Radiological diagnostics

The total time for CT scans, after any preparation, is usually 15-60 minutes. After a contrast agent scan, 20 minutes should be spent in the waiting room to identify and manage any side effects caused by the contrast agent.

CT scan procedure: the scan is performed in the supine position and is painless. For chest and abdomen scans, the arms should be placed above the head so as not to interfere with the imaging. Removable metal objects such as necklaces, earrings and removable dentures should be removed as they also interfere with the imaging. Avoid eating for 6 hours before the scan, but drink plenty of water. Regular medication should be taken with water before the examination.

Do not move around during the scan. A series of measurements should be taken in 5-30 seconds. For chest and abdominal examinations, breathing must be held for this time, as instructed by the operator via microphone. In some cases, for abdominal and pelvic examinations, 1-1.5 litres of water or diluted contrast medium must be drunk approximately 1-1.5 hours before the examination. This is necessary to separate the intestines from their surroundings and to allow the intestinal wall to be examined. For examination of the rectum and colon, it may rarely be necessary to fill the rectum or colon - enema. For cardiac examinations it may be necessary to administer a preparatory drug. For these special tests, the total time of the test including preparation may be up to 1.5 hours.

For certain examinations, the administration of contrast material is prescribed. This contrast material is an iodine-containing compound suitable for the imaging of blood vessels and the examination of blood circulation in organs and tissues. It is most often introduced into the body through a vein in the arm. Among the regularly taken medications, the administration of iodine-containing contrast material should be avoided with certain medications used for diabetes. These antidiabetic drugs cannot be taken for 2 days before and after the contrast-enhanced examination. The method of suspending the medication should be discussed with the treating physician.

With normal kidney function, the contrast material does not harm the kidneys, but it is important to consume plenty of fluids on the days before and after the administration of contrast material!

As with any drug, hypersensitivity to contrast material can occur rarely. The hypersensitivity is not to the iodine itself but to the combination of iodine and the molecule it is bonded to, that is, to the compound.

For abdominal and pelvic CT scans, drinking a different type of contrast material is also necessary to better assess and differentiate the intestines. This contrast material can cause diarrhea.

CT scans during pregnancy are only conducted in special cases or if there's a suspicion of a serious illness, as X-ray radiation can harm the fetus. CT scans can be safely performed during breastfeeding. If a venous contrast material examination is needed, do not breastfeed for two days following the administration of the contrast material; instead, express the milk but do not feed it to your child.

Yes, a medical referral (including from a general practitioner) or a medical request form is required for the examination, which also includes the direct contact information of the doctor. An exception to this is the lung screening test, which can be performed without a referral.

The evaluation of the results is completed within a maximum of 3 working days following the examination. The results can be collected electronically using the EESZT (Electronic Health Service Space) through Ügyfélkapu, in person at a pre-arranged time, by an authorized person, or via email. It is necessary to coordinate this with the assistant conducting the examination and the reception.

The collection of image data written on a CD is only possible in person.