Bernice D. Griffith, MD

Thank you for your question. What type of CT scan are you scheduled for?
Thyroid cancers are usually picked up and confirmed on an ultrasound of the thyroid with fine needle aspiration of the suspicious nodule. If positive it is followed by Lymph node mapping prior to surgery. Now if there is a high suspicion of metastatic spread to the chest - Yes a CT scan would be helpful for further evaluation. Remember many of these tests are complimentary. I do hope this has helped in some small way. Have a discussion with your PCP/ endocrinologist to help you to choose the correct options for your specific case. Be well and stay safe.

Thank you for your question. Please bear in mind the different types of arthritis. Yes, an X-ray will show arthritic change depending on the type and stage of the process.
Be well and be safe.

Dr. G

Thank you for your question. It depends on the part of the body being scanned. For head and neck- yes. For chest and abdomen - no unless it is medically necessary. Extremities - it depends on the body part. I do hope this has helped in some small way.

Thank you for your question. The length of the scan depends on the answer the referring physician is seeking. There are different requests, however, using the modern machines - in general, on average, it is less than 10 mins. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you for your question. Yes, one can have an allergic reaction to IV contrast. This will be explained to you before it is administered. Ask all of the question that are pertaining to you and your health before giving consent.

Thank you for your question. Yes it can show bronchitis.

Thank you for your question. Other machines include the ultrasound and the MRI. For metastatic disease, a CT scanner can be used.

Thank you for your question.
At this age, the standard of care is a mammogram with the optional 3D images. If there is a suspicious finding, an ULTRASOUND would be the next step. If further evaluation is necessary, an MRI of the breast may prove helpful. Ultimately a biopsy, etc. Feel free to discuss all options with your referring physician.
Hope this helped in a small way.

Q: Can chest X-ray detect lung diseases?
A: Definitely. chest X-rays are the work horses in the preliminary workup. Then, depending on the results, if further evaluation is needed, a CT scan of the chest would be helpful.

Thank you for your question. In general, X-rays will show old fractures. There are a few exceptions, for example, if the fractures occurred in skeletally immature (kids) patients. Sometimes those healed fractures are more difficult to see since the bone is actively growing. A comparison to your old X-rays would prove helpful to determine interval change.
I do hope this helps. Do feel better.