Chesapeake Imaging
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Exam Preparation for Patients

How you can prepare for your imaging exam:

The day of your appointment:

  • Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to your appointment time unless otherwise specified when scheduling your exam.
  • A form of photo ID must be presented at time of visit, please bring insurance card(s) and the order from your referring doctor (if not otherwise sent).
  • Please confirm that if your insurance requires any Pre-Authorization that it has been obtained.
  • Please bring any relevant prior imaging studies and/or reports for comparison. If you had prior imaging done but do not have in your possession, please notify a staff member so we can obtain if for comparison.

MRI PREPERATION (ALL MRI )

  • There is very little preparation required, if any, before an MRI scan except for abdominal exams, you may be asked to be without anything to eat for up to 6 hours prior to your exam.
  • It is preferable to wear loose comfortable clothing, free of zippers and belts, as you will be asked to remove anything that is metallic and change into a gown.
  • You may be unable to have an MRI if you have any metal inside your body, no one with pacemakers, or aneurysm clips can have an MRI. Insulin pumps and other medical devices may have to removed or checked for safety. Please make sure the office is aware prior to scheduling if you have any medical device in your body. If there is a chance of pregnancy or you have ever worked with metal (for example, as a metal grinder or welder), please let our staff know.
  • Individuals who are anxious or nervous about enclosed spaces should tell their doctor. Often, they can be given medication prior to the MRI to help make the procedure more comfortable.

MRI DEFECOGRAPHY – Please call our office for detailed instructions.

MRI ENTEROGRAPHY – Nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the exam time.

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CT (CAT) Scan Preparation

  • On the day of your exam, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Avoid clothing with zippers and snaps as metal objects can affect the image.
  • Depending on the part of the body that is being scanned, you may also be asked to remove hairpins, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids and any dentures.
  • Women should inform us if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
  • If you will be receiving IV contrast, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything for four hours before the exam.
  • If you are breast-feeding and will be receiving intravenous contrast agent, be prepared to pump and discard breast milk for between 12-24 hours following IV contrast administration.
  • If the use of IV contrast is desired, sometimes results of certain blood tests (BUN and Creatinine) will be needed to assess the safety of its administration, as our scheduling specialist may discuss when you book your exam. Please mention if you have a history or kidney disease or undergo dialysis.
  • A history of allergies to IV contrast, sometimes to other medications or foods also affects our decision about the safe use of IV contrast agent. Be prepared to alert our scheduling specialist about these matters at the time of booking, and to discuss them again with the CT technologist at the time of the exam.
  • If you have active asthma and sometimes require medication through an inhaler, please bring your inhaler along.
  • If you use medications to control pain or anxiety, please take them to enhance your comfort during the examination.

CT ABDOMINAL PELVIS

  • Please arrive 1 hour prior to exam if ordered with oral contrast or pick up oral contrast prior to day of exam.
  • Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to scan
  • Drink ½ of the bottle 1 hour prior to exam time and second ½ 30 min prior to exam.

CT ARTHROGRAMS AND STEROID HIP INJECTIONS –

  • No blood thinners or anti-inflammatory for 5 days prior to exam

CT COLONOGRAPHY (VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY) –

Please follow these instructions carefully. Adequate preparation is essential for reliable exam results.

Things you will need from your pharmacy:

  • Biscodoyl (Dulcolax) 5mg tablets. You will need 8 tablets in total.

Instructions for the day before the exam (“prep” day):

  • You must have ONLY clear liquids and needed medications on the day before the exam.
  • Do not eat any solid foods at all.
  • You must drink plenty of clear liquids.

Every hour from when you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night:

  • Drink at least one 8 oz glass of clear liquids every hour. Gatorade is desirable as it can help replenish electrolytes that may be lost.

Every hour from when you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night:
Drink at least one 8 oz glass of clear liquids every hour. Gatorade is desirable as it can
help replenish electrolytes that may be lost.

» If you are diabetic and take insulin, please ask your doctor about possibly decreasing your insulin dose and monitoring your blood sugar more frequently on the “prep” day and in the morning of the exam day before the exam.
» You can take other prescription medications as prescribed.

Anytime between 8AM &10AM (Breakfast)

  • Take 4 Dulcolax tablets

Anytime between 12N & 2PM (lunch)

  • Drink the first 10 oz bottle of Magnesium Citrate
  • Drink 16 oz of clear liquids Dinner time

Anytime between 5PM & 7PM (Dinner)

  • Take 4 Dulcolax tablets
  • Drink the other 10 oz bottle of Magnesium Citrate
  • Drink 16 oz of clear liquids

Clear liquid diet, can include. Water, Gatorade, clear soda, clear strained broth, ensure-clear and coffee or tea without creamer.
[None of the above can be colored red or purple]

CT/MRI ENTEROGRAPHY – Nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the exam time.

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ULTRASOUND – NUCHAL TRANSLUCENCY SCREENING

  • Patient should be between 11-13 weeks pregnant.
  • Patient should drink 24 oz of water 1-hour prior and hold bladder.
  • For self pay patients additional lab costs may be applicable, please confirm cost with scheduling office.

ULTRASOUND ANATOMY SCANS

  • Patient should be 20 weeks pregnant.
  • Patient should drink 20 oz of water 1 hour prior to appointment time and hold bladder.

ULTRASOUND ABDOMINAL: Nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours prior to scheduled appointment.

ULTRASOUND PELVIS: Patient should drink 32 oz of water 1 hour prior to appointment time and hold bladder.

ULTRASOUND PYLORIC STENOSIS: Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours. Bring bottle of Pedalyte to drink.

ULTRASOUND MESENTERIC ARTERY: Bring 2 bottles of Ensure to drink.

ULTRASOUND RENAL: Drink 24 oz of water and hold

DEXA (BONE DENSITY): No calcium supplements for 24 hours prior to exam.

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MAMMOGRAPHY –

  • Please do not wear powders, perfumes, lotions or deodorant.
  • When scheduling, if you have had prior mammograms at another location please provide that information to our office so we can obtain those priors for comparison

PREP INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PET/CT
*Note that it is important to review all preparation with our office prior to your exam.

*If patient is DIABETIC please call our office for preparation instructions

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PET/CT FDG ONCOLOGY SCAN and PET/CT FDG BRAIN SCAN

  • Please have nothing to eat or drink EXCEPT WATER six hours prior to your scheduled exam time. This would include gum, mints or cough drops
  • The last meal that you eat prior to your appointment should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Please avoid pasta, bread and sugar. Excellent choices for this meal include: eggs — green leafy vegetables — red meat, poultry and fish
  • You may take all of your medications as normal with the exception of anxiety medication. If you are taking anxiety medication (such as Xanex or Valium) please alert a Chesapeake Medical Imaging representative immediately at the location of your scheduled exam.
  • Do not consume caffeine or tobacco products for a full 24 hours prior to your appointment.
  • Please wear warm, comfortable clothing and try to reduce clothing with metal, buttons, zippers and underwire bras. We will provide you with a blanket.
  • Your study will last at least one hour. Please plan accordingly.
    The injection dose used for this exam is ordered specifically for you. Should you need to cancel your PET/CT scan appointment, you must do so 24 hours prior between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Failure to do so may result in a $200 dose charge. We thank you for your understanding.

PET/CT NETSPOT DOTA (Neuroendocrine Tumors)
Ga68 dota

  • Hydrate well prior to and following your PET/CT scan.

PET/CT AXUMIN (Recurrent Prostate Cancer)

  • Nothing to eat or drink except small amounts of water 4 hours prior to your scheduled exam time.
  • Avoid significant exercise for at least one day prior to PET/CT imaging.

PET/CT BONE SCAN
This scan does not require any type of fasting or specific prep. The patient is asked to bring any anti-anxiety medication that they may normally take with them on the day of the scan. The technologist will inform the patient on when it is best to take these medications to ensure a successful scan.

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PREPARATION – HSG
Before the procedure, you may take over-the-counter medication to minimize any discomfort. You will need to remove some clothing and wear a gown for the exam. Remove any metal objects or clothing in the pelvis that might interfere with the x-ray images.

  • Spotting is ok on the day of exam. However, regular bleeding will result in the exam being postponed as bleeding may result in an infection or make the fallopian tubes look blocked even if they aren’t.
  • Or regular cycles, call on day 1. Appointment will be scheduled on day 5-11
  • If you have an irregular cycle, no intercourse 2 weeks prior to exam and a STAT blood pregnancy test will be ordered by your doctor 24-48 hours prior to exam. Please bring results with you to your appointment.

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