For Physicians


Patient Preps


The following instructions are routine adult preparations for the listed procedures. Specific exam preparation instructions given by the referring physician supercede any of the below instructions. Often, a known medical condition may cause the ordering physician to deviate from a standard exam prep. Do not hesitate to call your physician or our imaging facilities for any explanations regarding these instructions.

CaroMont Imaging Services/Gaston Radiology is a full-service facility capable of providing for all of your imaging needs. We have four locations with specialized services - CaroMont Imaging Services-Belmont, The Diagnostic Center on Cox Road, The Women's Imaging Center at Summit Place off of Court Drive, and the Radiology Department at Gaston Memorial Hospital

Fluoroscopic Guidelines


  • Fluoroscopic procedures include: Barium Swallow (BaS), Upper GI, Small Bowel, and Barium Enema (BaE)
  • Fluoroscopic procedures are performed at GMH, CIS-Summit, CIS-Belmont and The Diagnostic Center (Cox Rd.)
  • Preps vary due to specific procedures and age of patient

Barium Enema:
  • Patient should pick-up prep sheet instructions and prescription for Colyte two days prior to appointment
  • Patient will be responsible for purchase of Colyte
  • Exam time varies from 1–1 ½ hours

Gastrografin Enema:
  • Prepped (un-prepped – Emergencies)
  • Exam time 1–1 ½ hours

Upper GI (UGI), Small Bowel, Barium Swallow:
  • 16 years of age or older
  • Nothing by mouth after midnight
  • Under 16 years old, scheduling personnel will assist you with the appropriate prep
  • Exam time for UGI or Barium Swallow is about 30-45 minutes
  • Exam time for UGI with a Small Bowel follow through may take several hours


Back to Top

Genitourinary


  • Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

Patient should consume clear liquids only during four hours prior to exam


Inform Scheduler if:
  1. Patient is diabetic
  2. Patient is taking any type of Metformin, i.e. Glucophage, Glucovance, Avandamet, or Riomet as it will have to be suspended after the exam for 48 hours
  3. Allergies or previous reaction to contrast
  4. History of myeloma or other paraprotenemia
  5. History of renal failure, tumor or transplant
  6. Patient has had a Serum Creatinine within the last 10 days, please provide information
  7. Patient’s weight

  • Exam Time: 1-2 hours

Hysterosalpingogram:
  • No prep
  • Performed by Ob-GYN

Voiding Cystouretherogram (VCUG):
  • Procedure performed only at GMH
  • If ordered, renal ultrasound must be done first
  • All patients will require sedation by ordering physician
  • Patients should arrive one hour prior to scheduled exam time


Back to Top

Colonic Motility Study


  • Study takes 7 days and always begins and ends on a Friday

Patient Instructions:
  1. Patient must come to one of the imaging facilities on a Friday to pick up capsules, register and have a scout film taken
  2. Patient will stay on regular diet during test week
  3. Patient should not take laxatives, enemas or suppositories during test week
  4. Patient will swallow a gel capsule at a specified time on Sunday. X-rays will then be performed on the following Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same time of day the capsule was taken.


Back to Top

Ultrasound


Procedures performed at all Imaging locations:
  • Abdominal
  • OB/GYN (need to know how many weeks pregnant)
  • Vascular

Procedures performed at CIS-Summit only:
  • Venous closure evaluation
  • Venous closure procedure
  • Breast ultrasound

* Need to know location of lump


Procedures performed at GMH only:
  • Neonatal heads
  • Infant hips or spine
  • Renal artery
  • Mesenteric artery
  • Venous mapping studies
  • Prostate
  • TIPS procedure
  • Exam time: 45 minutes


Back to Top

Mammography


Screening Mammograms:
  • Performed at all Imaging locations except The Diagnostic Center
  • Medicare patients must be one full year after last exam
  • Inform scheduler if patient has implants
  • Exam time 15 minutes

Diagnostic Mammograms:
  • Performed only at the Women’s Imaging Center-Summit
  • A written physician order is required
  • Provide “clock” position of area of concern
  • Inform scheduler if patient has implants
  • Indicate if ultrasound is needed
  • Exam time is 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours

Diagnostic Breast MRI Imaging

Call 704-671-7729 to schedule


Breast Biopsies:
  • Performed at Women’s Imaging Center–Summit and GMH

Stereotactic Biopsies:
  • Performed at GMH

Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsies:
  • Performed at Women’s Imaging Center–Summit and GMH

MRI Guided Biopsies:
  • Performed at CIS–Summit

Digital Mammography:
  • Performed at all locations except The Diagnostic Center


Back to Top

Digital Bone Density Study


  • Performed at CIS-Summit only 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Thursday
  • No contrast one week prior to study
  • Weight limit 350 lbs
  • Bone density forearm should be ordered for patients over 275 lbs
  • Exam time 30 minutes


Back to Top

Nuclear Medicine


  • Performed at GMH 6:30 am-8 pm, Monday-Friday
  • Weight limit 400 lbs

Biliary Kinevac or Billary EF:
  • Must have recent ultrasound with report of no gallstones Prep:
  • Nothing by mouth 4-hours prior to test (includes gum, mints, etc.)
  • No pain medication 4-hours prior to test
  • No Oxicotin for 24 hours prior to test
  • Exam time 1 ½ to 2 hours

Bone scan:
  • Patient should bring previous X-rays to appointment
  • Patient will receive injection and return in 3 hours for scan
  • Patient will have to stay for 1 hour upon returning for scan

Gastric Emptying:
  • Nothing by mouth after midnight
  • No tobacco products after midnight
  • Inform scheduler if patient is allergic to eggs
  • Exam time 3 to 3 ½ hours

Lung Scan (V/Q):
  • Must have chest X-ray within 24-hours of scan
  • Exam time 45 minutes

Lung Scan quantitative
  • Exam time 45 minutes Lasis Renal
  • Exam time 1 hour

Thyroid Scan:
Prep:
  • Off thyroid medication (the type of medication determines length of time)
  • No IV contrast 4-6 weeks prior to scan
  • Nothing by mouth for 2 hours prior to test
  • Exam time 1 hour

Thyroid Uptake and Scan:
Prep:
  • Off thyroid medication (type medication determines length of time)
  • No IV contrast 4-6 weeks prior to scan
  • Nothing by mouth for 2 hours prior to test
  • Exam time 15 minutes day one; one hour day two

Cardiac Scan:
  • All Nuclear Medicine Cardiac procedures, Myoview or Nuclear Cardiac Stress (Adenosine, Persantine, or Dobutamine)
  • must be scheduled through Cardiopulmonary at GMH (704-834-2161)


Back to Top

PET


  • Performed only at CIS-Summit, 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
  • Weight limit 450 lbs
  • Prep will be discussed at time of scheduling
  • To schedule, call 704-671-7742
  • Patient should plan on 3 hours for prep and exam


Back to Top

CT:


  • Performed at all imaging centers, 8:30 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday (GMH is open 24 hrs. / 7 days / week)
  • Weight limit 450 lbs

Inform scheduler of the following:
  • History of renal failure
  • Renal tumor or tumor transplant
  • History of myeloma or other paraprotenemia
  • If recent serum creatinine, send results
  • If patient is diabetic
  • Patient allergies including previous reaction to contrast
  • Patient weight

CTA:
  • Performed at GMH and Belmont
  • Cardiac scans and CT guided biopsies performed at GMH
  • Exam time 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Calcium Scoring Cardiac Scan performed at GMH


Back to Top

MRI


Due to the strength of the MRI magnet, it is extremely important for patient safety purposes that we get accurate information before performing an MRI.
  • MRI is body part specific
    • Specify the exact area to be scanned

Prior to scheduling an MRI, inform the scheduler of the following:
  • Previous surgery to area
  • History of cancer
  • Metal in body
  • If patient is claustrophobic
  • If the patient has worked around metal (welder, machine shop), he/she must arrive 30 minutes prior to appointment for x-ray (at no charge)
  • Pacemaker-patients cannot have an MRI
  • Patients should bring any films or scans from non- CaroMont Health facilities
  • If patient requires sedation, referring physician should order prescription
  • Patient should bring driver
  • Table weight limits
    • Belmont Open MRI: 440 lbs
    • GMH: 440 lbs
    • CaroMont Imaging Services–Summit: 440 lbs
    • The Diagnostic Center: 300 lbs


Back to Top

Special Procedures


  • To schedule at GMH, call centralized scheduling at 704-834-2941, option 2
  • To schedule at CIS-Summit, call 704-671-7747

Inform scheduler if:
  • Patient is on blood thinner or allergic to contrast

Myelograms:
  • NPO after midnight
  • Inform scheduler of any allergies including any reaction to contrast
  • Must know if patient takes Wellbutrin, Phenegran, Coumadin, Plavix or Aspirin
  • Patient should bring any films from non-CaroMont Health facilities
  • Exam time 1-3 hours

Fistulagram:
  • Inform scheduler where shunt is located
  • Inform scheduler of any allergies including any reaction to contrast
  • Sedation is required
  • Patient should bring driver
  • Exam time 1-1 ½ hours

PICC Line:
  • No prep
  • Placement takes about 1 hour

Perm Cath Placement:
  • Patient should bring driver

Placement takes about 30 minutes Perm Cath Exchange or Removal:
  • Placement takes about 30 minutes

Discogram:
Inform scheduler of the following:
  • If patient takes blood thinning medication (aspirin or coumadin)
  • If patient has allergies
  • Patient should bring any films from non-CaroMont Health facilities

Angiography:
  • Available at GMH only
  • Patient will be given an appointment for a pre-op visit prior to procedure

Nephrostomy:
  • Available at GMH only

Vertebroplasty:
  • Available at GMH only

Venous Closure:
  • Evaluations and procedures performed at CIS-Summit
  • To schedule, call 704-671-7765
  • The venous evaluation takes approximately one hour including discussion of results
  • The venous closure (radio frequency ablation) procedure takes 3-4 hours
  • Patient must bring driver for closure procedure

Back to Top