Why You May Need an Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan

Experiencing unexplained pain or discomfort in your midsection can be alarming. To determine the root cause of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend an abdominal and pelvic CT scan. This advanced imaging technology enables radiologists and technologists to visualize the inner workings of the body with exceptional clarity and precision, allowing them to create informed and effective treatment plans.

What does an abdominal pelvic CT scan show?

An abdominal and pelvic CT scan provides a comprehensive, layered visualization of the organs, tissues, and structures in your midsection. By rotating around your body and capturing multiple X-ray images from different angles, the scanner produces detailed cross-sectional views.

Unlike some other imaging methods, a CT scan can distinguish between different types of tissues, such as fat, muscle, and organs, which is crucial for diagnosing and managing diseases.

Specifically, this scan shows:

• Vital organs. The liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and adrenal glands.
• Digestive system. The stomach, small intestine, colon, and intestinal tract.
• Pelvic structures. The bladder, lymph nodes, and male or female reproductive organs (such as the prostate or ovaries).
• Bones and vasculature. The pelvic bones, hip bones, lower spine, and blood vessels.

Why would a doctor order a CT scan of the pelvis and abdomen?

Abdominal and pelvic ailments and abnormalities can often be invisible, presenting symptoms that overlap with other conditions, making accurate diagnosis crucial for effective treatment. Imaging helps us get to that goal.

Your healthcare provider may order an abdominal and pelvic CT scan for several diagnostic reasons:

• Investigating pain. These scans can be used to pinpoint the cause of unexplained abdominal or pelvic pain, which may be related to conditions such as infections, obstructions, or inflammation, including appendicitis or diverticulitis.
• Evaluating trauma. A CT scan can assess damage after an injury, allowing doctors to evaluate internal bleeding, organ damage, hematomas, or bone fractures.
• Monitoring digestive changes. It is also helpful for investigating the cause of unexplained weight loss or sudden changes in bowel habits.
• Surgical and treatment planning. Findings from CT scans provide surgeons with a visual guide before an operation and assist specialists in planning radiation therapy.

Conditions that an abdominal and pelvic CT scan can detect

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis provides a window into your body’s internal structures and can pinpoint the cause of discomfort or disease.

Our abdomen, a bustling hub of vital organs, sometimes harbors abnormalities that need thorough investigation. Through CT scans, various potential abnormalities might be unveiled, such as conditions that affect the:

• Abnormalities in the spleen (such as splenomegaly, or enlarged spleen)
• Adrenal gland masses
• Appendicitis
• Bone fractures or breaks
• Cysts, polyps, or tumors
• Diverticulitis
• Fatty liver
• Hernias
• Inflammations, obstructions, or diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Kidney stones
• Liver cirrhosis
• Pancreatic inflammation
• Pyelonephritis (a bacterial infection in the kidneys)

By understanding the nature and location of these issues, healthcare providers can tailor a care plan that matches your specific needs.

What cancers can an abdominal and pelvic CT scan help diagnose?

While a scan alone cannot always determine if a mass is benign or malignant, it is a vital tool for locating tumors and determining their size and shape. An abdominal and pelvic CT scan is instrumental in detecting and staging various cancers, including:

• Liver, pancreatic, and kidney cancer
• Ovarian, cervical, and bladder cancer
• Colorectal, prostate, and testicular cancer
• Lymphoma

Furthermore, these scans help doctors determine the stage of cancer by identifying if it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs (metastasis). They are also used to track if a tumor is growing, shrinking, or remaining stable during treatment.

Preparing for your exam

To prepare for your abdominal and pelvic CT scan, plan to eat a light breakfast or follow a clear liquid diet on the day of your appointment. You should avoid eating anything for five hours prior to the scan.

Additionally, you should:

• Remove jewelry and avoid wearing cosmetics, lotions, or deodorant, as these can interfere with the machinery.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early to ask questions and change into a hospital gown.
• Alert your doctor to any allergies; if your scan requires contrast dye to help organs show up more clearly, inform your provider if you have ever had a reaction to contrast material.

How long does an abdominal and pelvic CT scan take?

The abdominal and pelvic CT scan itself is a relatively quick, non-invasive process. You will be asked to lie on your back and remain as still as possible while the machinery moves around you. The entire scan typically takes between 10 and 30 minutes to complete. Once the scan is over, you are free to return home and resume your normal routine.

Understanding your results

After your abdominal and pelvic CT scan, a radiologist, a doctor who specializes in reading these images, will interpret the findings. These results are shared with your referring provider before your follow-up appointment with them. Your doctor will discuss the findings with you and create a treatment plan, if necessary.

The role of follow-up scans

Follow-up scans are often a standard part of medical care to ensure the most accurate monitoring of your health:

• Monitoring cancer progress. For patients living with cancer, follow-up scans are used to provide high-resolution images before, during, and after treatment. These allow doctors to compare images and assess whether a tumor is growing, shrinking, or remaining stable.
• Staging and metastasis. Nuclear medicine studies and PET scans help determine the stage of cancer by identifying its size and whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other areas. Vigilant monitoring through repeated scans can detect metastasis (spread) or recurrence (return) of cancer by identifying new nodules or lesions.
• Tracking other conditions. Follow-up scans help monitor the healing of internal injuries, the status of blood vessel issues like aneurysms, or the resolution of inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis.
• Guiding treatment adjustments. The precise imagery helps healthcare providers determine if a current treatment is effective or if a different route, such as surgery or radiation therapy, is needed.

Key insights on abdominal and pelvic CT scans

Understanding the potential findings and implications of an abdominal and pelvic CT scan is crucial for anyone preparing for the procedure.

1. An abdominal and pelvic CT scan is an advanced imaging tool that helps diagnose unexplained pain by providing detailed views of vital organs and structures in the abdomen and pelvis.
2. It can detect various conditions, including cancers, infections, and obstructions, allowing healthcare providers to develop tailored treatment plans.
3. Preparation for the scan includes dietary restrictions and avoiding certain products, and the procedure itself is quick, usually lasting between 10 and 30 minutes.

At South Jersey Radiology Associates, our board-certified, subspecialized radiologists analyze over 48,000 CT scans each year. Their expertise provides precise diagnostics and tailored treatment plans for our patients.