Exams and Preps > CT Scan

Computerized Tomography (CT) is offered in Silverdale and Port Orchard. CT uses x-rays to make images, which are turned into “slices” of the body by a computer. CT scanning is painless. Depending on the part of the body being scanned, contrast media, sometimes called dye, may be used. This contrast can improve the visibility of organs and structures otherwise obscured. Since the CT scanner uses x-rays, it is important to let your doctor and our staff know if there is a chance you may be pregnant.

Installed at the Silverdale location is a state-of-the-art Philips CT scanner. This new technology can acquire 64 slices in 0.43 seconds. It produces 3-D reconstruction and allows your doctor to see images of your internal organs and structures, including heart and cardiovascular system, in great detail from a variety of angles. This is the most advanced scanner currently operational in West Puget Sound.

Open January 2009, our expanded office in Port Orchard offers 16-slice CT.  This technology uses computer software to transform x-ray images into multiple slices of the body.  Our new Philips Brilliance 16-slice CT shows detailed images of internal organs, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same time.  It is fast, easy, painless, non-invasive and accurate.

• AMI's commitment to high quality imaging led us to be the first in the county to offer spiral (or helical) CT, allowing evaluation from head to toe.
• AMI offers Renal Colic CT exams, which are used to look for acute kidney stones, rather than performing an IVP which takes much longer and requires an injection of contrast (dye).
• Common applications of CT are the evaluations of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis; but CT is also used for many other conditions, including complex or subtle bone fractures, tumors, CT-guided liver or lung biopsies (which can eliminate the need for surgery in order to have a biopsy performed), lumbar myelography, etc.
• AMI offers
  • CT angiography, including heart and coronary arteries, carotid arteries, the Circle of Willis, renal arteries, and the abdominal aorta.
  • CT Virtual Colonoscopy – a promising new non-invasive method of screening for colorectal cancer.
• In addition to our DEXA scanner, our Silverdale CT scanner is also capable of measuring bone density for osteoporosis evaluation.
• Cardiac CT Scan allows for non-invasive imaging of the coronary arteries.
• AMI has been awarded accreditation in CT as the result of a survey by the American College of Radiology. This award is given to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice.

Do not eat any solid foods 4 hours prior to your exam, unless otherwise instructed when your appointment is made. Clear liquids are allowed prior to exam.

Abdomen exams require you to drink contrast liquid ½ hour before exam. Pelvic/abdomen combined exams require you to drink contrast 2 hours before exam. This study requires 2 bottles. Drink the first bottle 2 hours before exam and the second bottle 1 hour before exam.

Pelvic only exams require you to drink contrast 2 hours before exam. This study requires 2 bottles. Drink the first bottle 2 hours before exam and the second bottle 1 hours before exam.