Computed tomography of the lumbar spine and the thoracolumbar junction
Lumbar Spine CT Scan in Casablanca
A lumbar spine CT scan examines the lower back: the five lumbar vertebrae, their discs, their joints and the canal through which the nerve roots of the legs pass. It can extend up to the thoracolumbar junction (where the middle and the lower back meet), an area often affected by fractures. This X-ray exam helps explain sciatica, femoral nerve pain (cruralgia) or a narrowed canal, and helps prepare for an injection or surgery.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The lumbar spine exam usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, a little longer if an injection is needed.
Report turnaround
Report within 24 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE Revolution
When is this exam needed?
- Sciatica or femoral nerve pain (pain running down the leg) suggesting a herniated disc.
- Heavy or painful legs when walking, forcing you to take breaks (a possible sign of lumbar spinal stenosis).
- One vertebra slipping over another (spondylolisthesis) or a crack in the vertebral arch (spondylolysis).
- Fall or vertebral compression at the thoracolumbar junction.
- Localization before an injection, or assessment before lower back surgery.
- Follow-up after a lumbar spinal fusion (screws, cage) or search for a complication.
How the exam is done
You remove your belt and any pants with rivets or a metal zipper, and empty your pockets. Lying on your back, you have a cushion under your knees to flatten the hollow of your lower back and ease the pain, with your arms crossed over your chest or above your head.
You breathe normally while the table moves forward: only the lumbar region, or the thoracolumbar region depending on the request, is examined. If the position brings back your sciatica, say so: the cushions can be adjusted before the image acquisition. The painless pass lasts only a few seconds. To get up, first turn onto your side, then push up with your arms, which spares your lower back.
Preparation
- Wear pants without rivets or a metal zipper, sweatpants for example.
- Empty your pockets (keys, phone, coins) before entering the room.
- If the pain is severe, take your pain reliever as prescribed before coming.
- Tell us about any recent injection or surgery on your lower back.
Fasting
No fasting is needed, even if an injection is planned. Drink normally.
Contrast injection
A herniated disc and a narrow canal are most often studied without contrast agent. An injection of iodinated contrast agent into a vein in the arm may be useful after surgery or to look for an infection, as decided by the radiologist.
Contraindications and precautions
- Previous reaction to an iodinated contrast agent: tell us when you book; a preparation or another exam may be offered.
- Diabetes treated with metformin, or kidney disease: please tell us. Depending on your kidney function, the radiologist will tell you whether metformin should be paused after the injection. Bring a recent creatinine test if you are asked to.
- Thyroid disease, to be mentioned if iodine is to be injected.
- Current or possible pregnancy: you must tell us before the exam. A CT scan uses X-rays: it is performed during pregnancy only if it is essential.
- Breastfeeding: please tell us. It is generally not necessary to stop breastfeeding after an iodinated contrast injection.
Documents to bring
- Prescription
- Previous lumbar X-rays and MRIs
- Surgical report and type of hardware in case of spinal fusion
- List of your medications, especially anticoagulants if an injection is planned afterwards
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The price of a lumbar spine CT scan varies with the area covered (lumbar or thoracolumbar) and with an iodine injection, which is generally unnecessary for a herniated disc.
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CT scan or an MRI for sciatica?
Both can show a herniated disc. MRI, without X-rays, shows the discs and the nerves in more detail; the CT scan is very precise for bone and osteoarthritis. Your doctor chooses according to your symptoms, especially since many cases of sciatica improve within a few weeks without imaging.
Does a herniated disc seen on the CT scan necessarily explain my pain?
Not always. Disc bulges are common, even in people who have no pain, and become more frequent with age. The radiologist describes what they see, then your doctor relates the images to your symptoms and to their own examination to decide on the treatment.
What does a thoracolumbar CT scan include?
It extends the exam upward, to the last thoracic vertebrae. This junction between the back and the lower back is often affected by vertebral compressions and fractures. The procedure is the same; the area covered, and therefore the X-ray dose, remains adapted to the question asked.
Why a cushion under my knees?
Bending your knees slightly relaxes the lower back muscles and reduces the arch of the lower back. The position is more comfortable, especially with sciatica, and it is easier to stay still. If the pain increases, say so: the positioning can be changed.
Lumbar Spine CT Scan in Casablanca: how much does it cost?
The price of a lumbar spine CT scan varies with the area covered (lumbar or thoracolumbar) and with an iodine injection, which is generally unnecessary for a herniated disc. The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.