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X-Ray
What is an X-Ray?
An X-Ray is a way doctors are able to take a look inside your body. Here are just a few of the body parts that an X-Ray can take pictures of: your bones, teeth, lungs and abdomen (stomach area). The X-Ray uses a special box to take the pictures; the pictures that are taken are called radiographs.
Why do I need to have an X-Ray?
You are having an X-Ray because the doctor needs to see pictures of body parts that are inside your body.
What does an X-Ray machine look like?
An X-Ray machine is a big camera. Some X-Ray machines are portable, that means that they can be moved and even be brought to your room to take the picture. There are special flat square boxes that store the picture, just like in a camera. The box is used to help take the pictures with the X-Ray. Depending on what body part is being looked at, the box is placed behind or beside the body part. Once the pictures have been taken, the pictures are shown to the radiologist. He is a special doctor who looks at the X-Ray pictures.
What happens when I have an X-Ray?
A porter will come to bring you to the special room to have the X-Ray. A technologist (the person who will take the pictures) will greet you and explain what will happen. Sometimes the technologist will come to your room with a portable X-Ray machine and take the pictures there.
The technologist will give you a gown to wear. This looks like a backward housecoat. You may already be wearing one. The X-Ray room is usually a little dark; this helps when the pictures are being taken.
Depending on what body part they are taking a picture of, you may be asked to lie down on a bed, sit on a bed or stand up. Sometimes if they stay with you for the x-rays, the technologists will put on special lead vests that are called aprons. They will also put smaller lead blankets over the parts of your body that will not be in the picture. These blankets sometimes can feel a little heavy. The lead blankets and vests are used to help keep the X-Rays only on the body parts that the doctors want pictures of.
Someone like your mom or dad can sometimes stay in the room with you; they will also have to wear a lead vest. The technologist will tell you how to sit or lie down so that they can get the best picture of your body part. They will then put the special box behind or beside the body part. The technologist will then move the X-Ray tube over the part of your body where they will take the picture. A light will shine on your body. The machine may come close to your body, but it will never touch you. You also may here small noises like a humming or clicking coming from the X-ray machine.
The technologist will ask you to stay very still and not move while they go behind a window to press a button to take the picture. Do your best to stay still like a statue while the pictures are being taken. If you are moving when the picture is being taken, the picture will be blurry and they will have to take more pictures. When all the pictures are done, the technologist will take the box and the lead blankets away. The test is very fast. It only takes a few minutes and then you can go back to your room.
What will the X-Ray feel like?
The X-Ray will not hurt. You cannot see, feel or hear the X-Rays. But, you might hear some noises coming from the machine when the pictures are being taken and you will see the light on the machine. Sometimes the special flat square box can feel a little cold when it is beside you. The lead blankets that they put on you can feel a little heavy.
Remember to lie still so they can get a clear picture.
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your X-Ray. Sometimes you may have to do nothing to get ready.
For more information on each x-ray please click on the buttons below.
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
Ultrasound
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is another way doctors are able to take a look inside your body. Invisible sound waves are bounced off the places in your body your doctor needs to check out. You will not feel or hear these sound waves. They show a special type of picture of the part of your body the doctor wants to look at.
Why do I need to have an Ultrasound?
The pictures of your body parts that the doctor needs to see sometimes cannot be seen by an X-Ray, so an ultrasound needs to be used.
What does an Ultrasound machine look like?
An ultrasound machine looks like a computer. The sonographer (the person taking the picture) uses a smooth flat wand and a special gel to take the picture. The gel and wand lets the computer hear the sound waves from your body. The pictures are sent to a special computer for the radiologist to look at. The radiologist is a special doctor who looks at the ultrasound pictures.
What happens when I have an Ultrasound?
A porter will come to bring you to the special room to have the ultrasound. You will have to lift up your shirt so the sonographer can put the gel on your skin. They are very careful to make sure they do not get any gel on your clothes.
The technologist will put gel over the part of your body that the doctor wants to see. Next, she will move the smooth, flat wand over that part of your body. The wand is attached to the computer. While the sonographer moves the wand over your body part, you will be able to see a wavy and fuzzy image on the screen. While she is moving the wand, she will also be touching buttons on the computer?s keyboard. Once the pictures are done, the technologist will wipe the gel off with a soft towel.
What will the Ultrasound feel like?
The ultrasound will not hurt, but it may tickle a little. The gel may feel a little cool and sticky. The wand may press down onto your body a little bit, but it will not hurt. Remember to lie still so they can get a clear picture. Thinking about your favourite thing to do may help you stay still. The sonographer may ask you to take a big breath in and hold it to help get a good picture.
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your ultrasound. Depending on what they are taking a picture of, sometimes you are not allowed to eat anything before the ultrasound.
Other times they will tell you to drink a lot of water. This can help to make the picture they take clearer. While they are moving the wand over your stomach, you may feel that you have to go to the bathroom. If you can, try to hold your pee until the test is done. Don?t be afraid to tell someone if you cannot hold your pee. Once you tell the sonographer, they will do their best of finish taking pictures of your belly so you can go to the bathroom.
Sometimes you may have to do nothing to get ready for an ultrasound.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
MRI
What is a MRI?
A MRI is the short way of saying Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The MRI is a long magnet that takes pictures of inside your body of things that an X-Ray cannot see like your brain and heart. Our bodies have natural magnets in them that send signals to the MRI machine. The MRI takes the signals from the body and shows a special type of picture of the area your doctor wants to look at.
Why do I need to have an MRI?
The MRI takes pictures of inside your body to help the doctors see what is happening inside your body.
What does a MRI machine look like?
The MRI machine looks like a long tunnel with an opening on both ends. There is a bed that moves up and down, it also moves into and out of the tunnel. There are also lights in inside the MRI. The opening into the MRI is big circle.
What happens when I have a MRI?
A porter will come and bring you to the area where you will have the MRI. A technologist (the person who will take the pictures) will greet you and explain what will happen.
You will then get on a bed that moves in and out of the tunnel. Sometimes the technologist will use a special soft belt, like a safety belt to help keep you from moving around. (If you move around when the pictures are being taken, the pictures will be very fuzzy and they will have to retake the pictures. This makes the test much longer then it has to be.) You will also be given a headset to put over your ears while the test is happening. When the MRI is taking pictures, it is very loud. You may hear sounds like knocking, a jack hammer and whirling, this is just the way the machine works. The headset they give you will help you from hearing the sounds, plus if you would like to listen to music during the test, the technologist can put on a CD for you. You will also be able to hear the technologist talking to you through the headset. They will give you a buzzer in your hand that has a button on it, if you need anything from them while the test is happening, you can push the button, and this will let the technologist know that you want to talk to them. When you are ready for the test, the technologist will go into another room, put on your music for you to listen to and watch you from a window. This is where she will be using a computer to tell the MRI to take the pictures. This test can be can be from 30 mins to over an hour. Once the pictures have been taken you are able to go back to your room.
What will the MRI feel like?
The MRI will not hurt. The sounds it makes while the pictures are being taken are very loud. The earplugs and headset they give you helps you to not hear the loud sounds. It is hard having to stay still for a long time, it may help if you close your eyes during the test and try to fall asleep. Remember to lie still so they can get a clear picture. Thinking about your favourite thing to do may help you sit still.
Preparing for the test.
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your MRI. The nurse may also ask you some questions before the test to help you get ready. The MRI machine uses a magnet to take the pictures, so remember not to wear any jewelry or any clothes with any metal on it like buttons and zippers. You are able to eat and drink before your test.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
Cl
Endoscopy
What is an Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a test that takes pictures of your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. These 3 areas are also known as your digestive tract. Scopy means a scope, this helps the doctor to find things, it uses a tiny camera with a light that looks around and takes pictures.
Important Words
- Esophagus: a tube or pipe inside your body that moves food from the back of your throat to your stomach
- Stomach: is attached to your esophagus. This is where the food goes after you have swallowed it
- Small Intestine: breaks down the food you have eaten so that your body can absorb the good parts in food that give you energy and make you grow (like vitamins, protein and carbohydrates)
Why do I need to have an Endoscopy?
The doctor needs to see inside your esophagus, stomach and small intestine to see how it is working and to find out what they need to do to help you. An X-Ray cannot see inside these body parts, so an endoscopy has to be done.
What does an Endoscopy look like?
An endoscopy has a tiny video camera (scope) and a light at the end of a small very flexible tube, there is also a computer and TV screen. The light helps the doctor to see inside your body. The video camera can take a video or pictures of inside your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. These pictures will help the doctor to see what is happening inside your body. There is also a bed that is beside the computer where you will lie down.
What happens when I have an Endoscopy?
A porter will come to bring you to the special room to have the endoscopy. A nurse and gastroenterologist (a doctor who is the expert about your digestive tract) will greet you and explain what will happen.
The nurse will give you a gown to wear, this looks like a backward housecoat, you may already be wearing one. The nurse will help you to get on the bed, she will also tell you to lie on your left side; this is the best way for you to lie down for the test. The nurse may put a blanket over you to keep you warm and make sure you are covered. The nurse will also put a plastic clip onto your finger. This clip does not hurt and it glows red. This clip is called an oximeter and it measures how much oxygen you have in your blood. You will also have a blood pressure cuff put on your arm to measure how fast or slow your blood is moving around your body. The blood pressure cuff will go on and give your arm a little squeeze and then off, relaxing it. This happens a few times during the test.
The nurse will spray a special medicine in your throat, this medicine helps the sides and back of you throat to feel numb so that you will not really feel the tube in you throat.
The doctor will put on hospital gloves. Then he will take the scope and he will place it gently into your mouth and slide it down your esophagus to your stomach. As it is sliding down your esophagus, the doctor will ask you to swallow. You may feel that this is hard, but it will help the tube to go down so that the pictures can be taken. This will feel uncomfortable, but the test will not last long, usually it can be 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
While the doctor is looking in your esophagus and stomach, he will also be taking pictures of it. He may also take a tiny piece of it to look at it more closely, this is called a biopsy. It is important to remember to relax and lie still. Once the test is done, the scope will be removed.
Someone like your mom or dad can stay in the room with you during the test. When it is over, you will rest for a little while and then you will be brought back to your room.
What will the Endoscopy feel like?
The endoscopy will feel uncomfortable when the scope first goes into your mouth and starts to go down your throat. You may feel like you have something stuck in your throat or that you might throw up.
Since the tube is so small, you will still be able to breathe normally. All these feelings are normal, this happens to everyone who has this test. Remember that you will be feeling sleepy during the test..
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your endoscopy. You will be told that you will not be able to eat or drink anything before the test.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
ECG or EKG (Electrocardiogram)
What is an EKG or ECG (Electrocardiogram)?
An EKG is the short way of saying electrocardiogram. The electrocardiogram takes pictures of the electrical activity of your heart and around your body. As your heart works it sends electrical signals around your body. The EKG machine uses these electrical signals to create an electrocardiogram, a picture of your heart activity. The picture can show the doctor how fast your heart beats, and the rhythm (heart beat pattern) of your heart. No matter what you are doing, whether you are running, reading or sleeping, your heart is always working and sending electrical signals.
Why do I need to have an EKG?
When the doctor wants to see how your heart is working, special pictures need to be taken. The EKG takes pictures of the electrical activity in your heart and around your body. It helps the doctor to see how your heart is working, how fast it is beating and the rhythm (heart beat pattern) it makes.
What does an EKG machine look like?
An EKG is a computer that has lots of wires attached to it. It also has a printer attached to it. The wires have a sticky soft tape end that attaches to your chest, arms and legs. There is a bed that is beside the EKG computer, this is where you will lie down. The picture of how your heart beats is printed off to show the doctor.
What happens when I have an EKG?
A porter will come and bring you to the area where you will have the EKG. Sometimes the technologist (the person who will take the pictures) can come to your room to do this test. A technologist will greet you and explain what will happen. You may be given a gown to wear, this looks like a backward housecoat, or you may already be wearing one.
The technologist will ask you to lie down on a bed. She will then use the wires that are attached to the machine and place them on your chest, arms and legs. Small sticky soft pieces of tape are first placed on your chest, arms and legs. The wires called electrodes are then attached to the tape; they measure the electrical signals in your heart. Only the tape touches your skin, the wires do not.
It is important to lie very still on the bed while the test is happening. The test only takes a few minutes. Once it is done, the technologist will remove the soft tape from your chest, arms and legs, and you are able to go back to your room.
What will the EKG test feel like?
An electrocardiogram does not hurt. The tape is a special gentle tape that is less sticky than a regular Band-Aid. All you have to do is to remember to lie still, so that the pictures they take are clear.
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your EKG. There is nothing that you really have to do to get ready for this test.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
Echocardiogram
What is an Echocardiogram?
Echo is the short way of saying echocardiogram. An echo is another test that lets doctors see inside your body. The echo is special since it only takes pictures of your heart. It can show the shape and size of your heart. Just like the name, the echo uses sound waves to take the pictures; it bounces invisible sound waves off of your heart to create a picture of what it looks like. You will not feel or hear these sound waves in your body.
Why do I need to have an Echo?
The doctor needs to see a picture of your heart and the best way to take the picture is to use the echo machine. A regular X-Ray cannot see the heart, so an echo has to be used.
What does an Echo look like?
An echo machine looks like a computer. The technologist (the person taking the picture) uses a smooth flat wand and a special gel to take the picture. The gel and wand lets the computer hear the sound waves from your heart. Once the pictures have been taken, they are printed and shown to the radiologist. He is a special doctor who looks at the pictures.
What happens when I have an Echo?
A porter will come to bring you to the special room to have the echo. A technologist (the person who will take the pictures) will greet you and explain what will happen.
The technologist will give you a gown to wear, this looks like a backward housecoat, you may already be wearing one. You will lie down on a bed beside the computer. The technologist usually turns the lights down so that they can see the pictures on the computer better. Next the technologist will put gel on your chest over the area where your heart is. He or she will move the smooth, flat wand on your skin where the gel is. The wand is attached to the computer. While the technologist moves the wand over your chest, you will be able to see a wavy and fuzzy image on the screen. While the technologist is moving the wand, he or she will also be touching buttons on the computer keyboard.
It is important to remember to stay still, if you move a lot, the picture will not be clear and the test will take longer. The test is usually short and takes about 15-30 minutes. Once the pictures are done, they will be printed off to show the doctor. The technologist will wipe the gel off with a soft towel and then you will be able to go back to your room.
What will the Echo feel like?
The echo will not hurt. The gel may feel a little cool and sticky. The wand may press down onto your skin a little bit, but it will not hurt. Remember to lie still so that the technologist can get a clear picture. Thinking about your favourite thing to do may help you stay still.
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your echo. Sometimes you may have to do nothing to get ready.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
EEG
What is an EEG?
EEG is the short way of saying electroencephalogram. In your brain there are electrical signals being passed around. These signals are called brain waves. The EEG machine measures your brain waves and records them on the computer. The picture looks like wavy lines on the computer screen. No matter what you are doing, whether you are running, reading or sleeping, your brain always has brain waves. The EEG measures these brain waves and shows where they are in your brain and how big the waves are.
Why do I need to have an EEG?
The most common reason people have an EEG is when someone has a seizure or epilepsy, although there may be other reasons. If you are having an EEG, the doctor wants to know what is happening in your brain, and an EEG can help. The EEG measures the brain waves in your brain; it helps the doctor to see how your brain is working and where in the brain the problem is. This helps the doctor decide what is the best medicine or treatment for you.
What does an EEG machine look like?
An EEG is a computer that has lots of wires attached to it. The wires have a sticky end that attaches to your head. There is a bed that is beside the EEG computer, this is where you will lie down.
What happens when I have an EEG?
A porter will come and bring you to the area where you will have the EEG. A technologist (the person who does the test) will greet you and explain what will happen. You may be given a gown to wear, this looks like a backward housecoat, or you may already be wearing one.
The technologist will ask you to lie down on a bed. She will then take the wires that are attached to the machine and place them on your head. The technologist will use a sticky soft tape and gel to help the wires stay in place. These wires are called electrodes; they measure your brain waves.
It is important to lie very still on the bed while the test is happening. Sometimes they will ask you to try to fall asleep so that they can see what your brain does when you are resting. They may also ask you to rest with your eyes open or closed, take breaths really fast or look at a flashing light. The test can take about 45 minutes. When the test is done, the technologist will remove the wires from your head and wipe off the sticky gel.
What will the EEG test feel like?
An electroencephalogram does not hurt. The gel might feel a little cold. The tape is a special gentle tape that is less sticky than a regular Band-Aid. While the test is going on you will be able to see your brain waves on the computer screen.
Preparing for the test
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your EEG.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
CT Scan
What is a CT Scan?
C.T. scan is the short way of saying Computerized Axial Tomography. This test is sometimes also called a CAT Scan. The CT scan uses a special kind of x-ray and a computer to see inside your body. It takes pictures of things that a regular x-ray can not see.
What does the CT machine look like?
The CT is a large machine with a big opening in the middle, like the hole in a donut. The machine has a camera inside. You lie on a narrow bed and the bed moves into the donut hole until the part of your body that the doctor wants pictures of is under the camera. As the machine takes pictures of those parts of your body the bed will move a bit further into the ?donut hole.? It makes buzzing and clicking sounds. The machine does not touch you. After the CT scan is done, the bed moves out of the hole. The technologist will help you off the bed, and you will be brought back to your room.
What happens when I have the CT Scan?
A porter will come and bring you to the area where you will have the CT scan. A technologist (the person who will take the pictures) will greet you and explain what will happen.
You will then get on a bed that moves in and out of the ?donut hole.? Depending on what area the doctor wants pictures of, you may need to be given a contrast. Contrast is a special liquid that will help to highlight the area the doctor wants to see, it will make it look bright in the pictures. The contrast has to go into an IV. You may already have one, if you do not have one, you will need to have an IV. The IV is a small straw that goes into the vein usually in your hand. This is the quickest way to get the highlighter into your body. You will feel a pinch from the poke of the IV, and it may hurt a little. When they put the contrast into the IV, you may feel a cool or stinging sensation from the contrast going in. The technologist will then get you set up on the bed. Once you are ready, the technologist will leave the room and watch you through a window. This is were they will be taking the pictures from. They will still be able to hear and see you, and you will be able to hear them talk to you. Sometimes, someone like a family member can stay with you during the test. They will have to wear a special heavy lead vest. This is for safety reasons.
The technologist might talk to you through a speaker in the next room. You will hear their voice telling you when to hold your breath for a few seconds, when to breathe and when you are finished the test.
What will it feel like?
Having a CT does not hurt. You need to lie very still so the picture won?t be fuzzy. If you are moving a lot they will have to retake the pictures. This will make the test much longer then it has to be. Usually it takes about 30 mins for a CT scan, this also depends on what area of your body is being looked at. It might help to pass the time if you think about your favourite things or count in your head.
Preparing for the test.
Your nurse will give you the information you need to help you get ready to have your CT scan. Depending on what they are taking a picture of sometimes you will not be allowed to eat or drink anything.
Sometimes you may be given a medicine to help you relax if you have a hard time lying still.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
Click below to watch a video about coming to Sickkids for a CT Scan
All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.
Bone Age Test
What is a Bone Age Test?
A Bone Age Test is used to see how your body is growing by looking at your bones in your hand and wrist. To look at the bones in your hand and wrist, an X-Ray is used to take the pictures.
As you grow, your bones grow. Sometimes your bones can grow fast and sometimes they grow slow. The Bone Age gives the doctors information about how fast or slow your bones are growing.
The doctors can even predict how tall you may be when you are an adult by using the information from the Bone age test and how tall you are right now.
Why do I need to have a Bone Age Test?
You are having a bone age test because the doctor needs to check how your bones are growing.
What does a Bone Age machine look like?
An X-Ray machine is used for the Bone Age test. The X-Ray machine is a big
camera. Some X-Ray machines are portable, that means that they can be
moved and even brought to your room to take the picture. There are special flat square boxes that keep the pictures, just like in a camera. The box is used to help take the pictures with the X-Ray machine. Your left hand and wrist is placed on top of the box. The X-ray machine will then be placed over top of your hand with a light that will shine on your hand. The X-ray machine will never touch you so you should not feel anything. Only one picture will need to be taken and then you are all done. Once the picture has been taken, the picture is shown to the radiologist. He is a special doctor who looks at X-Ray pictures.
What happens when I have a Bone Age Test?
A porter will come to bring you to the special room to have the X-Ray. A technologist (the person who will take the pictures) will greet you and explain what will happen. Sometimes the technologist will come to your room with an X-Ray machine on wheels and take the pictures there. The technologist may give you a gown to wear. This looks like a backward housecoat. You may already be wearing one. The X-Ray room is usually a little dark; this helps when the technologist takes the pictures.
The technologists will put on special lead vests that are called aprons. They will also put smaller lead blankets over the parts of your body that will not be in the picture. These blankets sometimes can feel a little heavy. The lead blankets and vests are used to help keep the X-Rays only on the body parts that the doctors want pictures of.
Someone like your mom or dad can stay in the room with you; they will also have to wear a lead vest. The technologist will tell you where to put your hand so that they can get the best picture. The technologist will then move the X-Ray tube over the part of your hand and wrist where they are taking the picture. You will see a light shining on your hand. The technologist will then ask you to stay very still and not move while they go behind a window to press a button to take the picture.
If you are moving when the picture is being taken, the picture will be blurry and they will have to take more pictures. When the picture is done, the technologist takes the film and the lead blankets away. The test is very fast. It only takes a few minutes and then you can go back to your room.
What will the Bone Age Test feel like?
Preparing for the test
There is no preparation for a bone age test. When it is time for the test, remember to relax and stay very still so the picture will be clear. The technologist will remind you to sit very still during the picture.
Remember
If you have any questions about the test, always ask!
This content has been reviewed and approved by health care team members at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. All content is for educational purposes only. For further information, please speak with your health care team.