Only your family physician and the radiologist can determine whether a CT scan should be performed with or without contrast enhancement.

This decision is based on your complete medical history, the results of previous diagnostic tests and laboratory analyses, your current symptoms, and the type and amount of information needed to establish an accurate diagnosis. Taking all of these factors into account, the physician determines whether the use of contrast is necessary. Therefore, the optimal type of CT examination may differ in each individual case. This is where the physician’s expertise is especially important — choosing the most appropriate diagnostic method specifically for you.

However, there are specific situations in which CT is often performed without contrast:

• Examinations of the spine, joints, and bones (for example, after trauma or when fractures are suspected)
• Pneumonia, including COVID-19