When your healthcare provider recommends you get a cervical spine CT scan, it means they want to take highly detailed images of your back, so they can find the source of your symptoms. The cervical spine, made up of the seven small vertebrae at the top of your spine, plays a crucial role in supporting your head and protecting your spinal cord.
A cervical spine CT is highly accurate, non-invasive, and relatively quick and easy for most people. The results from your CT scan will tell your doctor how to best treat your condition, and help guide a treatment plan customized to your needs, so you can get some relief.
We’ll show you how a cervical spine CT scan detects injuries, fractures, arthritis, degenerative conditions, nerve compression, and spinal instability, as well as what you can expect from your CT scan.
Checking for injuries and fractures in the cervical spine
Any injury or fracture to your cervical spine area can have serious consequences, so getting clear and detailed images is essential for an accurate diagnosis. A cervical spine CT scan is especially useful if you’ve experienced trauma, like a fall or car accident, or if you’re experiencing neck pain or other symptoms that suggest a potential injury.
What kinds of injuries can a cervical spine CT scan detect?
A cervical spine CT scan can detect injuries to the bones in your neck, including fractures, dislocations, and damage from conditions like arthritis. A CT scan can pick up on even small fractures or other injuries that might be harder to spot with other diagnostic tools.
If you’ve had a sudden injury or ongoing neck pain, then your healthcare provider might suspect a fracture or other structural problem in your spine. These conditions can cause pain or put pressure on the nerves in your neck, leading to symptoms like tingling, weakness, or numbness in your arms or hands.
How does a CT scan help my provider to diagnose a fracture?
A cervical spine CT scan works by taking multiple X-ray images from different angles, and then combining them to create highly detailed, cross-sectional images of the bones in your neck.
These images show your healthcare provider the structure of your vertebrae in very fine detail, helping them identify even the smallest cracks or breaks. With these detailed images, your provider can assess the severity of any fracture, and determine the best course of treatment for you.
Detecting arthritis and other degenerative changes to the spine
Arthritis and other degenerative changes can happen naturally as we age, or as a result of wear and tear on the spine over time. A cervical spine CT scan helps your provider assess whether these degenerative changes could be contributing to any symptoms you’re experiencing.
How can a cervical spine CT scan detect arthritis or other degenerative changes?
In cases of arthritis, a cervical spine CT scan is able to reveal bone spurs, joint space narrowing, and other signs of wear on the vertebrae and surrounding tissues. These changes can be painful, make your back stiff, and leave you with a limited range of motion–all common symptoms of arthritis in the spine.
CT scans are especially useful for seeing these bony structures because they provide clear, cross-sectional images. This allows your doctor to see the exact location of the arthritis, and extent of the damage it has caused, giving them a much clearer picture of your condition than they could get from a physical exam alone.
What are degenerative changes to the spine? How does a cervical spine CT scan show these changes?
Degenerative changes to your spine are the natural breakdown of the bones, discs, and joints that make up your spinal column, over the course of your life. Over time, these structures can lose their flexibility, cushioning, and support, which can lead to conditions like degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.
A cervical spine CT scan shows these degenerative changes by capturing detailed images of your vertebrae and discs. If your provider suspects degenerative disc disease, the scan can show thinning discs, or other changes that indicate a loss of cushioning between your vertebrae. This scan can also highlight areas where your spinal canal has narrowed, helping to pinpoint where nerve compression might be happening.
Evaluating nerve compression and structural instability in the spine
Cervical spine CT scans are an excellent choice for getting an accurate and detailed look at the nerves, discs, and bones of your back. By identifying problems like pinched nerves or instability in the spine, your provider can better understand what’s causing symptoms, and create the most helpful treatment plan for your specific condition.
What can a cervical spine CT scan reveal about a pinched nerve?
Cervical spine CT scans reveal whether any of the structures in your neck are pressing on the nerves that travel from your spinal cord to the rest of your body. A pinched nerve can happen when a disc slips out of place, or when bone spurs or other growths narrow the spaces where nerves exit the spine.
The detailed images from a CT scan allow your doctor to see exactly where and how the nerves might be getting compressed, whether it’s due to a slipped disc, a bone spur, or narrowing of the spinal canal. With this information, your provider can determine the extent of the problem, and how it’s impacting your symptoms. Based on what they find, your provider will recommend the most effective treatment to relieve the pressure on your nerves.
How does a cervical spine CT scan show structural problems like disc herniation and spinal instability?
Structural problems in the spine, like disc herniation and spinal instability, can be difficult to diagnose without detailed images. A cervical spine CT scan is particularly helpful in showing these issues because it reveals if your discs are misaligned, displaced, or moving abnormally. If a disc has pushed out of its normal position and is pressing on surrounding nerves, which is called a herniated disc, your CT scan will clearly show where this is happening.
If your spine has any excessive movement between the vertebrae, the scan will help your provider see how the bones are shifting, or if they’re not properly supporting your neck. These detailed images are crucial for diagnosing issues like disc herniation or instability, which can cause pain, and even interfere with your daily life.
What you can expect during your cervical spine CT scan
When it’s time for your cervical spine CT appointment, the healthcare team at your American Health Imaging center will do everything they can to make sure you’re comfortable, and that you get the most accurate results available. Let’s look at what you can expect on the day of your appointment.
What happens during a cervical spine CT scan?
For your cervical spine CT scan, your CT technologist will ask you to lie down on a motorized table, which will slowly move your body into the large, donut-shaped CT machine. You’ll be positioned so that your neck is in the center of the machine, and you’ll need to stay as still as possible to ensure the images are clear.
Depending on the instructions from your healthcare provider, you might be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time during the scan. This is just to make sure that your results are as clear and accurate as possible.
You won’t feel anything during the scan, and for most people, a CT scan is comfortable. The scanning machine will make some whirring or clicking noises, but this is only the machine doing its work. During the scan, you’ll be able to hear and speak to your technologist at any time, using an intercom inside the CT machine.
Why did my healthcare provider order my cervical spine CT with contrast?
Your healthcare provider may order a cervical spine CT scan with contrast, which is a special dye that helps make certain areas of your spine easier to see on the images. If your provider suspects a condition that involves soft tissues, like a herniated disc, tumor, or blood vessels pressing on nerves, the contrast can highlight these areas, and provide more detailed information in your CT results.
The contrast dye is usually injected into a vein before or during the scan. You may feel a brief sensation of warmth when the dye is injected, but for most people, this feeling goes away quickly. Some people are allergic to contrast, so be sure to let your provider know if you may be allergic, and they’ll update their order with your imaging center.
How long does a cervical spine CT scan take?
A cervical spine CT scan typically lasts only a few minutes, and the entire appointment might take 30 minutes to an hour, including preparation time. Your scan may take a little longer if your doctor ordered your CT with contrast.
Once your CT scan is complete, you can plan to continue your day as normal, without any need for special precautions or aftercare. You’ll likely be able to return to your regular activities shortly after the scan, unless your doctor gives you specific instructions, so be sure to check with your provider first.
How to schedule a CT appointment with us
Reach out to us at American Health Imaging, and we’ll help you schedule an appointment at an imaging center near you, today.
We’re here to help you get the answers you need.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why did my healthcare provider recommend a cervical spine CT scan?
A: Your healthcare provider wants detailed images of your cervical spine to help identify the cause of your symptoms.
Q: What types of injuries can a cervical spine CT scan detect?
A: It can detect fractures, dislocations, and other bone injuries, including damage from conditions like arthritis.
Q: How does a cervical spine CT scan help diagnose a fracture?
A: The scan provides detailed, cross-sectional images of your vertebrae to help your provider detect and assess fractures.
Q: Can a cervical spine CT scan detect arthritis or other degenerative changes?
A: Yes, it reveals signs of arthritis, such as bone spurs or joint space narrowing, and other degenerative conditions like spinal stenosis.
Q: How can a cervical spine CT scan show nerve compression?
A: It shows if structures in your neck, like discs or bone spurs, are pressing on the nerves that connect to your spinal cord.
Q: How does a cervical spine CT scan detect structural issues like disc herniation?
A: The scan reveals misaligned or displaced discs, helping your provider see if a herniated disc is pressing on nearby nerves.
Q: What happens during a cervical spine CT scan?
A: You’ll lie still on a motorized table, which will slowly move your head and neck into the CT machine, while it quickly takes many detailed images of your neck.
Q: Why did my healthcare provider order my cervical spine CT with contrast?
A: Contrast helps highlight soft tissues and specific areas of concern, like herniated discs, tumors, or blood vessels near your nerves.