A CT scan helps doctors see what’s happening inside your body in much more detail than a standard X-ray. It can detect inflammation, infection, tumours, or injury, and is often used to guide treatment or surgery.

CT can help investigate many different problems, including unexplained pain, swelling, fever, injury, or changes seen on another test. Your clinician may request it to look for possible causes of symptoms affecting the chest, abdomen, pelvis, bones, or joints.

Most CT scans need no special preparation. If contrast dye is required, you may be asked not to eat or drink for a few hours and to confirm any allergies or kidney problems.

Sometimes a special dye, called contrast, is given to make certain structures clearer on the scan. It may be injected into a vein or taken by mouth, depending on the part of the body being examined. Intravenous contrast highlights blood vessels, organs, and areas of inflammation or tumour. Oral contrast outlines the stomach and intestines to help assess bowel problems.

You’ll lie on a padded table that moves through the scanner. The machine takes a series of X-ray images as it rotates around you. The test is quick and painless, usually lasting only a few minutes.

You can return to normal activities straight away. If contrast was used, drink plenty of water over the next day to help clear it from your system.

Once your images are received, our specialist radiologists carefully review them and provide a comprehensive report—usually within 24 hours.

CT uses a small amount of radiation. The exposure is higher than an X-ray but kept as low as possible for accurate diagnosis. The need for CT and risk of any potential radiation exposure are always carefully considered before the scan. Reactions to contrast are rare and usually mild, such as warmth or a metallic taste that passes quickly.