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Preparing for Radiology Test

Imaging Services

Preparations are necessary before an imaging test in the radiology department at Horizon Health. Our team will ensure your comfort and safety when performing the imaging test. For more information, call (217) 466-4242.

CT Scans

  • Head/Chest/Neck

These areas do not require any preparations.

  • Sinus/Facial/Auditory/Spinal/Extremities

These areas do not require any preparations.

  • Abdomen/Pelvis

For all abdominal and pelvis CT scans, you are not required to drink oral contrast, unless specifically noted by your physician.

If you are directed to have oral contrast, you will pick it up in the radiology department and instructions for when to take it will be given at that time.

Fluoroscopy

  • Barium Enema
  • This test requires a cleansing of the colon to avoid poor imaging. You will need to pick up a cleansing kit that is located in the hospital pharmacy, which will have instructions on how to perform cleansing.
  • At noon the day before the exam, you will begin drinking clear liquids (plain Jell-O with no fruit added, apple juice, grape juice, cranapple juice, bouillon, coffee, tea [sugar may be added, but no milk or cream]). No cream soups. Any liquid you can see through may be used.
  • Fluids are essential. Drink 8 ounces of water per hour for 6 hours if possible. Continue to drink clear liquids from noon until midnight. Avoid fizzy liquids (pop, beer, Alka-Seltzer, etc.)
  • After midnight, do not take anything by mouth until after the exam.

Mammogram

  • Refrain from consuming caffeine for 48 hours before the exam
  • Do not use lotions, powders, or deodorants the day of the exam
  • Take mammogram results obtained elsewhere to the appointment

MRI

Daily medications, food, and drink are acceptable prior to your appointment and will not affect test results.

If you are claustrophobic, it might be best to contact your physician prior to the examination to obtain medication that will help you through the test.

Some medical implanted devices are not allowed to enter the MRI scanning area and the examination could be discontinued for safety reasons

  • Cerebral aneurysm clips
  • Certain heart valves
  • Cochlear implants
  • Metal filings in the eye
  • Pacemaker/Defibrillator
  • Shunts

Bring prior films of similar body parts to be examined with you to the MRI appointment. These can be used to compare previous examination with the current one being performed. This can result in a higher diagnostic interpretation.

GI Studies

  • Esophagus - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the day before the exam
  • Small Bowel Series - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the day before the exam
  • Upper Gastro Intestinal (UGI) - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the day before the exam

IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram)

  • This test requires a cleansing of the colon to avoid poor imaging. You will need to pick up a cleansing kit that is located in the hospital pharmacy, which will have instructions on how to perform cleansing.
  • At noon the day before the exam, begin drinking clear liquids (plain Jell-O with no fruit added, apple juice, grape juice, cranapple juice, bouillon, coffee, tea [sugar may be added, but no milk or cream]). No cream soups. Any liquid you can see through may be used.
  • Fluids are essential. Drink 8 ounces of water per hour for 6 hours if possible. Continue to drink clear liquids from noon until midnight. Avoid fizzy liquids (pop, beer, Alka-Seltzer, etc.)
  • After midnight, do not take anything by mouth until after the exam.

Nuclear Medicine

  • Bone Scan/Lung Scan
    • No prep required.
  • Cardiolite Scan
    • Take nothing by mouth 3-4 hours before the exam. Some heart medications should be discontinued within 24 hours before the exam. Please consult your physician regarding those that apply to you. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear for the treadmill portion of the exam.
  • Gallbladder (Hepatobiliary) Scan
    • Take nothing by mouth 4-6 hours before the exam.
  • Thyroid Scan
    • No prep, unless the patient is already on thyroid medication. This medication is not to be taken starting two weeks before the exam.

Ultrasound

  • Echocardiogram Stress Test
    • No prep required.
  • Carotid/Arterial/Venous/Echocardiogram/Stress Echocardiogram/Renal Artery
    • No prep required.
  • Breast/Thyroid/Extremity/Scrotal/Transvaginal
    • No prep required.
  • Fetal and Pelvic
  • Your bladder should be full when arriving for your appointment, which will provide a higher quality of examination. If the bladder is not full, this will make it difficult to perform the examination and you will be required to drink fluids before your test can proceed.
  • Gallbladder/ RUQ/Abdomen/Liver/Pancreas
    • Eat a fat-free meal the evening before. Take nothing by mouth after midnight. Do not smoke the morning of the exam.

Food permitted:

  • Fruit juice/fat-free broth
  • Dry toast with jelly
  • Baked or boiled mashed potatoes/rice
  • Plain, cooked, bland vegetables
  • Canned fruit or fruit gelatin
  • Coffee or tea with sugar
  • Salt

Foods not permitted:

  • Meat
  • Fried or baked foods
  • Butter or cream
  • Fat or oil
  • Milk or other dairy products
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