The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. If a dye is needed to increase the contrast between different tissues or organs, it is administered by injection into a vein. The injection may sting, and the injection site may be tender to the touch for several minutes. After the injection, there may be a warm or flushed feeling for a few seconds. The X-rays are painless, and the test is only mildly uncomfortable.
Some people experience claustrophobia or anxiety when placed within the scanner.
If you usually becomes anxious when in an enclosed area, inform the technician before the test. During pregnancy , a thoracic CT scan is not recommended unless the benefits outweigh the risk of radiation exposure to the fetus. CT scans provide low levels of radiation. The most common dye used is iodine-based. A person who is allergic to iodine may experience nausea , sneezing , vomiting , itching , or hives .