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Is CT Scan With Contrast The Right Step To Diagnose Abdominal Pain?
Question: Abdominal pain, lack of appetite. Tests proved negative on blood work, CT scan. Because patient has pacemaker, no MRI possible to evaluate pancreas. Doctor prescribe another CT scan but with contrast. Scan technician said blood condition of patient indicated that XXXXXXX may affect kidney. Suggested "mucomyst". What tests could be prescribed to determine cause of abdominal pain? What experience has there been with the drug mucomyst? (patient 82 yr old female)
Brief Answer:
Ct scan
Detailed Answer:
yes a CT scan with IV (intravenous) contrast is much better than a CT scan without it, particularly to look at the pancreas and rest of abdominal organs. it does make a difference. Also as they warned you there is a risk of kidney damage by using contrast, but this is usually in patients that already have some sort of underlying kidney damage, even if little. this can be checked by bloodwork (BUN and Creatinine). Mucomyst may help, but usually just giving IV fluids before and after the contrast is injected suffices, unless there is already significant kidney damage.
since an MRI can't be done, then another potential alternative is an endoscopic ultrasound, however this is an invasive test that requires anesthesia. its basically advancing a little ultrasound probe through the mouth into the intestine to look up close the pancreas and vessels, and potentially take samples with a needle.
hope that helped
Ct scan
Detailed Answer:
yes a CT scan with IV (intravenous) contrast is much better than a CT scan without it, particularly to look at the pancreas and rest of abdominal organs. it does make a difference. Also as they warned you there is a risk of kidney damage by using contrast, but this is usually in patients that already have some sort of underlying kidney damage, even if little. this can be checked by bloodwork (BUN and Creatinine). Mucomyst may help, but usually just giving IV fluids before and after the contrast is injected suffices, unless there is already significant kidney damage.
since an MRI can't be done, then another potential alternative is an endoscopic ultrasound, however this is an invasive test that requires anesthesia. its basically advancing a little ultrasound probe through the mouth into the intestine to look up close the pancreas and vessels, and potentially take samples with a needle.
hope that helped
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Since the CT technician would not give the XXXXXXX does that indicate that there was a poor kidney reading indicating serious kidney damage or is it a precaution because the XXXXXXX is to be used on an elderly patient?
Brief Answer:
Blood test
Detailed Answer:
if the decision was made not to give XXXXXXX it was probably because the blood tests from the kidney were abnormal. Unless the physician did not order the scan with XXXXXXX (sometimes in the ER the scans are done without XXXXXXX since it is faster, and can still pick up life threathening emergencies).
Age has nothing to do with giving XXXXXXX Ask your doctor for the lab results
Blood test
Detailed Answer:
if the decision was made not to give XXXXXXX it was probably because the blood tests from the kidney were abnormal. Unless the physician did not order the scan with XXXXXXX (sometimes in the ER the scans are done without XXXXXXX since it is faster, and can still pick up life threathening emergencies).
Age has nothing to do with giving XXXXXXX Ask your doctor for the lab results
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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