Archives: Services

X-Ray

What is an X-Ray?

An X-Ray (radiograph) is a special image that uses radiation to create pictures of bones and other internal tissues in your body. Qscan uses state-of-the-art digital X-Ray equipment, resulting in a reduced amount of radiation for excellent image quality.

Do I need to prepare for my X-Ray?

A basic X-Ray does not require any special preparation. Metal objects such as watches, keys, coins, and jewellery will show up on the X-Ray. This can affect the images, so they will need to be removed before your X-Ray. You may be provided with a gown to wear instead of your own clothes, as some materials and prints will show up on the X-Ray.

What happens during an X-Ray?

You will be asked to stand or lie down in different positions that allow the best digital image of the body part of interest. During the X-Ray, you will be asked to remain as still as possible or hold your breath to improve the quality of the images. As is the case with a regular photograph, any movement will appear blurry and may require the X-Ray to be repeated. There are no after-effects from a general X-Ray. You will be able to go about your normal activities immediately following your X-Ray.

It only takes a few minutes to X-Ray each body part. You may need to wait while the images are reviewed by a Qscan Radiologist to see if any further images are required.

Are there any risks associated with an X-Ray?

Having an X-Ray will expose your body to a very low level of radiation. However, health experts have determined that X-Rays present minimal risk to your health and that this risk is outweighed by the benefits of your having an X-Ray. No radiation remains in your body after an X-Ray. If you are pregnant or think that you may be pregnant, tell your doctor and Qscan staff, as x-rays can potentially affect an unborn baby.

How much will my X-Ray cost?

All X-Rays are bulk billed* (no out of pocket expense to the patient) to Medicare, provided all Medicare eligibility requirements have been met. All Qscan clinics offer X-Ray and accept walk-in appointments for this service**.

Our customer service team will be able to advise you of all costs involved with your X-Ray including any out-of-pocket costs (if relevant).

After your X-Ray, your report and images will be sent electronically to your doctor.

*X-Ray appointments may incur a fee at select clinics on weekends.

**Does not apply to Envision
Medical Imaging and Alpenglow
Australia clinics  – please visit their websites for more information.

Ultrasound

What is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound scan is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of internal body structures. Ultrasounds do not use ionising radiation, do not have any known risks, side effects or complications, and is considered very safe.

They have a wide range of applications and are commonly used for obstetric imaging; small parts imaging, including the breast, neck, and testes; abdominal and pelvic imaging; and musculoskeletal and vascular imaging. An ultrasound can also be used for guiding procedures like needle biopsies and injections, as it provides detailed, real-time information in the form of a moving image.

For more information on a specific scan please see the ultrasound menu items on this page.

Do I need to prepare for my Ultrasound?

All ultrasound patients are advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment time with their doctor’s referral or request form.

If you have a child under the age of 6, they will need to be supervised by an adult other than the patient. To ensure the examination is conducted accurately, children will not always be permitted in the room during an ultrasound. For more information, please visit this link by kidspot.com.au. 

What happens during an Ultrasound?

Images are generated with the use of a small hand-held ultrasound transducer. High-frequency sound waves, not audible to the human ear, are transmitted to the area of interest and the reflected signal is converted into an image. Qscan’s specialist Radiologists then review these images for diagnostic purposes.

How long will my Ultrasound take?

Your scan time will vary depending on the complexity of the requested examination. Most simple ultrasound scans take approximately 15-20 minutes; however, more time is required for complex studies such as certain obstetric or vascular imaging.

When the scan is complete, you may need to wait while our Radiologist reviews the obtained images. Occasionally, further imaging may be required. Your Sonographer will advise you if this is the case.

How much will my Ultrasound cost?

All Qscan clinics offer ultrasound. The cost of your ultrasound depends on several factors, including the type of scan that has been requested. Please advise our friendly customer service team if you are a pension or health care cardholder, and will be able to advise you of all costs involved with your ultrasound, including any out-of-pocket costs (if relevant).

If your doctor has requested more than one ultrasound, these may need to be booked on separate days due to Medicare or different preparation requirements.

Our Customer Service Team will be able to advise you of all costs involved with your ultrasound including any out-of-pocket cost (if relevant).

After your ultrasound, your report and images will be sent electronically to your doctor.

Other Types of Ultrasound

Types of Ultrasound

  • General Ultrasound
  • Echocardiogram
  • Obstetric (Pregnancy)
  • Mammography
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Vascular (veins and arteries)
  • Paediatric (children)
  • Interventional (Ultrasound-Guided Procedures)

General Ultrasound

Abdominal Ultrasound
Upper abdominal scans encompass the liver, pancreas, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and aorta. If your doctor has requested a scan of these structures, you will need to fast.

For adults, no food or liquid (other than sips of water) is permitted for 6 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time.

Children are required to fast for 4 hours. An early morning appointment is recommended.

Renal Ultrasound
Renal ultrasound scans assess the kidneys, bladder, and prostate (in men).

You will be required to fast for 4-6 hours prior to your appointment.

We recommend you drink 1 litre of water an hour before your exam, and only empty your bladder after you have had your ultrasound.

Pelvic Ultrasound
Pelvic ultrasound scans assess the uterus and ovaries in women.

We recommend that you drink 750mL of water an hour before your exam, and only empty your bladder after you have had your ultrasound.

Thyroid, Testicles, Breast, and Small Part Ultrasounds
For these types of ultrasounds, no preparation is required.

Obstetric Ultrasound (Pregnancy)

Obstetric Ultrasound
Qscan offers dating scans, Nuchal Translucency Screening Tests, morphology, and third-trimester scans. For full details on preparation requirements and scan information, please download the Patient Information Flyer PDF on this page.

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Qscan specialises in musculoskeletal ultrasound. This type of imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints throughout the body. It is used to help diagnose sprains, strains, tears, and other soft tissue conditions. This is a safe, non-invasive procedure, and does not use ionising radiation.

Vascular Ultrasound

Vascular Ultrasound
Vascular ultrasounds are also known as duplex studies. They are non-invasive and used to examine the circulation in the blood vessels of the body. They can also be used to evaluate arteries or veins in most parts of the body, including blood vessels in the neck, abdomen, arms, and legs.

Certain vascular ultrasounds require specific preparation. These details will be provided to you at the time of booking.

Paediatric Ultrasound (Children)

Paediatric Ultrasound
Qscan offers a range of ultrasounds for paediatric purposes, including abdominal, paediatric spine, paediatric hip, and paediatric head ultrasounds.

Interventional (Ultrasound-Guided Procedures)

What is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology (abbreviated to IR or VIR for Vascular and Interventional Radiology) is a medical subspecialty of radiology that uses minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases. It can be used in nearly every organ system, including but not limited to the vascular, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, genitourinary, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and central nervous systems.

Interventional radiology uses the latest technology in diagnostic imaging to diagnose and treat patients using the least invasive techniques available. This minimises risk, improves health outcomes, and decreases overall recovery time. These procedures can be performed using CT scan or ultrasound. The type of intervention requested will determine whether you are having a CT scan, ultrasound, or fluoroscopy-guided procedure.

Computed Tomography (CT)

What is a CT scan?

Computed Tomography (CT) uses an x-ray machine and advanced computer programs to create two and three-dimensional images of your body. CT is an essential imaging modality that utilises the latest and most advanced medical technology to detect and assist with the diagnosis of many conditions.

Do I need to prepare for my CT scan?

If required, preparations can include being well hydrated, fasting for two hours prior to your scan, or blood tests. One of our friendly customer service team members will inform you of any specific preparations required for your CT scan when you make your booking.  

Some abdominal and pelvic CT scans may require you to arrive at our Qscan clinic 75 minutes prior to your actual scan time. This is to ensure sufficient time for you to drink 1 litre of concentrated liquid prior to the commencement of your scan. This liquid is an oral contrast and is used in scans that require imaging of the stomach and/or bowel.

Metal objects such as watches, keys, coins, and jewellery will show up on a CT scan. This can affect the images, so they will need to be removed before your CT scan. You may be provided with a gown to wear instead of your own clothes, as some materials and prints will show up on the CT scan.

If you are pregnant or think that you may be pregnant, please inform the customer service team member when you book your appointment, as alternative medical imaging may need to be arranged.

What happens during a CT scan?

During your scan, you will lie on a long table that moves through a doughnut-shaped CT scanner. The CT scanner is not an enclosed tunnel and for most examinations, your head will remain outside of the machine.

It is important to remain still and follow the instructions given to you at the start of your scan. You may be required to hold your breath for 5 -10 seconds at various stages throughout your examination to help with image quality.

How long will my CT scan take?

The timing of your scan will depend on the examination you are having. The actual scan may only take a matter of seconds; however, more time is allotted so the technician can position you properly on the CT table. The technician will also provide you with additional instructions before the scan commences.

Most examinations take no more than 5 – 20 minutes. If you have any questions, you will be able to talk to the Qscan CT technician at all times during your scan.

How much will my CT scan cost?

Our customer service team will be able to advise you of all costs involved with your CT scan including any out-of-pocket-costs. Many CT scans can be bulk billed, provided all Medicare eligibility requirements are met.

After your CT scan, your report and images will be sent electronically to your doctor.

 

 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

What is an MRI scan?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI scans use a strong magnetic field and low energy radio waves to create high-resolution images of selected anatomy. It highlights any relevant pathology or injury present with exquisite and precise detail.

Do I need to prepare for my MRI scan?

At the time of booking and on arrival, you must complete a safety questionnaire. This is to ensure your safety, as patients who have certain metal implants may be at risk of either damage to their implant or themselves. Many metal implants have been tested and are safe to enter the room, but others, like pacemakers, can be very dangerous.

The safety questionnaire forms a critical part of preparations for your MRI scan, and you will be asked the same questions at multiple stages during your booking to make sure you are safe to enter the room. Please be patient in answering these questions, as your safety is paramount at Qscan.

In most cases, there is no other special preparation for an MRI scan. For some specific scan applications, you may be asked to follow special instructions. If required, a staff member will advise you of this at the time of booking.

Metal objects such as watches, keys, coins, and jewellery cannot be taken into the MRI room. The magnet that powers the MRI machine is extremely powerful and can pull these objects towards it with great force or cause them to heat up, both of which have the potential to cause you serious damage.

The magnet will also erase any cards with magnetic strips such as bank or credit cards, and damage most electronic and mechanical devices, including phones and watches. Jewellery made of conductive materials is at risk of heating; some precautions can be taken if you cannot remove your jewellery. However, it is best to wear as little jewellery as possible when you arrive.

If you wear clothing with metal studs or clips, you will be asked to change into one of our gowns for your own safety. Some examinations may also require you to wear a gown to allow the MRI Radiographer to capture the best images.

You will be given a full explanation of the procedure by the Qscan MRI Radiographer performing your examination. Please feel free to ask questions if you have any concerns about this process.

What happens during an MRI scan?

The MRI machine looks like a large tube with a short tunnel through the centre. You will be asked to lie down on a movable table that slides into the opening. You will be monitored from our console room through a window where you can talk to the Radiographer by microphone between scans. There is also an emergency alarm available if you need any assistance during your scan.

The procedure is painless. An antenna, which receives image signals from your body, will be placed around the region of interest. This region will be moved to the centre of the MRI scanner for the duration of the scan. You will be provided with ear protection prior to the commencement of the scan, as the machine generates a loud rhythmic array of sounds, which can vary from 2-4 minutes at a time.

It is important you feel comfortable, calm, and relaxed, as you will be asked to remain as still as possible for the duration of the scan. This will allow the Radiographer to capture images of maximum quality.

If you are worried about feeling claustrophobic inside the MRI machine, please talk to your referring doctor beforehand. You may receive a sedative before the scan (if needed).

In some cases, a contrast material called gadolinium may be injected through an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your hand or arm. This contrast material helps to enhance the appearance of blood flow details during the examination.

Are there any risks associated with an MRI scan?

MRI scans does not use ionising radiation and are considered very safe for patients, especially if you need multiple scans. Qscan MRI scanners use the latest available state-of-the-art technology to produce world-class MR imaging quality.

MRI itself has no known harmful effects but is not recommended during pregnancy unless under special circumstances. Contrast injections are not advised during pregnancy or while breastfeeding unless specifically required. These potential risks will be discussed if necessary.

How long will my MRI scan take?

Depending on the region being scanned, the time required to complete and set up the scan may vary from patient to patient.

MRI scans for most regions of the body should take up to 20-25 minutes once everything is prepared and set up. If you require scans for multiple regions of your body, you will be repositioned with the antenna around the new region of interest before the scanning process restarts.

How much will my MRI scan cost?

The cost of your MRI scan depends on several factors, including the type of scan that your doctor has requested, how many regions of the body require imaging, the duration of the scan(s), and the specialty of your referring doctor.

Our customer service team will be able to advise you of all costs involved with your MRI scan including any out-of-pocket costs.

Following your scan, your report and images will be sent electronically to your doctor.