• Fasting Requirements: You are required to fast (abstain from all solid foods and colored beverages) for at least 4 to 6 hours before your scan. This is a standard safety precaution 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. This ensures your renal function is sufficient to clear the dye safely.
• Allergy Disclosure: It is vital 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.
• Oral Contrast (If Required): In some cases, you may be asked to drink a specialized oral contrast liquid about 60 to 90 minutes before your scan. This helps to outline the stomach and small intestines clearly.
• Clothing and Jewelry: Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You will be asked to remove all jewelry, belts, and clothing with metal zippers or buttons from the abdominal area, as metal causes artifacts that can obscure vital organ 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 plenty of water (8–10 glasses) for 24 hours after the test to help your kidneys efficiently flush the contrast agent from your system.

The CE CT Upper Abdomen at Scan4Health is a critical diagnostic tool used when clinical symptoms require a level of detail that exceeds routine ultrasound or non-contrast scans:

Key clinical uses include:

• Liver and Biliary Assessment: The contrast dye enables detection of liver lesions (such as hemangiomas or carcinomas) and provides a clear view of the bile ducts to identify stones or obstructions.
• Pancreatic Evaluation: It is the gold standard for diagnosing pancreatitis or pancreatic tumors, showing the relationship between the pancreas and surrounding major blood vessels.
• Kidney and Adrenal Mapping: The scan identifies kidney stones, cysts, and tumors, and evaluates the adrenal glands for abnormal growths or hormone-producing masses.
• Spleen and Lymph Node Characterization: It helps detect splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) and identify enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen, which is vital for cancer staging and systemic infection detection.
• Vascular and Aortic Screening: The scan provides a clear view of the abdominal aorta and the major branches supplying the organs, helping to detect aneurysms or narrowing (stenosis).