Cairns Private Hospital

The preparation for the different types of MRI scans can vary. Our team will provide any specific instructions about your MRI scan at the time of booking and these should be followed carefully.

You will be asked to change into a gown during the procedure, so we recommend wearing clothes that are easy to remove.

• When you arrive at the Queensland X-Ray practice in Cairns Private Hospital, our reception staff will go through some questions with you to reconfirm your booking details.
• So our team can perform your scan safely and effectively, you are required to complete an MRI safety questionnaire and change into a gown which we will provide. You will also be asked to remove any jewellery, hearing aids, dentures and any other loose items. Your belongings will be safely stored for you during your examination.
• In order to perform your MRI procedure, you will lie down on the MRI bed, which will move the part of the body we are scanning to the middle of the bore (hole). Throughout the procedure, you will be required to keep still.
• Some MRI examinations require us to insert an intravenous (IV) line into your arm. We use this to administer contrast dye that can help to enhance the images we take. When the contrast is injected, you may get a metallic taste in your mouth and this is completely normal. It is important to tell the staff if you have had any form of reaction to MRI contrast before.
• The MRI machine makes a very loud knocking and humming sound when the images are being taken. Both hearing protection and an emergency buzzer are provided for the duration of the MRI examination. You will be offered headphones through which the MRI radiographer can talk to you and play a selection of music to help reduce the noise and pass the time more quickly. The knocking will intermittently stop while the computer processes the images for a few seconds at a time before starting again. No-one else will be in the room during your scan, but you can press the buzzer should you need to communicate with the MRI radiographer or stop the exam at any time.

If you require an MRI scan and suffer from claustrophobia, or are uncomfortable with the restrictive space, you can have your doctor prescribe some sedation for you to complete the scan. In more extreme cases of claustrophobia, we can provide twilight sedation at one of our hospital practices. Just mention this at the time of booking.

Safety is paramount with MRI scanning, so at the time of booking your MRI and also when you arrive at the MRI clinic for your appointment, you will be asked certain safety questions.

An MRI scanner is essentially a large magnet and certain metal objects like implants are not MRI safe or are MRI conditional. Please let your referring doctor and Queensland X-Ray Cairns Private Hospital staff know if you have any of the following:

• Cardiac pacemaker
• Defibrillator
• Cochlear implant
• Neurostimulator
• Aneurysm clips
• Active implanted biomedical devices
• Infusion pump
• Any implants or devices in your head or body
• Please let us know at the time of booking if you are pregnant.

Most MRI scans take approximately 15 minutes to 1 hour to complete depending on the part of the body we scan.

The MRI price is subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about our MRI services, Medicare eligibility, health insurance or any out-of-pocket costs, feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist.

To make an MRI booking online with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here. 

• Our team will provide any specific instructions at the time of booking and these should be followed carefully.
• We recommend wearing a separate top and bottoms during your appointment as this makes changing for the examination easier.
• If you are pregnant or there is a possibility of you being pregnant, please let our staff know before your examination.

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown for your scan to ensure clothing does not affect the quality of the scan. You may also be asked to remove any jewellery, glasses or other metal objects that could affect the image quality.

For some CT scans, it may be recommended to have an injection of contrast material (or CT contrast dye). This will be discussed with you prior to your examination.

A CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine with a bed passing through the middle. You will be asked to lie on the bed as still as you can to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The bed will move through the scanner to acquire your images.

Throughout the CT you will be able to communicate with the radiographer performing your scan.

You may be given breathing instructions to follow. The radiographer performing your examination will explain this to you before your scan.

A CT scan can take between 5 minutes and 30 minutes depending on which part of the body is scanned and whether you require a contrast injection.

To book a CT appointment with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here. 

The terms CAT scan and CT scan refer to the same type of medical imaging procedure. CAT stands for “Computed Axial Tomography” and CT is simply “Computed Tomography”. Although CAT scan was the first term used, CT scan has become more common in recent years.

The cost of scans are subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the CT scan price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about costs or Medicare eligibility, please feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist you with your query.

CT scans are a powerful diagnostic tool that can detect life-threatening conditions such as haemorrhage, blood clots, and cancer. Early detection of these conditions can be lifesaving.

A CT scanner uses X-rays, which produce ionising radiation that have the potential to cause biological effects in living tissue. The risk of developing cancer from X-ray radiation exposure is minimal.

It is important to note that in almost all cases the benefits of a CT scan outweigh the risks associated with radiation exposure. If you have any concerns about your upcoming CT scan, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.

Preparation before your ultrasound scan is very important. Please follow the instructions given to you at the time of booking carefully and thoroughly.

In some cases you will be asked to fast. This means you should not eat, drink or chew anything 4-6 hours before your appointment. A sip of water is allowed for hydration purposes.

For some ultrasound scans, you will be required to have a full or partially full bladder. You will be able to empty your bladder as soon as the scan is over.

If you have any questions about the preparation for your scan, please contact the practice where your appointment is booked.

For an ultrasound scan, you will generally be required to lie down on an examination table or bed. During the scan, the area of interest will be exposed, with the rest of your body remaining covered to ensure your privacy and comfort. Queensland X-Ray’s highly-trained ultrasound technologists (known as sonographers), will place gel onto your skin and will then place the transducer in the area that is being studied. A moving image is shown instantly on a monitor screen.

Ultrasound is generally regarded as safe as you are not exposed to ionising radiation like some other forms of medical imaging (e.g. X-rays, CT scans). Instead, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to show images inside the body. Please discuss any concerns with your referring doctor.

All ultrasounds at Queensland X-Ray Cairns Private Hospital are performed by sonographers who are highly trained and accredited professionals. Our quality team consists of male and female sonographers who are qualified to perform all diagnostic ultrasound imaging including breast imaging.

At Queensland X-Ray Cairns Private Hospital, we understand that women have unique health concerns. If you would like to ensure a female sonographer performs your ultrasound services then please consider booking at one of our Women’s Imaging Centres. 

At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and ultrasound results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here. 

To book an ultrasound online with Queensland X-Ray, access our booking portal here.

Queensland X-Ray offers a comprehensive range of maternal fetal medicine and pregnancy imaging services. These include:

• Transvaginal ultrasound scans, which is an obstetric imaging technique performed in early pregnancy or when a more detailed view is required. A Transvaginal ultrasound involves inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina to obtain high-resolution images of the pelvic organs such as the uterus, cervix, as well as the developing embryo or foetus. 
• Nuchal translucency scans, which is the obstetric imaging performed between 12 and 13 weeks of pregnancy to assess the likelihood of pre-eclampsia or structural or chromosomal abnormalities. 
• Morphology scans, which are performed between 20-22 weeks to examine the baby’s structure and organs, and third-trimester ultrasounds, which are used to monitor the baby’s growth and wellbeing beyond the 27-week mark.  

The cost of ultrasound procedures at Queensland X-Ray can vary depending on the specific service and other factors. The staff at Queensland X-Ray will provide you with a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with your service.

Morphology scans occur at the 20-22 week stage of your pregnancy to assess the development of your unborn baby. It is at this stage that the baby’s organs have formed, and we are usually able to view them clearly on the ultrasound. It’s also during this stage that our experienced sonographers will try to identify the baby’s gender. During the ultrasound scan, the sonographer will ask the expecting parents if they would like to know the gender of the baby. This can also be written down on one of our special cards if a gender reveal party is planned. In some instances, however, the baby may be in the wrong position and they will be unable to confirm.

You are unable to take photos or videos during your scan. Queensland X-Ray provides patients with all of their images via our Patient Portal. Shortly after your first visit to Queensland X-Ray, you will receive a text message about accessing your results through our Patient Portal. This secure portal allows you to view and download your medical images and results at any time. It is compatible with most internet browsers and mobile devices, ensuring accessibility from anywhere in Australia.

At most of our specialised women’s imaging practices a 3D/4D ultrasound imaging of your baby will be performed if possible and if the baby is in the correct position. Please check at the time of booking your appointment if you require a 4D or 3D ultrasound in our Cairns Clinics.

Whilst we understand it is an exciting time, we limit attendance in the room to one support person due to the precise anatomical assessment required. Whilst it is preferred that small children do not attend these appointments, we understand at times this may be unavoidable and request that they are appropriately supervised.