Children's Imaging

We provide an imaging service for both adults and children at North West Anglia to help clinicians to diagnose conditions. If you would like to see more detailed information about procedures, you can view some of our patient leaflets.

Our Diagnostic Imaging Department (sometimes known at other hospitals as Radiology, or X-ray) offers a variety of scans and tests for children. Different types of ​scans are useful for answering different types of medical questions and your doctor (referrer) will decide which test is appropriate.

We have a Play Team who can support you and your child by facilitating distraction and preparation techniques for scans such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), or Nuclear Medicine. Speak to your doctor (referrer) for further information and help.

 

Supervision of children 

We are sorry, but our Diagnostic Imaging Departments are not able to provide childcare for other children accompanying you.

For some procedures it may be possible to stay in the room with your child, but if you are pregnant, please tell the Radiographer as this might not be possible and you might want to consider bringing another adult member of the family with you.

 

Disclaimer : Please note the information below is generic information and is not medical material and may not reflect treatment at different hospitals.

However, we hope it provides some aid for you and your young child to understand and be less scared of coming for any procedure within our department and might help you as parents to explain what is involved.

 

Information for Young Children

For some procedures you may have to wear a hospital gown for your x-ray or scan as any metal on your clothing (such as zips, buttons) or in pockets (toys, coins) will show up obscuring areas on the images and may affect the results. It is best not to have any metal objects with you and t his is very important if you are having an MRI scan as this is a strong magnet and so to be safe, no metal is allowed in the room.

When it’s time to take the X-ray or scan, the Radiographer will ask you to stay completely still for a second or two, it's like playing statues or having a photo taken. It’s is very important that you stay as still as possible so that your pictures aren’t blurry.

Sometimes the Radiographer might ask you to hold your breath like you're swimming underwater, but it won't be for long and then you can breathe normally. 

 

X-rays  

X-rays use a small amount of radiation to produce images. They are o ften used to look at your bones, lungs, or your tummy to help you feel better.

If your parents are able to, they may be able to stand with you during your x-ray, but they will need to wear a special apron which is very heavy over their clothing.

 

CT (Computed Tomography)  

CT uses x-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of your body. The machine looks like a big doughnut-shaped machine with a hole in the middle.  You will need to lie on the bed which moves very slowly through the centre hole in the machine, but the machine never touches you, but remember you need to keep very still to get the best pictures. 

 

Nuclear Medicine  

Nuclear medicine, in a sense, is "radiology done inside out" because it records radiation emitting from within the body rather than radiation that is generated by external sources like X-rays. You might have to have an injection (this is like a blood test). Our team might apply some “magic cream” to numb the skin, this cream can take some time to work before you have your injection. Then a small amount of a radioactive material is injected to help get images of the inside of your body. You will be asked to lie on the table and the special camera will be positioned over the area being imaged.

 

Ultrasound  

Ultrasound does not use radiation. It uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body, such as your kidneys. Ultrasound is a type of sound with a frequency bigger than humans can hear. It is similar to how dolphins and whales make high pitch sounds to find where objects are such as fish.

Ultrasounds are painless but to get the clearest pictures we need to use a jelly / gel like substance on your skin, which you might find cold and sticky.  Then a special probe is rubbed over the jelly / gel. The lights in the room might be turned down low so that the images can be seen on the screen, just like when you watch a movie.

 

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)  

MRI does not use radiation. It uses a strong magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. The scanner is a very strong magnet so your parents will need to answer some important safety questions before your scan. 

The scanner makes lots of different funny noises humming, whirring, clicking and clunky, listen and see what you think it sounds like.  As it is very noisy you might be able to wear headphones and choose some music to listen to.