CT Arthrogram Cat Scan Quick Reference Guide for Physicians

COVID-19 Safety Precautions and Sterilization

To Our Guilford Community

ALL GUILFORD RADIOLOGY STAFF HAVE BEEN FULLY IMMUNIZED AGAINST THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

Now more than ever, the safety of our patients, community and staff is our top priority. Our staff is fully trained in Covid-19 screening, safety precautions and sterilization technique. We remained committed to our referring providers and patients and have been open throughout the pandemic, while continuing to maintain a clean safe facility. Trust the staff at Guilford Radiology to take care of you and your family’s medical imaging needs in a patient friendly, convenient outpatient environment for the safest, most comfortable exam possible.

Our facility is clean, Safety is our primary concern

Our entire office gets a complete deep cleaning nightly.
Exam rooms and equipment are thoroughly disinfected after each patient, from mammography paddles to the CT & MRI bores, to the exam tables, counters, and areas of patient contact.
We are maintaining CDC and the state of CT guidelines. All staff and patients are required to wear appropriate face masks and staff wear other required PPE. Patients without an acceptable mask will be provided one.

Covid Safety Patient Screening Form

New patient flow in place ensures no contact with other patients

All paperwork can be completed prior to your exam, forms are available on our website.
Patients can choose to checkin in our waiting room or wait in their car.
If you choose to check-in in our lobby, comie in and stop at the front desk, please arrive at your requested time and enter our comfortable clean reception area with your ID, insurance card and order (if applicable) in hand.
If you prefer to wait in your car, when you arrive for your appointment, please call our office (203-453-5123) from your car.
- You will be instructed when to enter where a technologist will greet you at the opened door.
After your exam the technologist will escort you out of the office.
We have staggered patient exam times to avoid congestion and reduce any unnecessary potential exposure.
Please do not bring anyone with you to your exam as we are trying to reduce traffic in our office, special accommodations can be made as needed.

Guilford Radiology is committed to your health and safety.

Kameron Shahid, MD -- Guilford Radiology President
Michael Johnson, MD -- Covid-19 Safety Officer
Sharynn Gendron -- Office Manager

CT Arthrography Cat Scan Arthrogram Quick Reference Guide for Physicians

CT arthrography can be used as an alternative to MRI arthrography in patients who cannot have an MRI exam. This exam involves the injection of a contrast material into the joint. An CT exam of the joint is performed immediately after the contrast injection, which shows the fine details of the joint space. Common indications for CT arthrography include the post-operative knee and shoulder, evaluation of the shoulder and hip labra, and for the evaluation of the ligaments of the wrist. The contrast solution injected into the patient contains a small amount of iodinated.

Image from a CT Arthrogram study done by Guilford Radiology, 2010

Patient Preparation

No preparation is required.

CPT Codes

70450 Without Contrast
70470 Without and With Contrast

Patient Weight Limit

Our CT Scan tables have a weight limit of 660 pounds.

Ready to Order a Test for your Patient?

Download Requisition Form Here (Please write CT Arthrogram in the “other” section and indicate joint to be scanned.)

General Information about CT Scanning

What is CT scanning?

CT scanning combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images of the inside of the body. These cross-sectional images are then examined on a computer monitor by a radiologist. They also can be printed or transferred to a CD. CT scans of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels provide greater clarity and reveal more details than regular x-ray exams. Using specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the body, radiologists can more easily diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, appendicitis, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.

There has been considerable work done recently on radiation dose from CT scans. At our offices, our CT scanners adjust the radiation dose for each patient to use the lowest possible dose.

How does the procedure work?

In many ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees.

In a conventional x-ray exam, a small burst of radiation is aimed at and passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special image recording plate. Bones appear white on the xray; soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black.

With CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic x-ray detectors rotate around the patient, measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout his/her body. At the same time, the examination table is moving through the scanner, so that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path. A special computer program processes this large volume of data to create two-dimensional cross-sectional images of the body, which are then displayed on a monitor. This technique is called helical or spiral CT.

The CT scanners at our offices are multidetector scanners, allowing thinner slices to be obtained in a shorter period of time, resulting in more detail and additional view capabilities. Our scanners are so fast that they can scan through large sections of the body in just a few seconds. Such speed is beneficial for all patients but especially children, the elderly and critically ill. For children, the CT scanner technique will be adjusted to reduce the radiation dose. For some CT exams, a contrast material is used to enhance visibility in the area of the body being studied.

What Happens During the CT Arthrography?

For the contrast injection, the radiologist will explain the procedure to the patient, and obtain consent for the procedure. The patient is positioned on the x-ray examination table in the fluoroscopy room. Next, the skin around the joint is cleansed with antiseptic and covered with a sterile drape. The skin and soft tissues are numbed by a local anesthetic injected into the area. A needle is then inserted through this numbed skin into the joint space. Contrast material is injected into the joint space and the needle is removed. The patient will experience a slight pinprick and may feel a momentary burning from the local anesthesia used to numb the area. The patient may feel a fullness as the joint is filled with contrast.

For the actual CT arthrogram study, the patient is then transferred to the CT scanner. Your patient will be asked to lie down on his back on the scanning table. The table will then slide into the scanning area. Your patient’s experience and comfort are of key importance. The scan time can vary from 30-60 minutes depending on the study. Your patient may resume normal activities following the CT.

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.