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Radiology

Frequent MRI/CT Orders - Exams and Indications

MRI

CT

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

CT Chest - Most Frequent

Chest CT with IV contrast:


1. To evaluate lung masses or abnormalities
seen on chest X-Rays, 2. For the evaluation of
suspected primary lung cancer, 3. For the
evaluation of a suspected mediastinal
mass, or 4. For the evaluation of suspected lung
abscess and/or empyema

*IF PATIENT HAS HISTORY OF CANCER PLEASE ORDER EXAM WITH


AND WITHOUT CONTRAST
*IF PATIENT HAS CARDIAC STENTS OR ANEURYSM CLIPS PLEASE
REQUEST THAT THE PATIENT BE IMAGED ON A 1.5T SCANNER
*IF PATIENT HAS PACEMAKER AND AN MRI IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY, PLEASE CONTACT RADIOLOGIST PRIOR TO ORDERING
EXAMS

MRI Brain

Without Contrast
1. Headache, 2. Dizziness, 3. Confusion,
or 4. Stroke

Chest CT without contrast:


1. For the surveillance of lung nodules, 2. For the
initial assessment of a solitary pulmonary nodule,
3. For evaluation of the trachea and central
bronchi for masses, pneumothorax, and malacia.

MRI Orthopedic

All Orthopedic exams are usually Without


Contrast unless looking for a tumor or
previous cancer or infection

With and Without Contrast


1. Tumor, or 2. MS

CT Chest - Less Frequent

High resolution chest without contrast:


1. To evaluate for interstitial lung disease (ILD)

MRI Spine

All Spines Without Contrast


1. HNP, 2. Pain, 3. Extremity weakness,
3. Tenderness, or 4. Cauda equina
All spines with and without contrast
1. Abscess, 2. Tumor, 3. MS, or 4. Prior spine
surgery

MRI Abdomen

All abdomens have with and without


contrast unless the patient is on dialysis
1. Please contact Radiologist for
advice

Chest CT with IV contrast for PE:


1. Pulmonary angiography for the detection
of pulmonary embolism

Radiology Reading Room Telephone Numbers


Body
Chest
Mammo
Musculoskeletal
Neuro
General US
OB US
Nuclear Medicine

healthcare.utah.edu/radiology

(801) 581-2629
(801) 585-2960
(801) 587-4309
(801) 587-8040
(801) 585-2173
(801) 585-3989
(801) 585-2894
(801) 587-7921

CTA Chest with Contrast - Consult


Radiologist First
CTA of Chest:
1. CT aortography for the evaluation of
the aorta following signifcant blunt
chest trauma, 2. Acute aortic syndromes
(aortic dissection; acute intramural
hematoma; penetrating atherosclerotic
ulcer), or 3. aortic aneurysm.

Radiology

Frequent CT Orders - Exams and Indications

CT Body - Most Frequent

Abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast:


1. For a general evaluation of all abdominal
organs, 2. Evaluate for general abdominal pain,
3. To look for, evaluate, or follow up cancer,
4. To evaluate hernia, or 5. Post trauma for injury
to the organs
Abdomen and pelvis without contrast:
1. To look for kidney stones, or 2. When there is a
contraindication to injection of iodine (Allergies
or poor kidney function)

CT Neuro - Most Frequent

Head CT without contrast:


1. To evaluate for headaches, 2. Post trauma for
injuries/bleed, 3. Post op evaluation, or 4. Shunt or
other placements
Soft tissue neck with IV contrast:
1. To evaluate for neck masses, 2. Any kind of soft
tissue pathology in the neck area, or 3. To evaluate
for neck or facial swelling and redness

CTA of head with IV contrast:


1. To evaluate arteries in brain for possible
aneurysms and/or blockage, or 2. To evaluate
for stroke
CTA of neck with IV contrast:
1. To evaluate arteries in the neck for possible
aneurysms and/or blockage, or 2. To evaluate
for stroke

Sinuses without contrast:


1. To look for or evaluate acute or chronic sinusitis

Facial CT without contrast:


1. Trauma to look for facial bones fracture, 2.
Post op or pre op for surgery planning, and
evaluating hardware

Dual phase liver with pelvis with IV and oral


contrast:
1. To look for or evaluate liver masses, 2. HCC,
3. Elevated FTEs, or 4. Liver failure

C-Spine without contrast:


1. Trauma to look for fracture and injury, 2. Post op
to evaluate hardware or interval changes, or 3. To
evaluate for DDD or any narrowing

T-Bones without contrast:


1. Hearling loss, 2. Ear pain, or 3. Trauma,
suspect fracture in temporal region

Dual phase pancreas with pelvis with IV and


oral contrast:
1. To look for or evaluate pancreatic masses

T-Spine without contrast:


1. Trauma to look for fracture and injury, 2. Post op
to evaluate hardware or interval changes, or 3. To
evaluate for DDD or any narrowing

CT Body - Less Frequent

CT Enterography with IV and oral contrast:


1. To evaluate Crohns disease, or 2. Evaluate
small bowel for polyps
CTA abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast
(CT angiogram):
1. AAA, 2. AAA endograph for leak, 3. To evaluate
for ischemic bowel, or 4. To evaluate for
abdominal aortic dissection

CT Body - Consult Radiologist First


Abdomen and pelvis with and without IV
contrast:
1. To look for or evaluate renal masses

L-Spine without contrast:


1. Trauma to look for fracture and injury, 2. Post op
to evaluate hardware or interval changes, or 3. To
evaluate for DDD or any narrowing

CT Neuro - Less Frequent

Head CT with and without IV contrast:


1. Usually done when there is a contraindication
to doing an MRI, 2. To evaluate tumors and
pathology, or 3. HIV positive patients to evaluate
brain

CT IVP with IV and oral contrast:


1. Hematuria, or 2. UTI

healthcare.utah.edu/radiology

CT Neuro - Consult Radiologist First

C-Spine with IV contrast:


1. Usually done when MRI is contraindicated,
or 2. To evaluate spinal tumors and their effect
on bony parts
T-Spine with IV contrast:
1. Usually done when MRI is contraindicated,
or 2. To evaluate spinal tumors and their effect
on bony parts
L-Spine with IV contrast:
1. Usually done when MRI is contraindicated,
or 2. To evaluate spinal tumors and their effect
on bony parts
Facial CT with IV contrast:
1.To evaluate for facial swelling and redness.

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