CT
With most CT exams, no special preparation is required. A few items to consider regarding these types of exams include:
- Some CT exams involve oral and IV contrast depending on what your doctor has ordered. Questions or concerns about this should be addressed with your doctor before scheduling the exam.
- Previous adverse reactions to iodine contrast injections would be a concern and should be addressed beforehand. In most cases, patients with allergies to IV contrast can be premedicated with a specific regimen that is prescribed by the ordering physician.
Please inform your doctor or a patient representative if you have any of the following:
- Severe allergies
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Renal disease
If you are pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.
MRI
- Please inform us if you have any serious health problems or if you have recently had surgery.
- Guidelines about eating and drinking before an MRI exam vary with the specific exam. For some types of exams, you will be asked to fast for 4 hours.
- You may be asked to wear a gown during the exam or you may be allowed to wear your own clothing if it is loose-fitting and has no metal fasteners. Jewelry and other accessories should be left at home if possible or removed prior to the MRI scan. Because they can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, metal and electronic objects are not allowed in the exam room.
Because of the potentially harmful effects associated with all metallic objects in a magnetic field, you should check with your physician or MRI Technologist if you have:
- Pacemaker
- Ear implants
- Surgical staples
- Neuro-stimulator
- Aneurysm clip(s)
- Implanted drug infusion devices
- Worked as a welder or grinder of metal
- Defibrillators
- Medication Patches
X-Ray/Fluoroscopy
For most X-rays, no special preparation is required.
Ultrasound
For most ultrasound examinations, no special preparation is required. However, if you are having one of the following types of ultrasound, some preparation is required. Additional and/or different instructions may be given to you when you schedule your appointment.
For Pelvic (Transabdominal only, or Transabdominal/Transvaginal exams):
- You may eat normally.
- Your bladder must be full for this examination. Drink at least 32 ounces of liquid one hour prior to your examination. We recommend you avoid caffeinated beverages.
- Please do not urinate until after your examination is completed. If you are very uncomfortable, please notify our staff when you arrive.
- Allow 45-50 minutes for the examination.
Abdominal Examinations:
- Nothing by mouth after midnight.
- Drink only water and take your normal medications
- Allow 45-60 minutes for the examination.
Bladder Examination (Kidney/bladder, post-void bladder):
- Drink 32 ounces of water one full hour before your examination
Renal Artery exams:
- Fasting for 6 hours is preferred. If this is an issue or a diabetic, consult your referring physician or contact our office to help answer your questions.
Mammography
- Patients should not use any deodorant, powder or cream the day of the study.
- Please bring all previous mammograms and their corresponding reports to your scheduled appointment. If you have signed out previous RAR mammograms, please return them at the time of your appointment.
- Patients who have had recent surgery should bring images that were taken during and after their surgery.
- If possible, please obtain and bring a copy of your pathology report.
- Patients who have breast implants need to inform the scheduling department when they are making an appointment so that a longer time slot can be allocated for your exam.
If you are pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.
Breast MRI
- Please inform us if you have any serious health problems or if you have recently had surgery.
- Guidelines about eating and drinking before an MRI exam vary with the specific exam. For some types of exams, you will be asked to fast for 4 hours.
- You may be asked to wear a gown during the exam or you may be allowed to wear your own clothing if it is loose-fitting and has no metal fasteners. Jewelry and other accessories should be left at home if possible or removed prior to the MRI scan. Because they can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, metal and electronic objects are not allowed in the exam room.
Because of the potentially harmful effects associated with all metallic objects in a magnetic field, you should check with your physician or MRI Technologist if you have:
- Pacemaker
- Ear implants
- Surgical staples
- Neuro-stimulator
- Aneurysm clip(s)
- Implanted drug infusion devices
- Worked as a welder or grinder of metal
- Defibrillators
- Medication Patches
In addition to above, if you have recently received a COVID vaccine or booster (within the last 6-8 weeks), please let us know.
Unless you are told otherwise, you may follow your regular daily routine and take medications as usual.
If your prior mammograms were not performed at Radiology Associates of Ridgewood, please make them available to us at the time of your exam, if possible.
Breast Ultrasound
In most cases, no fasting or special preparation is required before a breast ultrasound. Please dress in clothes that permit access to the area to be tested or that are easily removed.
DEXA Bone Densitometry
To prepare for a DEXA scan patients should follow these instructions:
- Wear clothing that is free from metal in the waist and hip area. Avoid clothing with belts, metal zippers, buttons and grommets.
- You may eat and drink normally on the day of the exam but avoid taking calcium supplements including multi-vitamins with calcium (tablets, liquid or nasal sprays) for at least 48 hours prior to the Dexascan.
- As part of your bone density DEXA scan preparation, you should not have had a barium study such as UGI or Barium Enema or CT with contrast two weeks prior to your DEXA scan.
If you are pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.