GCM Exam Preparation
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Accurate, safe and specific exam preparation.

To ensure that radiologic examinations are performed safely and accurately, many require specific preparation. If you are scheduled for one of the following studies, please follow the instructions exactly. If you have questions, be sure to call the office where the exam is scheduled.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time to register and complete any paperwork required. For your convenience, many of our patient forms are available online to complete at home and bring with you to your appointment. Please allow an additional 1 hour for each exam, unless otherwise specified.

The following exams require patient preparation: (Click the procedure name for detailed instructions.)

Breast Imaging & Intervention

  • Mammogram

  • Stereotactic, Ultrasound and MRI-guided Breast Biopsy

CT Scan & CTA

DEXA (Bone Density Scan)

Diagnostic X-Rays

  • Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

Fluoroscopy

  • Arthrogram

  • Barium Enema (BE, Lower GI Series)

  • Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

  • Upper GI Series, Small Bowel Series

MRI & MRA

  • MRCP

Nuclear Medicine

PET-CT Scan

Ultrasound

  • Abdominal Ultrasound, Gallbladder Ultrasound

  • Pelvic Ultrasound, Obstetrical (OB) Ultrasound

  • Sonohysterosalpingogram (SonoHSG)

Vascular and Interventional Radiology



The following exams typically do NOT require any patient preparation.
(Unless otherwise instructed by the scheduling office):

Diagnostic X-Rays (chest, spine, bone, sinus, skull
Ultrasounds (kidneys, breast, thyroid, scrotum, extremity, aorta)
Noncontrast CT of the head, sinus, chest or spine
Noncontrast MRI or MRA (other than MRCP)
Varicose vein treatment
Sialogram


Breast Imaging & Intervention

Mammogram

  • On the day of the exam, do not use any perfume, powder, or deodorant on breasts or underarms.
  • Wear 2-piece clothing if possible.
  • Please bring previous mammograms or arrange to have them sent to our office.

Stereotactic, Ultrasound and MRI-guided Breast Biopsy

  • On the day of the exam, do not use any perfume, powder, or deodorant on breasts or underarms.
  • Wear 2-piece clothing if possible.
  • No blood thinning medications (Aspirin, Ibuprofin, Aleve, etc.) within 5 days prior to the exam. If you are on Coumadin, Lovenox, or Heparin, stopping these medications must be performed under the care of your primary physician.
  • For pain we recommend Tylenol only, if needed, before or after the exam.
  • Please bring previous mammograms or arrange to have them sent to our office.

CT Scan & CTA

  • Nothing to eat or drink (except medicines) 4 hours before exam.
  • For a CT of the abdomen or pelvis: You must pick up 2 bottles of oral (barium) contrast and instructions from our office at least one day prior to the exam. Drink half a bottle every 30 minutes, starting 2 hours prior to your scheduled exam. It is recommended that the barium be refrigerated for better taste.
  • For a CTA/angiogram or CT IVP, oral contrast is NOT needed.
  • Patients receiving IV contrast who are Diabetic and/or have Renal Insufficiency, please provide lab (BUN and Creatinine) results performed within the last 3 months.

DEXA (Bone Density Scan)

  • Wear loose clothing without zippers, buttons, or buckles.
  • No calcium supplements or multivitamins 24 hours prior to the exam.

Diagnostic X-Rays

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

  • Nothing to eat or drink (except medicines) 4 hours before exam.
  • Between 7-8 pm the day before the exam, swallow 3-4 Dulcolax tablets. Dulcolax tablets may be substituted with Citrate of Magnesium.
  • Do not eat or drink (except medicines) after midnight before the exam.
  • If patients are diabetic and/or have renal insufficiency, please provide lab (BUN and Creatinine) results performed within the last 3 months.

Fluoroscopy

Arthrogram

  • No blood thinning medications (Aspirin, Ibuprofin, Aleve, etc.) within 5 days prior to the exam. If you are on Coumadin, Lovenox, or Heparin, stopping these medications must be performed under the care of your primary physician.

Barium Enema (BE, Lower GI Series)

  • Careful preparation is crucial for a barium enema. Please follow the directions carefully to ensure that you have a clean colon.
  • On the day before the exam, drink only clear liquids (no solid foods) all day and until the exam is complete. Drink at least 32 ounces of liquids. Clear liquids include water, clear broth, soda, black coffee, tea, Jell-O, strained fruit juices (no pulp). No milk products.
  • At noon on the day before the exam, drink an 8-oz. bottle of Citrate of Magnesium.
  • At 5:00 PM on the day before the exam, swallow 4 tablespoons of castor oil or 4 Dulcolax tablets. These may be taken with juice.
  • Two hours before bedtime, use 1 Fleet enema.
  • Do not eat or drink (except medicines) after midnight before your exam.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

  • Schedule this exam to be performed 7-10 days after the first day of your menstrual cycle.

Upper GI Series, Small Bowel Series

  • Nothing to eat or drink (except medicines) after midnight the night before the exam.
  • If you had a barium enema the day before, drink an 8-ounce bottle of Citrate of Magnesium following the barium enema at 5:00 p.m.
  • Allow 2-3 hours for a small bowel series.

MRI & MRA

MRCP

  • Nothing to eat or drink (except medicines) 4 hours before exam.
  • Patients receiving IV contrast who are Diabetic and/or have Renal Insufficiency, please provide lab (BUN and Creatinin) results within the last 3 months.

Nuclear Medicine

  • Call for an appointment and instructions. Referring physicians are requested to provide history and other pertinent background information on their patients.
  • Time required for Nuclear Medicine exams will vary.

PET-CT Scan

  • Nothing to eat or drink (except medicines) 4 hours before exam.
  • Do not eat or drink anything, except water and Barium preparation, starting 4 hours prior to your exam because it could interfere with results. This includes no candy or gum. It is recommended that the barium be refrigerated for better taste.
  • Take all prescribed medications on the day of your exam unless instructed otherwise.
  • Drink 6-8 glasses of water the day before, and the day of the exam to insure hydration.
  • Refrain from exercise starting 24 hours prior to your exam.
  • If you would prefer not to have to change into a gown, please wear loose, comfortable clothing without accessories (button, zippers, pins, etc.)
  • Please let us know if you have had prior imaging procedures, such as PET, MRI, or CT, so that you can obtain your films prior to your exam.
  • Please let us know if you might be pregnant or are breast-feeding.
  • If you are DIABETIC, please be sure to eat 4-5 hours prior to your exam and take all medications as prescribed. You should bring a snack and your insulin with you to your exam.
  • If patients are diabetic and/or have renal insufficiency, please provide lab (BUN and Creatinine) results performed within the last 3 months.
  • Allow 2 hours for a PET scan.

Ultrasound

Abdominal Ultrasound, Gallbladder Ultrasound

  • Do not eat fatty foods or dairy products the day before the exam.
  • Do not eat or drink (except medicines) after midnight.
  • Do not use an enema.

Pelvic Ultrasound, Obstetrical (OB) Ultrasound

  • Empty bladder 1 hour prior to exam time.
  • Drink 1 quart (32 ounces) of water within 15 minutes of emptying bladder. Then do not empty bladder until exam is completed.

Sonohysterosalpingogram (SonoHSG)

  • Schedule this exam to be performed 7-10 days after the first day of your menstrual cycle.

Vascular and Interventional Radiology

  • Call for a consultation or pre-procedural instructions. Referring physicians are requested to provide history and other pertinent background information on their patients.