If the examination is to be of greatest value, you must cooperate fully in preparing yourself as outlined. Please follow directions exactly and take only the medication, food and water in the amount shown at the times shown. Note: If you are not properly prepared, you may be rescheduled.

  • IVP
    • Your doctor's office may give you a prep kit or you must come to the Radiology Department at least 2 days before your study to pick up a prep kit and instructions
  • Barium Enema
    • Your doctor's office may give you a prep kit or you must come to the Radiology Department at least 3 days before your study to pick up a prep kit and instructions
  • UGI/Small Bowel Series
    • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before your test.
  • X-Ray Gallbladder Series
    • You must come to the Radiology Department the day before your test to pick up your prep tablets. After taking them, nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day before your test.
  • Steriod Injections in Radiology
    • For the following procedures:
      Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)
      Facet Joint Injections (in CT)
      Sacro-Iliac (SI) Joint Injection (in CT)
      Nerve Root Sleeve Injection (in CT)

      1. Nothing to eat or drink for 2 hours before the procedure
      2. Have someone come with you who can drive them home
      3. Arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled procedure time to complete paperwork and talk to the radiologist.
      4. Medications: No blood thinners or aspirin products for 3 days before procedure, other medications may be taken as usual, even on day of exam.
  • Myelograms
    1. Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the procedure
    2. Have someone come with you who can drive them home
    3. Arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled procedure time to complete paperwork and talk to the radiologist.
    4. You will stay 2-4 hours after procedure
    5. Medications: No blood thinners or aspirin products for 3-5 days before procedure, other medications may be taken as usual, even on day of exam.
  • Thoracentesis/Paracentesis
    1. Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the procedure
    2. Have someone come with you who can drive them home
    3. Arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled procedure time to complete paperwork and talk to the radiologist.
    4. Usually may go home immediately after procedure, if no complaints
    5. Medications: No blood thinners or aspirin products for 3-5 days before procedure, other medications may be taken as usual, even on day of exam.
  • Needle Biopsy (not including breast or superficial biopsies)
    1. Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the procedure.
    2. Have someone come with you who can drive them home.
    3. Arrive 1 hour prior to scheduled procedure time to complete paperwork and labs (if ordered) and talk to the radiologist.
    4. May have to stay 4-6 hours after the study to be monitored.
    5. Medications: No blood thinners or aspirin products for 3-5 days before procedure, other medications may be taken as usual, even on day of exam.
  • Pet and CT
    1. You should NOT eat or drink for at least (6) hours before your scan, except for water only.
    2. Take all prescibed medications on the day of you exam, unless instructed otherwise.
    3. Drink 6-8 glasses ofwater the day before the exam, and several the day of the exam to ensure hydration.
    4. Refrain from exercise for 24 hours prior to your exam.
    5. If you would prefer not to change into a gown, please wear comfortable clothing with no zippers or snaps.
    6. Please bring your prior imaging procedures, such as PET, CT, MRI with you, if possible.
    7. Please inform us ahead of time if you are a DIABETIC, and we will discuss preparation with you.
    8. Please let us know if you might be pregnant or are currently breast feeding.
    9. Please do not bring children or pregnant women with you (due to the radiosctive material that will be injected).
    10. If additional diagnostic CT is ordered, please follow the same preparations as above except do not eat or drink anything past midnight except water.
  • Breast, Thyroid, Prostate
    1. No blood thinners or aspirin for 3-5 days before procedure, other medications may be taken as usual, even on day of exam. Have someone come with you who can drive you home.
  • CT Scans
    • Head, neck or chest C.T. with contrast
      • Nothing to eat or drink at least 4 hours prior to exam.
    • Abdomen and/or pelvis C.T.
      • Your doctor's office may give you the prep bottle(s) or you must come to the Radiology Department at least 1 day before your study to pick up the prep bottles(s) and instructions.
    • C.T. Urography
      • Drink 4,12 -ounce glasses of liquid within 2 hours prior to the study
    • Head without contrast, spine, sinus, extremity, or cardiac scoring C.T.
      • No preparation is neccessary
  • MRI (M.R.I studies need to be scheduled. Some M.R.I. studies need preparation and some risk factors exist. If you have any risk factors, please notify the scheduling personnel)
    • M.R.I Risk Factors
      • Cardiac Pacemaker
      • Intracranial aneurysm clips
      • Cardiac Valve Prosthesis with Ferromagnetic material
      • Metal worker: must come in before appointment to have screening films
      • Claustrophobia
      • Pregnancy
    • M.R.I Preps
      • Abdominal M.R.I.
        • Nothing to eat or drink at least 4 to 6 hours prior to exam.
      • Renal/Kidney M.R.I.
        • Increase fluids (drink 6-8 glasses of water) prior to exam.
      • Arthrogram M.R.I.
        • Nothing to eat or drink at least 2 hours prior to exam
  • Nuclear Medicine
    • Hepatobiliary/Pipida/Hida and Gastric Emptying scans
      • Nothing to eat or drink after midnight before your exam.
    • H.Pylori Bacteria test.
      • Consult with your physician for preparation prior to the appointment.
    • Muga, Meckel's WBC Labeled Scan, Parathyroid, and Lung scans
      • No preparation is necessary.
    • Bone Scan.
      • Drink 18 to 24 ounces of fluids at least 2 hours prior to study.
      • Must return 3 to 5 hours after injection for scan
    • Renal Scan.
      • Drink 18 to 24 ounces of fluids at least 2 hours prior to study.
      • If Captopril Renal Scan, must not take blood pressure medication for 24 hours prior to study.
    • Thyroid Scan.
      • Must be off certain thyroid medications for 6 to 8 weeks prior to study, Please contact the Nuclear Medicine Department if you are taking any thyroid medication.
      • No intravenous CT or X-ray contrast 6 weeks prior to study
  • Ultrasound Imaging
    • Abdomen (including RUQ and LUQ), Aorta, Renal Arteries, Liver, Pancreas, or Gallbladder Ultrasound
      • Nothing to eat or drink 6-8 hours prior to test.
    • Pelvic, Transvaginal, Renal, or Pregnancy Ultrasound
      • Drink 6-8 glasses (8-ounce glass) of water 1 hour prior to your test. Do not empty your bladder, your bladder must be full.
    • Breast, Prostate, Scrotum, Biophysical profile, Sonohystogram, Catotid, Venous Doppler, Thyroid or Soft Tissue Mass Ultrasound, Echocardiogram
      • No preparation is necessary.
  • Women's Center
    • Mammograms
      • Mammograms need to be scheduled.
      • Do not wear any perfumes, deodorant or body talc from the waist up on the day of your appointment
      • Please bring any Mammogram films that you have had taken at another facility for comparison.
    • Bone Density
      • Do not take any Calcium supplements the day of your exam.
    • Stereotactic Breast Biopsies
      • Report 30 to 45 minutes prior to appointment time to hospital registration.
      • No aspirin 24 hours before procedure.
    • Breast Needle Localization.
      • If wire is to be placed by radiologist, report to Women's Center 30 to 45 minutes before procedure.
      • If wire is to be placed by surgeon, report to short stay 30 to 45 minutes before procedure.
      • No aspirin 24 hours before procedure.
  • Cardiac Cath/Special Procedures
    • Hearth Cath or Arteriogram
      • Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before unless your procedure is scheduled for the afternoon and then you may have clear liquid breakfast.
      • Have someone available to drive you home once you are discharged.
      • You doctor's office will schedule a pre-procedure assessment for you with the short stay unit.
      • Speak with your doctor 3 to 5 days before your procedure is scheduled for instructions on taking your medications, especially if you are on Blood Thinners or Medications for High Blood Pressure or Diabetes.
      • Patient will have to stay 2 to 6 hours after procedure.
    • Cardioversion.
      • Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before unless your procedure is scheduled for the afternoon and then you may have clear liquid breakfast.
      • Have someone available to drive you home once you are discharged.
      • You doctor's office will schedule a pre-procedure assessment for you with the short stay unit.
      • Your doctor will determine how long you will stay following the procedure. It could be as long as overnight in the hospital Speak with your doctor 3 to 5 days before your procedure is scheduled for instructions on taking your medications, especially if you are on Blood Thinners or Medications for High Blood Pressure or Diabetes.
Imaging Services / Radiology Main Page
Contact Radiology
Calcium Scoring
PET / CT
Procedures and Preps
Home Page Contact Us Privacy Statement