Does a CAT Scan Usually Require Barium?

fortune · ‎03-14-2010

My gastroenterologist said I need a CAT scan for abdominal cramps. He mentioned the dye, but didn't talk about barium. I called his office to ask him, but he didn't call back. Now I have to wait until next week. Do CAT scans usually require that you swallow barium? Or do they just inject a dye into the veins?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Abdominal CAT scans usually require you to drink barium.

september · ‎03-09-2010

It depends....

From the Mayo Clinic website:

"A special dye called a contrast material is needed for some CT scans, to help highlight the areas of your body being examined. The contrast material blocks X-rays and appears white on images, which can help emphasize blood vessels, intestines or other structures.

Contrast material might be given to you:

By mouth. If your esophagus or stomach is being scanned, you may need to swallow a liquid that contains contrast material. This drink may taste unpleasant.
By injection. Contrast agents can be injected through a vein in your arm to help your gallbladder, urinary tract, liver or blood vessels stand out on the images. You may experience a feeling of warmth during the injection or a metallic taste in your mouth.
By enema. A contrast material may be inserted in your rectum to help visualize your intestines. This procedure can make you feel bloated and uncomfortable."

gmkb · ‎07-29-2012

I have always been given a bottle by the facility doing the scan. This I take home to drink the morning of, then given another at the facility to drink moments before the test begins.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

In December I wound up in the ER with what I later learned was intestinal MRSA. One of the tests they conducted was an abdominal CT scan. I had to drink two glasses of orange favored [r@p, had to wait awhile, and then went to take the test.

Toppers · ‎01-01-2015

@fortune wrote:
My gastroenterologist said I need a CAT scan for abdominal cramps. He mentioned the dye, but didn't talk about barium. I called his office to ask him, but he didn't call back. Now I have to wait until next week. Do CAT scans usually require that you swallow barium? Or do they just inject a dye into the veins?

I agree with september's answer, in that "it can depend."

I can tell you from my own experience that I have had them done with and without barium, and with and without the dye, too.

I think that it also depends on your medical history too, and what the doctor is looking for with the scan.

I have a history of kidney stones, so that when I have had the scans done, sometimes the Radiologist did not want to stress my kidneys out any more with using the contrast dye, so he would tell the techs. not to use it with me.

He would go by my kidney blood test results to make that decision. So, that was one of the factors involved for me.

When I had a CT scan done with barium, I knew ahead of time so that I could go and pick up the prep. along with the instructions for it, from the hospital.

I was told both by my doctor's office and again by the test scheduling dept. that I would be having the test done with the barium contrast.

ETA: I had this done at our local hospital. This was done as an outpatient test. The prep. is flavored so that it doesn't taste so bad when you drink. It is rather thick.

I was told to think of it "as a milkshake!"

I drank it fast. Mine was pina colada-flavored. It actually didn't taste that bad, to be honest.

CatsyCline · ‎07-24-2013

my mother just had a CT scan and was given clear liquid to drink.

i had an upper GI CT scan and had to drink a thick Barium liquid. thick like a milkshake.

if you have Barium be sure to drink a TON of water after the test and have Magnesium ( or MOM ) or something similar on hand because Barium can cause lower GI distress as it moved through your system, ot gave me excruciating abdominal pain. i did not drink water nor go home after the scan and went shopping. big mistake!

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I have a cat scan in a couple weeks. I was given 2 bottles of barium to drink. They are 16oz each. I have to drink them the day of the scan. I had a choice of banana or berry. I had banana last time and it was okay. I put the bottle in the freezer to get it good and cold and had no trouble drinking it.

The area my scan is targeting is the pelvis. Checking to make sure the cancer is gone.