For your assistance, below are common tests performed at Placentia-Linda Hospital, listed by department, with instructions and questions you may be asked. Be sure to contact your referring physician and the Hospital department to verify these are the correct instructions for your particular case.

 Radiology Department
CT Scans
Mammography
Ultrasound
MRI
Nuclear Medicine/Other Tests

G.I. Center

Surgery

CT SCANS:

CT Scan - Abdomen Without IV Contrast:

1. Please pick up oral contrast prep from the Radiology Department and drink the prep one-hour prior to the scheduled procedure time.
2. Time required is approximately 30 minutes.

CT Scan – Abdomen With IV Contrast:

1. Due to the IV contrast injection, you may not have any food or drink three (3) hours prior to the exam.
2. Pick up one bottle of oral contrast from the Radiology Department and drink it one hour prior to the appointment time.
3. Time required is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Questions:

• Do you have allergies to iodine (shellfish, seafood, etc.)?
• Are you a diabetic?  If so, are you taking medications?  “Metformin” (Glucophage)?  If so, you must be off the medication forty-eight (48) hours prior to the administration of contrast media.  A blood test will need to be obtained prior to the exam.

CT Scan – Brain:

1. If the scan is with contrast, you may not have any food or drink four (4) hours prior to the exam.

Questions:

• Do you have allergies to iodine (shellfish, seafood, etc.)?
• Are you a diabetic?  If so, are you taking medications?  “Metformin” (Glucophage)?  If so, you must be off the medication forty-eight (48) hours prior to the administration of contrast media.  A blood test will need to be obtained prior to the exam.

CT Scan – Chest or Soft Tissue of the Neck:

1. Intravenous contrast agent is used.  You may not have any food or drink four (4) hours prior to the exam.

Questions:

• Do you have allergies to iodine (shellfish, seafood, etc.)?
• Are you a diabetic?  If so, are you taking medications?  “Metformin” (Glucophage)?  If so, you must be off the medication forty-eight (48) hours prior to the administration of contrast media.  A blood test will need to be obtained prior to the exam.

CT Scan - Pelvis Without IV Contrast:

1. Please pick up two bottles of oral contrast prep from the Radiology Department and drink one bottle two hours prior to the appointment and the second bottle one hour prior to the scheduled procedure time.
2. Time required is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

CT Scan – Pelvis With IV Contrast:

1. Due to the IV contrast injection, you may not have any food or drink three (3) hours prior to the exam.
2. Pick up two bottles of oral contrast from the Radiology Department and drink one bottle two hours prior to and one bottle one hour prior to the examination.
3. Time required is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Questions:

• Do you have allergies to iodine (shellfish, seafood, etc.)?
• Are you a diabetic?  If so, are you taking medications?  “Metformin” (Glucophage)?  If so, you must be off the medication forty-eight (48) hours prior to the administration of contrast media.  A blood test will need to be obtained prior to the exam.

CT Scan – Urogram (to rule out renal stone):

1. NO prep is necessary.  NO contrast is given.

 Mammogram:

1. Please wash all deodorant and/or powder off the breast and underarms prior to your exam.
2. If your previous films are not available the day of your exam, the reading of your mammogram will be delayed.

Questions:

1. Is this a routine annual exam or do you have a current problem?
2. Have you had previous mammograms here or another location?  If so, please pick up those images and bring them with you the day of the exam.
3. Do you have implants?

Ultrasound – Abdomen

1. Nothing to eat or drink at least three (3) hours prior to the procedure.  Preferrably no food or drink after midnight the day prior to the procedure.
2. Time required is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

 Ultrasound - Pelvic

1. Drink three (3) 16-ounce glasses of water one hour prior to the exam time.
2. You must have a full bladder.
3. Time required is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Ultrasound - Renal

1. Please drink two (2) 16-ounce glasses of water one hour prior to the scheduled exam time.
2. You may void at anytime.  We want to hydrate the kidney which gives better visualization under ultrasound.