CT of the head (without contrast)

Head CT scan

A referral from a doctor is required to take the test.

A computed tomography is a radiological examination using X-rays. The patient is put on a special mobile table, is gradually moved to the inside of the X-ray machine (into the gantry).

Once the patient is inside the gantry, an X-ray generating lamp is rotated around the patient’s body on a special frame. Passing through the particular tissues of the patient’s body, the radiation becomes weaker. The degree of radiation depends on the type of tissue is has to pass through, e.g. through the bones, the X-ray wave is severely weakened, while passing through air – the X-ray’s weakening degree is at a minimum.

This phenomenon makes it possible to precisely differentiate between the particular tissues in the patient’s body. Moreover, the X-ray lamp installed in the gantry, rotating around the patient’s body, illuminates every single point along its longitudinal axis, thereby providing the opportunity to obtain images of the selected layer of the patient’s body on a screen.

The images obtained after each rotation of the lamp around the patient’s body (360°) are then summed up by a computer and displayed on a monitor as an image of anatomical structures from the particular transverse layers of the patient’s body. There is an additional option of the so-called secondary image processing, which involves, amongst others, setting and calculating the grey scale of the image, as well as measuring distances, surface areas, etc.). It is also possible to reconstruct the image in a plane other than the transverse one (e.g. the frontal plane) or even in three-dimensional pictures.

During the examination, the patient must not move to guarantee sharp and clear image. It is also important to remove all metal items from clothes and body, which might otherwise affect the quality of the images obtained.

A computed tomography of the head may be performed in the following cases:

• head injuries, e.g. brain contusion, cranial bone fractures;
• neoplastic diseases (gliomas, astrocytomas, malignant cancers of the middle ear, meningiomas, lymphomas);
• brain abscesses;
• brain ischaemia;
• haemorrhagic stroke;
• epilepsy;
• haemorrhagic/ischaemic strokes;
• intracranial haemorrhages;
• hydrocephalus;
• Alzheimer’s disease;
• suspected brain abscesses.

A Damian Medical Center consultant will call you within 24 hours of purchase to arrange a specific test date.

Please, bring a medical prescription and confirmation of payment for the examination.

A referral from a doctor is required to take the test.

No special preparation is required in the case of the CT scan of the head without contrast. Patients are requested to bring their prescription in paper form as well as any previous medical documentation (CT, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI scans, hospital discharge reports and outpatient treatment reports). It is necessary to arrive early (approx. 15-20 minutes) before the examination at the reception desk (level -1) in order to fill in a mandatory form concerning the patient’s health (diseases, drug use, allergies, physiological condition, injuries,

The type and scope of the examination is ultimately determined by the radiologist supervising the examination – the radiologist, therefore ultimately decides whether to administer the contrast agent or not, or whether the examination should encompass a particular body or a different one, or for example, two at a time. In such cases, an extra payment may be required.

A referral from a doctor is required to take the test.

The CT scan of the head is contraindicated during pregnancy or a suspected pregnancy, because the radiation may adversely affect the health of the foetus. It is also worthwhile to remember that the radiation dose during a computed tomography is much higher than in the case of standard X-rays scans. Therefore, CT scans should only be performed in medically justified cases.

This examination may only be performed upon presenting a medical prescription (valid for 3 months) with a diagnosis on the examination day, in paper form.