“Are CT scans claustrophobic?”
I am a 30 year old female. I want to know if CT scans are claustrophobic?
4 Answers
A CT scan for the most part is not claustrophobic for the majority of patients. This phenomenon is more likely in patients undergoing MRI.
They usually aren’t. The tubes are shorter than MRI, and the time you need to be inside the tube is much shorter.
CT scans are wide open. Rarely to no patients complain of claustrophobia. Few complaints include back or neck pain in those patients with spine issues.
CT scans generally don't have to put a whole person in a hole at the same time, so people with claustrophobia generally do well with CT scans - which is different than MRI, which has a much greater problem with claustrophobia. Also, since CT scans can be done in 30 seconds, most people can tolerate going through the CT scanner, since it is less than a minute. I have seen people with such severe claustrophobia that they could not go through the CT scanner, but this is extremely rare. I have only seen in twice in my 30 year career, but certainly it can happen.
