• Fasting Requirements: You must fast (abstain from solid food and colored beverages) for at least 4 to 6 hours before your appointment. This is a standard safety measure for the administration of intravenous contrast. You may continue to drink plain water.
• Kidney Function Clearance (Serum Creatinine): Because the contrast dye is processed and eliminated by the kidneys, a recent Serum Creatinine blood test report (usually within the last 30 days) is mandatory to ensure your renal function is optimal.
• Allergy Disclosure: It is critical to inform the Scan4Health team if you have a known iodine allergy or have previously experienced a reaction to contrast media. Please also disclose if you have a history of asthma.
• Remove Metal Objects: You will be asked to remove all jewelry, earrings, necklaces, and hairpins, as metal creates artifacts that can obscure the highly detailed images of the skull base and upper vertebrae.
• Medication Review: Inform our staff if you are taking Metformin for diabetes. You may be advised to pause this medication for 48 hours following the scan.
• Post-Scan Hydration: Plan to drink 8–10 glasses of water over 24 hours after the test to help your kidneys efficiently flush the contrast agent from your system.

The CE CT CV Junction at Scan4Health is a powerful diagnostic tool utilized for complex clinical scenarios where standard imaging is insufficient:

Key clinical uses include:

• Vascular and Nerve Assessment: The contrast dye allows visualization of the vertebral arteries as they loop through the C1 and C2 vertebrae before entering the skull. This is essential for identifying arterial dissections or compressions that can lead to dizziness or stroke-like symptoms.
• Tumor and Lesion Characterization: The scan is highly effective in identifying skull base tumors, such as chordomas and meningiomas. Contrast enhancement helps define the tumor's boundaries and its relationship to the brainstem and major blood vessels.
• Infection and Inflammation Detection: CE CT can pinpoint deep-seated infections (such as osteomyelitis) or inflammatory conditions, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, that can cause thickening of the ligaments at the CV junction and compression of the spinal cord.
• Congenital Malformation Evaluation: It provides detailed mapping of conditions such as Chiari Malformation or basilar invagination, where the relationship between the brainstem and the bony opening of the skull requires careful measurement.
• Trauma and Stability Analysis: In cases of severe neck injury, the scan evaluates not just the bone fractures, but also the presence of hematomas (blood collections) or active bleeding near the spinal cord.