CT Scans for Children with Autism

A Computer-Assisted Axial Tomography (CT or CAT scan), is a radiographic technique that produces an image of a detailed cross-section of tissue. It was invented by Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories. The scan itself is painless. If your child will be sedated, you will be told not to give food or drink for some hours beforehand. It shows far more detail than a plain x-ray. It uses a narrow collimated beam of x-rays that rotates in a full arc around the patient to image the body in cross-sectional slices. Tumors, infarctions, bone displacement, and accumulations of fluid may be detected.

A CT scan exposes your child to a small dose of radiation, so ask whether the scan is needed or whether an MRI would answer the question; when it is needed it is a very helpful tool in diagnosing structural problems located in the brain and other parts of the body. These scans are usually requested by physicians if they need a more detailed image than what a plain x-ray would produce. A brain scan is not part of a routine autism evaluation; doctors order one only when there is a specific medical reason, such as seizures or unusual findings on a neurological exam.

CT scan Procedure

A Computer-Assisted Axial Tomography machine has a movable table wherein your child will be asked to lay down. In most cases, if children are too young or unable to cooperate for any reason, sedation is required for the test to be done properly.

Sedation is given by a doctor or nurse trained in sedating children, often a pediatric anesthesiologist. Usually, during your consultation with your pediatrician regarding the test, your child’s pediatrician may recommend sedation and will refer you to an anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists compute the drug to be given with regards to your child’s age and weight. During the CAT scan, the anesthesiologist is expected to stay until it is over to monitor your child’s condition.

A CAT scan is a non-invasive procedure, but if a dye is needed to be injected to be able to see any blockage in parts of the body that are being scanned then the procedure becomes an invasive procedure. The dye is given through an intravenous (IV) line during the scan. The IV line is removed afterwards, and the body clears the dye through the kidneys. Tell your doctor about any allergies, especially any previous reaction to contrast dye.

If no dye is required, your child will be passing through the CAT scan machine, which is a machine that has a circular opening. Your child needs to stay still while passing through the machine so the images are accurate. The scan itself usually takes only a few minutes; with check-in, preparation and any sedation, the visit can take an hour or more.

Preparing your Child with Autism for a CAT Scan

New things take planning when your child has autism. Doing new things, meeting new people, encountering new sights and sounds would take planning and preparation for a child with autism. If your child is to have a CAT scan done it is best to familiarize him or her with the procedure before the actual test day. Techniques such as telling social stories and using picture cards of the equipment and personnel he or she will encounter during the procedure are a good way of preparing for the test. A visit to the setting before the actual day of testing is also a way of gradually familiarizing your child with the procedure so that his or her full cooperation is gained during the testing.

References:

Hyman, S. L., Levy, S. E., Myers, S. M., & AAP Council on Children with Disabilities (2020). Identification, evaluation, and management of children with autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 145(1), e20193447.

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