CT scan in El Paso

# CT scan in El Paso

Desert Imaging does CT scans and CT angiography at three El Paso centers: West, East and Central. West and East have Hitachi Supria Plus 16-slice scanners, Central has an 80-slice UMI scanner, and most scans take 3 to 5 minutes.

## What it is

A CT scan, also called a CAT scan, is an X-ray machine joined to a computer. The tube circles you and the computer turns hundreds of thin X-ray views into cross-section pictures, like slices of a loaf of bread, that can also be stacked into a 3D view.

Doctors order CT to look at bone, organs, blood vessels and soft tissue in one exam. It is common for the head and sinuses, chest, abdomen and pelvis, spine, kidneys and joints, and for planning surgery. It also helps locate tumors, benign or malignant, and diagnose or rule out cancer, heart and blood vessel disease, infection, injury and bone and joint problems. CT angiography, or CTA, adds contrast to show the arteries and veins.

Contrast for CT is an iodine dye. For some exams you drink it, for others it goes through a vein in your arm, and some exams need both. Your doctor writes on the order whether the exam is with contrast, without, or both.

**Good to know:** CT uses X-rays, so it is not the first choice in pregnancy, and it shows less soft-tissue detail than MRI. Your doctor chooses the exam that answers the question.

## Where to get it

- [West](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/west/ct-scan): 122 W. Castellano Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.
- [Central](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/central/ct-scan): 7812 Gateway Blvd. East, Suite 120, El Paso, TX 79915. CT and CT angiography. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Saturday. Closed Sunday.
- [East](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/lee-trevino/ct-scan): 1727 Lee Trevino Dr., El Paso, TX 79935. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.

## What to expect

You lie on a table that slides into a short, open ring. It is not a tunnel. The scanner hums as it turns and the table moves in small steps or one smooth pass. Your job is to lie still and, for chest and abdomen scans, to hold your breath for a few seconds.

The scanning itself takes 3 to 5 minutes. With oral contrast you arrive an hour early to drink it, or pick it up the day before at West, Central or East and drink it at home.

Our scanners meet the XR-29 dose standard and adjust the X-ray dose automatically to your size, with separate protocols for children and adults. A board-certified radiologist reads the exam and the report goes to your doctor and to your patient portal.

**How long it takes:** 3 to 5 minutes of scanning. Add an hour if you drink contrast.

## Our equipment

- Hitachi Supria Plus 16-slice CT scanners at West and East.
- A UMI 80-slice PET/CT scanner at Central, also used for CT and CT angiography.
- Both systems are designed for a reduced X-ray dose, higher-resolution images and shorter breath holds.
- Automatic exposure control, pediatric and adult protocols and dose reporting, in line with the XR-29 Smart Dose standard.

## Exams we perform

From our physician order form. Your doctor names the exact study on the order.

### Head and neck

- Brain
- Inner ear (IAC)
- Sinuses
- Orbits
- Face
- Jaw joint (TMJ)
- Temporal bones
- Neck soft tissue

### Chest and abdomen

- Chest
- High-resolution chest CT (HRCT)
- Lung cancer screening
- Abdomen and pelvis
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Adrenals
- Kidney mass
- Kidney stone
- CT urogram

### Spine and joints

- Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine
- Hand
- Wrist
- Elbow
- Upper arm (humerus)
- Forearm
- Shoulder
- Hip
- SI joints
- Knee
- Thigh (femur)
- Lower leg
- Ankle
- Foot

### CT angiography (CTA) and venography (CTV)

- Brain
- Neck
- Chest, for pulmonary embolism
- Chest aorta
- Abdomen and pelvis
- Aorta with runoff
- Extremity runoff

### Heart

- Coronary calcium score, self-pay

## How to prepare

From our preparation sheet. Your appointment confirmation carries the instructions for your exact study.

### CT of abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast

- Drink the oral contrast one hour before the exam.
- You may pick up the contrast the day before at Castellano, Gateway or Lee Trevino, or arrive one hour early on the day of the exam and we will give it to you.
- Let us know which option you prefer when you schedule.

### CT exams with contrast

- Do not eat for 4 to 6 hours before the exam.
- Drink water only.
- The sheet says: no diabetic medication on the day of the exam.

### All other CT exams

- No preparation required.

### Questions before any CT exam

- You may be asked whether you are pregnant, whether you are allergic to iodine or any medication, and whether you have had head, heart or joint surgery or a joint replacement.
- You may also be asked whether you wear permanent eyeliner, whether you have ever worked with metal, and whether you have any metal implanted in your body, such as an artificial hip or a pacemaker.

## Common questions

### Where can I get a CT scan in El Paso?

At three Desert Imaging centers. West, 122 W. Castellano Dr., and East, 1727 Lee Trevino Dr., each have a Hitachi Supria Plus 16-slice scanner. Central, 7812 Gateway Blvd. East, Suite 120, has an 80-slice UMI scanner that is also used for CT angiography. The scanning itself takes 3 to 5 minutes. West and East are open Saturdays, and Central is open weekdays.

### Do I need to fast before a CT?

Only if your exam uses contrast. Do not eat for 4 to 6 hours before, drink water only, and skip diabetic medication that day. CT exams without contrast need no preparation. Your order says which one you are having, and we confirm when you book.

### What should I tell you before the scan?

Whether you could be pregnant, whether you are allergic to iodine or any medication, whether you have diabetes or kidney disease, and any surgery or metal in your body. The technologist asks these questions before every exam.

### Does insurance require approval first?

Often, yes. Many plans require preauthorization for CT. Your doctor's office usually requests it when they send the order. If you are unsure, call your plan or ask us when you book.

### How is the dose kept low?

Our CT systems meet the XR-29 dose standard. They set the X-ray dose to your size automatically, use separate protocols for children and adults, and record the dose in your report.


## Ready to book?

Request an appointment online and bring your doctor's order. We take it from there.

- [Request an appointment](https://eforms.abbadox.com/240384671438865)
- Call (915) 577-0100