Imaging FAQs

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam.  You may be given a gown to wear during the scan.

Metal objects including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins may affect the CT images and should be left at home or removed prior to your exam.  You may also be asked to remove hearing aids and removable dental work.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours before your scan,especially if a contrast material will be used in your exam.  You should inform your physician of any medications you are taking and if you have any allergies, especially to contrast materials.

Also inform your doctor of any recent illnesses or medical conditions, and if you have a history of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease or thyroid problems.  Any of these conditions may increase the risk of an unusual adverse effect.

Please bring a list of your current medications:  prescriptions, over the counter medications, and vitamins.

Women should always inform their physician or technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.

Before scheduling a mammogram, the ACS and other specialty organizations recommend that you discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor.  In addition, inform your doctor of any prior surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer. 

Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your menstrual period if your breasts are tender during this time.  The best time to schedule a mammogram is one week following your period.  Always inform your doctor or X-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.

Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam. These can appear on the X-ray film as calcium spots.

Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam.

If possible, obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam.

Ask when your results will be available; do not assume the results are normal if you do not hear from your doctor or the mammography facility.

In addition, before the examination, you will be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing above the waist and you will be given a gown of loose-fitting material that opens in the front.

Do not ingest any solid pills containing calcium for 24 hours prior to the scan (this includes multi-vitamins and herbal medicines)

No IV contrast, barium studies or nuclear medicine studies for seven days prior to the scan

Some ultrasound exams require special preparation, some do not. It is important that you follow the preparation guidelines so the sonographer can obtain the best possible images.

Abdominal Examinations

Patient must go without food and drink for six hours prior to an abdominal study.

Necessary medications may be taken with a small amount of water only. No chewing gum please.

An ultrasound to evaluate only the kidneys does not require a six hour fast.

Pelvic Ultrasound

Patients must have a full bladder before the pelvic exam can be performed. Patients should finish drinking 36 ounces of water one hour before their appointment time. Patients should not empty their bladder once they have started drinking.

Obstetrical Ultrasound

First Trimester - Please follow preparation for pelvic exam as seen above.

Second and third trimester - No patient preparation is necessary.

Unknown dates - Please follow preparation for pelvic exam as seen above.

Endovaginal Ultrasound

A brief, conventional pelvic ultrasound exam is performed prior to an endovaginal exam to evaluate the entire pelvis and adnexa, therefore patients should follow the same prep required for a conventional pelvic ultrasound exam.

Thyroid Ultrasound

No preparation is required for this exam.

Breast Ultrasound

No preparation is required for this exam.

Scrotal Ultrasound

No preparation is required for this exam.