• Fasting Requirements: You must fast (abstain from solid foods and colored liquids) for at least 4 to 6 hours before your appointment. This is a standard safety protocol for intravenous contrast; plain water is permitted.
• Kidney Function Test (Serum Creatinine): A recent Serum Creatinine report (within the last 30 days) is mandatory because the kidneys eliminate the contrast dye. This ensures your renal function is sufficient to clear the dye safely.
• Allergy Disclosure: Inform the Scan4Health team if you have a known allergy to iodine or have reacted to X-ray contrast in the past.
• Remove Metal Objects: You will be asked to remove jewelry, belts, and clothing with metal zippers or buttons from the torso area, as metal causes artifacts that can obscure spinal details.
• Medication Review: Inform our clinical staff if you are taking Metformin for diabetes. You may be advised to pause this medication for 48 hours following the contrast injection.
• 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.

The CE CT Lumbo Sacral Spine at Scan4Health Gurgaon is a critical diagnostic tool for complex spinal conditions:

Key clinical uses include:

• Tumor and Mass Evaluation: Contrast is essential for identifying spinal cord tumors, nerve sheath tumors, or metastatic disease by highlighting their unique vascular patterns.
• Infection and Abscess Detection: The scan is highly sensitive for diagnosing discitis (infection of the disc) or spinal abscesses by showing enhancement around the infected area.
• Post-Surgical Assessment: For patients with existing spinal hardware (screws or plates), the contrast-enhanced scan helps evaluate the surrounding soft tissues for complications like localized inflammation or infection.
• Vascular Abnormality Mapping: It identifies abnormal blood vessel connections (AVMs) or localized bleeding in the spinal canal.
• Nerve Root Compression: By highlighting the thecal sac and surrounding tissues, the scan helps pinpoint areas where discs or tumors may be compressing sensitive nerve roots.