Central Queensland Radiology has provided details below that will help make your visit as easy and enjoyable as possible. Please follow the appropriate information and contact us if you have any questions.
Modality preparations
An x-ray involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant, please check with your doctor before scheduling the exam. Other examinations can be discussed with you and your referring doctor.
Eat and Drink
There is no specific preparation required for a general X-ray. There is no need to fast, and you can take all your medication as usual.
Positioning
The scan is performed on an open bed, so you won’t need to worry about confined spaces.
Clothing
It is helpful to wear loose-fitting clothing without metal buckles, fasteners, or zips.
No special preparation is required, but you will be required to remove any jewellery or metallic items from the head and neck region, including any piercings, hair accessories, dentures and dental plates
A BMD scan is a high-precision type of X-ray that measures your bone mineral density and bone loss. If your bone density is lower than normal for your age, it indicates a risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant, please check with your doctor before scheduling the exam. Other examinations can be discussed with you and your referring doctor.
Eat/Drink
There is no specific preparation required for a BMD scan. There is no need to fast, and you can take all medication as usual.
Positioning
The scan is performed on an open bed, so you won’t need to worry about confined spaces.
Clothing
It is helpful to wear loose-fitting clothing without metal buckles, fasteners, or zips.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant, please check with your doctor before scheduling the exam. Other examinations can be discussed with you and your referring doctor.
Clothing
If possible, remove all metallic objects in the area of the body you are having scanned. You may be asked to change into a patient gown. If so, a gown will be provided for you and somewhere to secure personal belongings. Please remove all piercings and leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
Contrast Media
There is a possibility you will require an injection of contrast media.
Contrast media improves the radiologist’s ability to view the images of the inside of the body.
As a general rule:
- No contrast – Sinuses, Spine, Limbs
- Contrast – Abdomen, Pelvis, Chest, and Head
Some patients should not have an iodine-based contrast media. If you have problems with your kidney function, please inform our staff when booking or checking in for your scan. You may be able to have the scan performed without contrast media or have an alternative imaging exam.
You will be asked to sign a consent form that will detail the risks and side-effects associated with contrast media. It is injected through a small tube placed in a vein called an intravenous (IV) line.
Allergies
Please inform our staff when you schedule your CT scan if you have had an allergic reaction to any contrast media previously. IV contrast will not be administered if you have had a severe or anaphylactic reaction to any contrast media in the past. If you had mild to moderate reactions in the past, you may need to take medication prior to the CT scan. These plans will be discussed with you in detail when you schedule your exam.
Eat and Drink
If your doctor has ordered a CT scan without contrast, you may eat, drink and take your prescribed medications as usual.
If your doctor has ordered a CT scan with contrast, do not eat anything four (4) hours prior to your CT scan. You are encouraged to drink 700mls of water 40 minutes before your appointment. This does not have to be held in the bladder. You may also take your prescribed medications as usual.
You will be advised of any preparation requirements when you schedule your exam.
Diabetics
Please notify us if you are diabetic.
Medication
All patients can take their prescribed medications as usual. Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation.
An ultrasound scan is a medical test that uses high-frequency sound waves to capture live images from the inside of your body. It is also known as sonography. Ultrasound does not have any known risks, side effects or complications and is considered very safe.
Most people associate ultrasound scans with pregnancy. However, the test has many other uses including investigating muscles, joints, the abdominal organs, heart and blood vessels. It is also used to guide therapeutic treatments such as cortisone injections.
At Central Queensland Radiology ultrasound scans are performed by Accredited Medical Sonographers with the results being reported by our specialist doctors (radiologist) and delivered to your referring doctor.
Your scan time will vary depending on the complexity of the requested examination. Most simple ultrasound scans take approximately 30 minutes, however more time is required for complex studies such as certain obstetric or vascular scans.
We advise arriving 15 minutes before your appointment time, as some preliminary paperwork may need to be completed. Please bring all prior imaging related to the scan to your appointment.
Please note, only one adult and supervised children may accompany the person having the scan. (Due to the medical nature of this examination the Sonographer may need time with just the patient to complete the scan.)
You may be asked to prepare for your scan, and instructions are provided below.
Pelvis
- Please empty bladder 90 minutes prior to the scan.
- Over the first 30 minutes, drink one litre of water and hold.
- A full bladder is required for the scan.
Pregnancy
6 weeks to 20 weeks
- Please empty bladder 90 minutes prior to the scan.
- Over the first 30 minutes, drink 1 litre of water and hold.
- A full bladder is required for the scan.
After 20 weeks Morphology
- Please empty bladder 90 minutes prior to the scan.
- Over the first 30 minutes, drink 1 litre of water and hold.
- A full bladder is required for the scan.
First Trimester Screening – Nuchal Translucency Scans (12w 4d – 13w 6d)
- Please empty bladder 90 minutes prior to the scan.
- Over the first 30 minutes, drink 1 litre of water and hold.
- A full bladder is required for the scan.
Echocardiography
No preparation.
Abdomen / Gall Bladder / Liver / Pancreas / Aorta
- Do not eat or drink for 6 hours prior to appointment (Nil by Mouth)
- Sips of water only.
Renal / Bladder/Prostate
- Please empty bladder 90 minutes prior to the scan.
- Over the first 30 minutes, drink 1 litre of water and hold.
- A full bladder is required for the scan.
Carotids / Limb Veins/Limb Arteries
No preparation.
Aorta/ Renal Arteries/Mesenteric
- Do not eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the appointment.
- Sips of water only.
Musculoskeletal / Thyroid / Testes / Breast
No preparation
Arrival
We advise arriving 20 minutes before your appointment time, as some preliminary paperwork may need to be completed. Please bring all prior imaging related to the scan to your appointment.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant, please check with your doctor before scheduling the exam. MRI is not recommended during the first trimester. Examinations during the second and third trimesters are assessed on a case-by-case basis. It may be necessary for alternative imaging methods to be used.
Clothing
If possible please wear clothing not containing any metallic components (this includes lycra exercise wear). If this is not possible a gown will be provided for you along with somewhere to secure personal belongings. Please remove all piercings and leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
Contrast Media
MRI scans may or may not require an injection of contrast media. For certain indications, Contrast media improves the radiologist’s ability to make a diagnosis from the study.
Some patients should not have gadolinium-based contrast media. If you have problems with your kidney function or are on dialysis, please inform our staff when booking or checking in for your scan. You may be able to have the scan performed without contrast media or have an alternative imaging exam.
You will be asked to sign a consent form that will detail the risks and side-effects associated with contrast media. It is injected through a small tube placed in a vein called an intravenous (IV) line.
Allergies
Please inform our staff when you schedule your MRI scan if you have had an allergic reaction to any contrast media previously. IV contrast will not be administered if you have had a severe or anaphylactic reaction to any contrast media in the past. If you had mild to moderate reactions in the past, you would likely need to take medication prior to the MRI scan. These plans will be discussed with you in detail when you schedule your exam.
Eat and Drink
If your doctor has ordered an MRI scan without contrast, you can eat, drink and take your prescribed medications prior to your exam. If your doctor ordered an MRI scan with contrast, do not eat anything for two (2) hours prior to your MRI scan. You may also take your prescribed medications prior to your exam.
Some MRI exams such as Prostate and Enterography require specific patient preparation. If special preparation is required, a member of the bookings team will advise you prior to your examination.
Diabetics
Please notify us if you are diabetic.
Medication
All patients can take their prescribed medications as usual. Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation.
Frequently asked Questions
Ample parking available on – note time limits apply. We also have designated off-street car parks right next door – follow our guide map or look for the marked allocated spaces.
Please arrive at least 10 – 20 minutes prior to your appointment depend on your scan. This will help us in making sure we are able to take all your details prior to your appointment along with filling out any consent forms we need and certain changing requirements we may have for you examination.
Please remember to bring to your appointment:
- Referral
- Medicare card
- Pension Work cover details
- Previous images
Bulk Billing available for all eligible patients.