Procedures

It is important that you tell your own doctor and The Cross Radiology if there is any chance you might be pregnant. This is important information, as it will make a difference in the way the procedure is carried out or a different test altogether might be required. Your safety and that of your unborn child is the number one priority.

On arrival, you are required to complete a consent form, outlining your medical history and allergies.

You may also be asked to remove your pins, chains or other items of jewellery before the examination, as these can sometimes interfere with examination. Although many injections are painless, a local anaesthetic may be given if needed. The whole test should take 10 to 40 minutes, depending on the area being injected. If local anaesthetic is given, you will feel numbness in the area for up to 2 hours. This will affect your mobility.

Our experienced radiologist will specify what kind of procedure was performed and what medication was used. You will be asked to wait for this report after your procedure. If any pathology was taken, they will be sent to pathology for testing. These pathology results will be sent directly to your doctor in 2-3 working days.

There are no known risks with the use of ultrasound. There is a small risk of infection due to the open wound. The procedure can be repeated but no more than three or four times a year to avoid damage to the joints. This will be discussed with you if needed.

The dose of radiation used in a CT scan is generally small and rarely produces harmful effects. If you have many CT scans, there is a slight increase in the lifetime risk of cancer. The small potential risk is balanced against the benefits of picking up serious heart disease. The radiation dose will be kept as low as possible. There is also some risk related to contrast (see Iodinated contrast consumer information sheet).

It is important that you tell your own doctor and The Cross Radiology if there is any chance you might be pregnant. This is important information, as it will make a difference in the way the procedure is carried out or a different test altogether might be required. Your safety and that of your unborn child is the number one priority.

On arrival, you are required to complete a consent form, outlining your medical history and allergies.

For some procedures, you may be asked to change into a gown. You may also be asked to remove your hairclips, earrings, pins, chains or other items of jewellery before the examination, as these can sometimes interfere with examination.

The area to be biopsied will be checked and an area of skin will be cleaned with an antiseptic. You maybe give local anaesthetic to numb the skin and insert a needle to obtain some tissue. Several samples of tissue may be required.

The whole procedure should take 10 to 40 minutes, depending on the area being biopsied.

If local anaesthetic is given, you will feel numbness in the area for up to 2 hours. This will affect your mobility.

The extracted tissue will be sent to pathology for study and the pathologist examines the removed specimen and makes a final diagnosis so that treatment planning can begin.

The results will be sent to your treating doctor to discuss with you. This usually takes 2 to 4 working days.

The doctor believes the benefits to you from having this procedure exceed the risks involved.

The risks and complications with this procedure can include but are not limited to the following.

Common risks and complications include:
- Pain or discomfort at the puncture site. This may require medication.
- Bleeding or bruising may occur. This is more common if you take Aspirin, Warfarin, Clopidogrel (Plavix and Iscover) or Dipyridamole (Persantin and Asasantin).
- Failure of local anaesthetic which may require a further injection of anaesthetic or a different method of anaesthesia may be used.
- Nerve damage, is usually temporary, and should get better over a period of time. Permanent nerve damage is rare.

Less common risks and complications include:
- Infection, requiring antibiotics and further treatment.
- Damage to surrounding structures such as blood vessels, organs and muscles, requiring further treatment.
- Excessive bleeding from the puncture site. This may require other treatment and/or corrective surgery.
- An allergy to injected drugs, requiring further treatment.
- (Breast biopsies only) Pneumothorax, a collection of air around the lining of the lungs. This usually stops by itself but sometimes may require a tube to be inserted into the chest.
- The biopsy procedure may not obtain enough tissue and may need to be repeated at a later date.
- The procedure may not be possible due to medical and/or technical reasons.

Rare risks and complications include:
- Seizures and/or cardiac arrest due to local anaesthetic toxicity.
- Death as a result of this procedure is very rare.

It is important that you tell your own doctor and staff at the radiology facility where you are having the CT if there is any chance you might be pregnant. This is important information, as it will make a difference in the way the CT is carried out or a different test altogether might be required. Your safety and that of your unborn child is the number one priority.

On arrival, you are required to complete a consent form.

Please let us know if you take blood-thinning medication for example Aspirin, Warfarin, Debigatran or Clopidogrel, or if you have any allergies.

You will be required to change into a gown.

You may also be asked to remove your pins, chains or other items of jewellery before the examination, as these can sometimes interfere with examination.

You will lie face down on the CT examination table. The procedure is performed under sterile conditions with the skin in the area to be injected cleansed. CT imaging is used to accurately locate the area to be injected and to guide the needle. The whole test should take 20 to 30 minutes.

You may experience some soreness or bruising at the needle site and, rarely, minor muscle spasm. You may also experience temporary numbness in the area for up to 2 hours due to the extra pressure of the injection solution in you facet joint. This will affect your mobility.

The dose of radiation used in a CT scan is generally small and rarely produces harmful effects. If you have many CT scans, there is a slight increase in the lifetime risk of cancer. The small potential risk is balanced against the benefits of picking up serious injury or disease. The radiation dose will be kept as low as possible, especially if you are pregnant or very young. If you had the contrast, there is also some risk related to this (see Iodinated contrast consumer information sheet).

It is important that you tell your own doctor and staff at the radiology facility where you are having the CT if there is any chance you might be pregnant. This is important information, as it will make a difference in the way the CT is carried out or a different test altogether might be required. Your safety and that of your unborn child is the number one priority.

On arrival, you are required to complete a consent form.

Please let us know if you take blood-thinning medication for example Aspirin, Warfarin, Debigatran or Clopidogrel, or if you have any allergies.

You will be required to change into a gown.

You may also be asked to remove your pins, chains or other items of jewellery before the examination, as these can sometimes interfere with examination.

You will lie face down on the CT examination table. The procedure is performed under sterile conditions with the skin in the area to be injected cleansed. CT imaging is used to accurately locate the area to be injected and to guide the needle. The whole test should take 20 to 30 minutes.

You may experience some soreness or bruising at the needle site and, rarely, minor muscle spasm. You may also experience temporary numbness in the area for up to 2 hours due to the extra pressure of the injection solution in you facet joint. This will affect your mobility.

The dose of radiation used in a CT scan is generally small and rarely produces harmful effects. If you have many CT scans, there is a slight increase in the lifetime risk of cancer. The small potential risk is balanced against the benefits of picking up serious injury or disease. The radiation dose will be kept as low as possible, especially if you are pregnant or very young. If you had the contrast, there is also some risk related to this (see Iodinated contrast consumer information sheet).