to a child moving. There is also less need to sedate the child for
such a quick CT Scan.
The CT Deptment at
Sarasota Memorial Hospital is available and staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year, to meet the needs of our Patients.
The
benefits of our faster CT scanning include:
Faster scan times for trauma, ICU, pediatric, geriatric, and
claustrophobic patients, and reduction of radiation dose.
The CT Scanners are at the following locations:
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
1700 S. Tamiami Tr
Sarasota, FL 34239-3555
For information, please call: (941) 917-8600
University Parkway
5350 University Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34243
For information, please call: (941) 917-4777
For CT
scheduling at both locations, please call:
(941) 917-7322
__________________________________________
*
Please be aware that when you receive radiology services, you are
billed for services rendered in part by Sarasota Memorial Health
Care System Radiology Services for the actual imaging, as well as
SMH Radiology Associates for the interpretation of the images. If
you have any questions or concerns about your bill, please feel free
to call SMH Radiology Associates Billing Office toll free at
1-866-237-2465 or Sarasota Memorial Patient Financial Services at
(941) 917-1540 for questions concerning your bills.
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