Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Locations >
  • Hospitals >
  • ... >
  • UPMC Hamot >
  • Our Services >
  • Imaging >
  • Services >
  • Head CT Scan
UPMC Hamot
About Us
Our Services
Audiology
Bariatric Services
Behavioral Health Services
Breast Health
Cancer
Center for Healthy Living
Corporate Health
Critical & Intensive Care
Diabetes Education
Digestive Health
Emergency Department
Endocrinology
Esophageal and Lung Surgery
General Surgery
Health Screenings
UPMC Home Healthcare
Home Medical Supplies
Hospice
Hospitalist
Imaging
Services
Abdominal Ultrasound
Aortic Ultrasound/Sonogram
Breast Ultrasound
Cardiac MRI
Carotid Sonogram
Chest CT Scan
Head CT Scan
Neck CT Scan
Obstetric Ultrasound — 1st Trimester
Obstetric Ultrasound — 2nd & 3rd Trimester
Pelvic Ultrasound
Renal Ultrasound
Venous Doppler Ultrasound
Breast Imaging
Imaging Experts
Breast Imaging Experts
Service for Canadian Residents
Locations
Infectious Diseases
Interventional Radiology
Kidney Transplant
Liver Disease
Neurosciences
Palliative Care
Pediatrics
Physical Therapy
Plastic Surgery
Pulmonology
Robotic Surgery
Sleep Disorders Center
Speech Pathology
Surgery Center
Trauma
Urology
Wound Care
Patients & Visitors
Careers & Training
Locations, Directions, & Parking
Contact Us
UPMC Hamot
About Us
Our Services
Audiology
Bariatric Services
Behavioral Health Services
Breast Health
Cancer
Center for Healthy Living
Corporate Health
Critical & Intensive Care
Diabetes Education
Digestive Health
Emergency Department
Endocrinology
Esophageal and Lung Surgery
General Surgery
Health Screenings
UPMC Home Healthcare
Home Medical Supplies
Hospice
Hospitalist
Imaging
Services
Abdominal Ultrasound
Aortic Ultrasound/Sonogram
Breast Ultrasound
Cardiac MRI
Carotid Sonogram
Chest CT Scan
Head CT Scan
Neck CT Scan
Obstetric Ultrasound — 1st Trimester
Obstetric Ultrasound — 2nd & 3rd Trimester
Pelvic Ultrasound
Renal Ultrasound
Venous Doppler Ultrasound
Breast Imaging
Imaging Experts
Breast Imaging Experts
Service for Canadian Residents
Locations
Infectious Diseases
Interventional Radiology
Kidney Transplant
Liver Disease
Neurosciences
Palliative Care
Pediatrics
Physical Therapy
Plastic Surgery
Pulmonology
Robotic Surgery
Sleep Disorders Center
Speech Pathology
Surgery Center
Trauma
Urology
Wound Care
Patients & Visitors
Careers & Training
Locations, Directions, & Parking
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

CT Scan of the Head (Brain)

UPMC Content 2

About this Exam

A computed tommography (CT) scan is a special computerized x-ray test that allows your doctor to see your organs, bones, and tissues. A CT scan of the head is done to help diagnose various disease processes in the brain. Your doctor or radiologist may request that you receive contrast through a vein in your arm to highlight blood vessels and other areas in your brain.

  • If you will not be receiving intravenous contrast, no prep is required. Please skip to "Day of Exam."
  • If your doctor or radiologist wants you to have intravenous contrast, please follow the instructions in the next section.

Prior to this exam

  • Do not eat anything 4 hours prior to this exam. You may have clear liquids. If you are a diabetic, you need to contact your family physician for instructions on diet and/or medication.
  • If you have an iodine, x-ray dye, or contrast allergy, please contact the radiology nurse at 814-877-6182.
  • If you meet one or more of the following criteria, you will need blood work to evaluate your kidney function prior to this exam. Please contact the ordering physician if you:
    • Are age 65 or older
    • Have diabetes
    • Have a history of multiple vascular surgeries/procedures (for example, open heart surgery, stent placement, or heart catheterization)
    • Are currently receiving chemotherapy
    • Have a history of kidney failure
    • Were born with one kidney OR if you had a kidney removed surgically

Day of Exam

  • For your convenience, we ask that you do not wear earrings, a necklace, or hairpins. Any item that is metal in the area of interest will need to be removed prior to your exam.
  • You should report to Outpatient Registration 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time.

After Your Exam

You can plan on returning to your normal diet and activities. If there are any other instructions, they will be given to you at the time of your exam.

For questions or concerns, please call 814-877-6182.

Your physician should have the results of your exam in two to three working days.

If you need your films or CD for an appointment, please notify the receptionist in Radiology when you arrive.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login