Carrus Outpatient Radiology Imaging Services

Outpatient Radiology Center - CT Scan -X-Ray - Ultrasound - Carrus Health

It’s never been easier to get the imaging tests you need. At Carrus Health’s radiology center, conveniently located at our beautiful main campus in Sherman, Texas, we offer quick and thorough outpatient CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound diagnostic testing.

Our centralized location offers a relaxed and comfortable environment, with easy access for visitors to get in and out, fast. Most often, there is no wait time to receive your high quality outpatient imaging procedure.

CT Scans

A computed tomography (CT) scan can help diagnose and monitor many diseases and medical conditions.

The CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine with a hole in the center. You will lie still on a special bed as it moves through the scanner, which rotates around your body while X-ray beams capture highly detailed, cross-sectional images of internal tissue and structures. The scans are then read and interpreted by a specially trained and experienced radiologist.

The scanner does not touch you and is not confining. It is significantly more “open” than an MRI scanner, which is more of a tunnel-type structure. Even patients who suffer with claustrophobia find CT scans to be simple, fast, and easy.

CT Scan FAQs

The scan is a painless, noninvasive way to provide detailed images of your internal organs, highlighting solid structures like calcium deposits or kidney stones. CT scans are commonly used to diagnose appendicitis, bowel obstruction, stroke, sinus problems, and many other conditions.

A CT scan can quickly identify injuries and is important in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases. CT scans may also be used in preparation for surgery.

Depending on the type of scan you will have, you should wear comfortable clothing without snaps or zippers. You may be asked to change into a gown, if necessary. Please remove any metal or plastic items.

You will lie on the scanning table, which will move slowly through the cylinder during the exam. It is important to lie still, and you may be instructed to hold your breath for brief periods of time while the scans are taken. You may hear a whirring noise from various angles as the images are made. Most CT scans take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Please arrive a half hour before your scheduled exam. Many types of CT scans require little or no preparation. Your doctor may order blood tests prior to your exam. You may be asked to drink some fluids before your scan.

For certain types of scans, you may be given an injection of contrast dye, a solution that highlights certain tissues, organs, and blood vessels to provide more detailed information for the radiologist.

You will be informed if this type of scan is required and given specific instructions. Some patients may feel a flush of heat and experience a metallic taste during the injection. These sensations usually subside within minutes.

You will want to provide a list of your medications, information about your medical history, dates of previous CT scans or other radiology tests, any relevant pathology reports available, your insurance information, and a prescription or referral from your physician.

You shouldn’t experience any discomfort from the exam and may leave as soon as the CT scan is completed. You may return to normal daily activities immediately, unless instructed otherwise. If a contrast dye has been injected, you should drink plenty of water after the scan.

If you are on metformin (a medication used by patients with type 2 diabetes), please stop your medication immediately after the CT scan. You can resume the medication 48 hours after the exam. If alternative medication is needed, please contact your physician.

All policies are different so you will want to check with your insurance carrier prior to your exam.

Please inform the technicians if you believe you could be pregnant, are breastfeeding, have asthma, are diabetic, or if you have had an allergic reaction to contrast dye or have a history of drug or food allergies (including iodine and shellfish).

During the CT scan, you will receive about the same amount of radiation as an average person would get from the environment over a three-year period. Although the risks are low and precautions are taken, some patients may have allergic reactions when contrast dye is injected, resulting in rashes, itching, eye swelling, and other allergy symptoms.

X-Rays

X-rays are one of the most common imaging tests. Almost everyone has had one at some point in their lives. They are used primarily to identify structural problems such as broken bones or dental cavities. But X-rays are also used to detect other problems, such as pneumonia, arthritis, osteoporosis, and tumors.

When you receive an X-ray, you will wear a lead apron to protect the part of your body not being subjected to X-ray. Even so, the level of radiation exposure is low. And there is no pain associated with X-rays.

When the X-ray beams pass through your body, they are absorbed in different amounts by different types of tissue. Thus, dense tissue like bones shows up as white on X-rays; air in the lungs shows up as black. Fat and connective tissue show up somewhere between the two.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging (or sonography) is a safe, easy, and noninvasive imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of soft tissue inside the body. There is no radiation involved with ultrasound.

During an ultrasound, a handheld device called a transducer gently glides over the skin, painlessly sending sound waves into the body, which then bounce back from tissue inside the body. In this way, images are created of structures inside the body.

Because ultrasound images are captured live, in real time, they can also show movement of the body's internal organs as well as the speed or intensity of blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound is most commonly associated with fetal development check-ups during pregnancy, but the imaging test can also be used to detect cardiovascular issues and identify possible causes of a patient’s pain, swelling, or infection.

Ultrasound is a useful test for examining organs such as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, heart, and bladder.

For more information about our outpatient radiology services at Carrus Health in Sherman, Texas, please call (903) 870-2600.