The duration of the investigation

In contrast to the MRT examination, a CT examination is quite fast. The examination itself usually only takes a few minutes. However, it should be noted that contrast medium is required for many examinations.

Particularly in the abdominal area, the contrast medium must be drunk frequently and then, depending on which organ is to be assessed, takes one to two hours to reach its destination. It should also be noted that with the CT abdomen, several series of images may have to be taken. Overall, however, the examination rarely takes longer than 20-30 minutes.

What are the costs?

The examination by means of CT is one of the more expensive examinations. According to the () the simple rate for a CT examination in the abdominal area is 151,55€. This is charged for patients with statutory health insurance. For privately insured patients the 1.8-fold rate can be charged. This amounts to 272,79€ in the present case.

Do I need contrast?

The question of whether contrast medium is necessary for the CT abdomen examination also depends on the type of examination. However, this is very often the case, especially in the abdomen or pelvis area. This is because the imaging of the digestive organs as well as the urinary tract is much more precise when contrast is applied.

In the area of the gastro-intestinal tract, this may even be sufficient in some cases simply by drinking water. Then, shortly before the examination, about half a litre of water must be drunk in a short time. Contrast medium into the vein (i.v. contrast medium) is mainly used when vessels are to be assessed, but the excretion of the contrast medium via the urinary tract can also be assessed precisely in this way.

What is a LowDose-CT

LowDose-CT is a CT examination that has a lower radiation risk than the conventional examination. This is used particularly frequently in the search for urinary stones in the context of colics. Especially because urinary stones often occur repeatedly, it is important to keep the radiation as low as possible by means of the CT examinations performed in each case.

However, the type of CT examination used to find stones is normally very radiation-intensive. With the help of the LowDose technique, the radiation can be reduced to that of a conventional abdominal imaging. This minimizes the risk for the patient to suffer radiation damage later on.

Which organs do you see?

During the CT abdominal examination the organs of the digestive system can be assessed. These include the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. The spleen, pancreas, liver and gall bladder can also be visualised with the CT examination.

In the area of the gallbladder, gallstones in particular are very clearly visible. Another important area is the urinary tract. In addition to the kidneys and ureters, the bladder is also visible here. In addition to the organs, vessels, especially the arteries, can also be assessed. Especially the large vessels in the abdomen, e.g. the aorta, can be examined for aneurysms.