When you schedule an appointment, our staff will provide detailed instructions for the diagnostic exam your doctor has prescribed. Feel free to raise any questions or concerns you may have about your study. Here are general guidelines on how to prepare for a specific exam: Abdominal Ultrasound Arthrogram Barium Enema Bone Densitometry (DEXA Scan) Computerized Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan) Dental CT Scan Esophagram Hysterosalpingogram Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Pelvic Ultrasound PET Scan Saline Sonohysterogram Small Bowel Series Upper GI Series X-Ray Preparing for an Abdominal Ultrasound The patient fasts for up to six hours before the study. BACK TO TOP Preparing for an Arthrogram No advance preparation is necessary. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Barium Enema The patient follows a liquid diet the day before the exam (eight 8-oz glasses of water, fruit juice, coffee, tea, clear soup, or jello) At 6 p.m. on the evening before the study, the patient cleanses bowel using one of the following methods: 1) Take Golytely (available through prescription) as directed on bottle. One hour later, take 2 Ducolax tablets (available over the counter). OR 2) Drink one bottle of Citrate of Magnesia (available over the counter). No solids or liquids after midnight. BACK TO TOP Preparing for Bone Densitometry (DEXA Scan) No calcium supplements (pills) on the day of exam The patient should avoid wearing clothing with buttons, snaps, or zippers from the waist when coming for an exam. Wearing pants with an elastic waistband will allow the patient to remain fully clothed during the study. If the patient has had any x-rays using contrast such as barium, or any nuclear medicine studies, please wait one week before having a DEXA scan. BACK TO TOP Preparing for Computerized Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan) For an abdominal study, the patient drinks a flavored barium solution that fills the intestines with contrast to highlight internal structures. The patient fasts 3 to 4 hours before the exam. After that, the patient may only drink barium mixture. Blood is tested in advance if the patient is over 70 or has diabetes or kidney problems. Diabetics who take oral glucophage should stop this medication for 48 hours after the exam. Patients with significant allergies will be pretreated with cortisone. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Dental CT Scan No advance preparation is necessary. BACK TO TOP Preparing for an Esophagram The patient should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Hysterosalpingogram The patient takes her usual medication for menstrual cramps one hour before the procedure. BACK TO TOP Preparing for an MRI The patient CANNOT have a pacemaker or other ferromagnetic implant. The patient should wear loose clothing with no zippers or other metal attachments. The patient must remove any clothing containing metal and should NOT wear any metal objects (watches, hairpins, etc.). The patient CANNOT have surgery six weeks before the exam. Metal workers will be screened with a skull x-ray. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Pelvic Ultrasound The study is performed with a full bladder (the patient drinks 40 ounces of fluid one to 1.5 hours before the exam). BACK TO TOP Preparing for a PET Scan PET Scan service is coming soon. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Saline Sonohysterogram The patient empties her bladder before the exam. BACK TO TOP Preparing for a Small Bowel Series The patient should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam. BACK TO TOP Preparing for an Upper GI Series The patient should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the exam. BACK TO TOP X-Ray No advance preparation is necessary. BACK TO TOP
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