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Radiology Exam Preparation

For detailed information about radiology exams please visit RadiologyInfo.org, also they have an informative faq on safety for medical imaging procedures. If you have questions about the prep procedures or scheduling please call 252-522-7088 or email jcartwright@lenoir.org and for fax dial 252-522-7167.

Note: NPO - Nothing by mouth, even water.

CT

EXAM PREP TIME SLOT
CT abdomen, abdomen/pelvis
  • NPO after midnight, or minimum 3 hours.  
  • Radiology will send oral contrast to Inpatient floor after receiving a copy of the physician order.
  • Outpatients will need to pick up oral contrast from the Radiology department prior to the day of their exam (must have copy of physician order).
  • Will need to have had a Creatinine drawn within the last 30 days.
 30 minutes.
CT Biopsies
  • NPO after midnight or minimum 6 hours.
  • Ordering physician must consult with Radiologist for approval to schedule.
  • Consent form signed.
  • PT, PTT, CBC, INR within 72 hours
  • Off Aspirin for 5 days
  • Off Coumadin NS AIDS for 3 days
  • Take AM Meds prior to procedure
  • Consult with Physician if diabetic
 30 minutes for procedure. Amount of recovery time post procedure may vary, up to several hours.
All other CT Exams
  • No prep.  
  • If  Intravenous contrast is needed patient will need to be NPO a minimum of 3 hours.
  • If IV Contrast is needed patient will need to have had a Creatinine drawn within the last 30 days.

MRI

EXAM PREP TIME SLOT
Abdominal MRI (would include MRI of specific organs, i.e., Liver, Pancreas, etc.) Minimum 4 hours NPO 1 hour
MRCP (MRI of gallbladder) Minimum 6 hours NPO 1 hour
All other MRI exams None 30 to 60 minutes depending on physician protocal.

Nuclear Medicine

EXAM PREP TIME SLOT
3-Phase Bone Scan Patient should be well hydrated. Patient will have initial scan and then return for follow up scan 2-4 hours later. 30 minutes each visit.
Gallium Scan None 48, and 72-hour post injection images are typically acquired. 30 minutes for each visit.
Gastric Emptying NPO for minimum of 6 hours. Patient off Regalan and Tetracycline for at least 48 hours. 90 minutes.
GI Bleed NPO 4-6 hours. If emergency, can do non-fasting. 60 minutes. Delayed images are sometimes required.
Hepatobiliary (with or without CCK) NPO 4-6 hours. May take up to 4 hours.
Limited Bone Scan Patient should be well hydrated. Patient is injected and returns 2-4 hours later for scanning. Scanning takes 30 minutes.
Liver/Spleen Scan None. 45 minutes.
Lung Scan (also called V-Q scan or Ventilation/Perfusion study) No prep. Requires CXR within last 24 hours. 45-60 minutes
Meckels Diverticulum NPO 4-6 hours. No barium studies within the last 72 hours. Patient will need to take 400mg Tagamet one hour prior to study. Ordering physician will need to order the Tagamet. 60 minutes for scanning. Delayed images are sometimes required.
Metastatic Thyroid Whole Body Scan NPO after midnight. The patient will swallow a capsule for this procedure. 24 and 48-hour images obtained after capsule is taken.
Neotect Scan Patient should be well hydrated. 3 hours total. Patient may be allowed to leave and come back.
Nuclear Stress Test (aka: Thallium or Myoview stress test) NPO after midnight. No caffeine 48 hours prior. Morning medications allowed with a small amount of water only. Wear loose fitting clothing and comfortable shoes. Do not give Beta Blockers if patient is having a treadmill test. 1 -3 hours depending on Cardiologist protocol. Sometimes patient is required to leave and come back for follow up scanning.
Parathyroid Scan None. Initial imaging 45 minutes. Follow up imaging 1 hour later will take 30 minutes.
Renal Scarn Patient should be well hydrated. Patient should be off ACE inhibitors for 48 hours. 30 minutes
Renal with Captopril Patient should be well hydrated. Patient should be off ACE inhibitors for 48-hours. Outpatients will report to Ambulatory Care Unit. 90 minutes
Renal with Lasix Patient should be well hydrated. If taking Lasix, patient should be off for 24-hours. Patient should be off ACE inhibitors for 48-hours. 60 minutes
Rest Muga None 1 hour
Schillings Test
 NPO after midnight. Off B12 for 48 hours. Patient will swallow capsule and be given an IM injection of B12 1-2 hours later. Patient collects urine for 24 hours. Must be returned by 3PM on the following day. 5 minutes each visit.
Testicular Scan None. 30 minutes
Thyroid Uptake NPO After Midnight. off Thyroid Medications for 30 Days. No Iodinated Contrast in Past 30 Days. Multiple visits, each about 15 minutes. Initial – take I-131 pill Return at 6 hours. Return at 24 hours.
White Blood Cell Scan (also known as Ceretec WBC) None. Patient will have blood drawn at 6am. Patient will return 2-3 hours later for re-injection of tagged blood. They will then return for 1 and 3 hour post injection images. 30 minutes each visit.
Whole Body Bone Scan Patient should be well hydrated. Patient is injected and returns 2-4 hours later for scanning. Scanning takes 30 minutes.

Ultrasound

EXAM PREP TIME SLOT
Abdomen Complete NPO 6-8 hrs 60 minutes
Abdominal Aorta NPO 6-8hrs 20 minutes
Gall Bladder NPO  8hrs minimum 20 minutes
Knee None 20 minutes
Liver None 20 minutes
Breast None Unilateral 20 minutes
Bilateral 40 minutes
Renal Biopsy Required labs: PT, PTT, Lytes Plus Allow 90 minutes
Pancreas NPO 6-8 hours 20 minutes
Pelvic, Non OB Full bladder;  Drink 5 cups of water in the hour preceding the exam 30 minutes
OB Complete Full bladder;  Drink 5 cups of water in the hour preceding the exam if patient is 14 to 20 weeks. 60 minutes
Renal None 30 minutes
Bladder Full bladder;  Drink 5 cups of water in the hour preceding the exam 30 minutes
Neonatal Brain None 30 minutes
Retroperitoneum None 20 minutes
Spleen None 20 minutes
Neck, thyroid None 30 minutes
Biopsy/Aspiration
 (any organ)		 Required labs: PT, PTT, Lytes Plus 60 minutes
Chest for fluid localization (thoracentesis) None 15 minutes
Uls guided thoracentesis None 60 minutes
Scrotum and testicles None 30 minutes
Right Upper Quadrant NPO 6-8 hours 30 minutes
Transvaginal; uterus, ovaries and early pregnancy No prep;  Contraindicated in patients greater than 14wks gestation, the elderly, and young adolescents with no previous sexual history. 30 minutes
Vennous Doppler; Bilateral or unilateral None 30 minutes

X-Ray

EXAM PREP TIME SLOT
General Radiography (i.e. X-Rays of extremities, chest, etc.) None. 5-10 minutes or less for single exams.  Allow more time for multiple exams.
Barium Swallow
(Must be scheduled)		 None.

CONFUSION ALERT: Make sure you don't order a Barium Swallow when the physician really wants a "Modified Barium Swallow" or "Cookie Swallow". They are two different tests.		 20 minutes
Swallowing Function (aka: Cookie Swallow or Modified Barium Swallow) Must be scheduled through Speech Pathology. 20 minutes
Upper GI studies with or without small bowel follow through
(Must be scheduled)		 NPO after midnight 30 minutes for initial test.  If doing small bowel follow through follow up films up to 3 hours.
Barium Enema with/without air, including water soluble enema
(Must be scheduled)
  • Liquid laxative prep (i.e. Go-Lightly, Nulytely, Citrus Mag. Ordering physician's choice) between 2-4pm on the afternoon prior to the examination.
  • Evening meal should be liquids only (water, fruit juice, clear soup, coffee, tea).
  • Stool softener if needed.
  • NPO after midnight.
 Approximately 1 hour.
IVP
(Must be scheduled)
  • Will need to have had a Creatinine drawn within the last 30 days. (If patient has a history of allergy to Iodinated Contrast please inform scheduler.)
  • Liquid laxative prep (i.e. Go-Lightly, Nulytely, Citrus Mag. Ordering physician's choice) between 2-4pm on the afternoon prior to the examination.
  • Evening meal should be liquids only (water,fruit juice, clear soup, coffee,tea).
  • Stool softener if needed.
  • NPO after midnight.
 1 hour. May require ongoing follow up films.
Nephrostogram
(Must be scheduled)		 NPO after midnight. 30 minutes
Cystogram
(Must be scheduled)		 No prep. 30-60 minutes
Urethragram
(Must be scheduled)		 No prep. 20 minutes
Venogram
(Must be scheduled)
  • Need Creatinine within last 30 days.
  • If patient has a history of allergy to Iodinated Contrast please inform scheduler.
  • NPO after midnight.
 30 minutes
Lumbar Puncture No prep. 15-60 minutes. Patient will have to lay flat after the procedure.
Arthrogram
(Must be scheduled)
  • No prep.
  • If patient has a history of allergy to Iodinated Contrast please inform scheduler.
 30 minutes
General Fluoroscopy (i.e. guidance, chest fluoro)
(Must be scheduled)		 No prep. 15 minutes
VCUG
(Must be scheduled)
  • No prep.
  • Inpatients need to have catheter placed before coming to Radiology.
 60 minutes
Myelogram
(Must be scheduled)
  • NPO after midnight.
  • If patient has a history of allergy to Iodinated Contrast please inform scheduler.
 15-60 minutes. Patient will have to lay flat after the procedure.
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
(Must be scheduled)
  • NPO after midnight.
  • Patient needs to have current CBC, PTT, PT, Lytes+.
  • Films need to be sent to Radiology prior to day of study.
 60 minutes

Contact Us

Call 252-522-7088 to ask about scheduling or preparing for an imaging test. Send faxes to 252-522-7167.

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