CT referrals

Access to CT is still limited apart from the direct access pathways for renal colic and weight loss.

For all other requests, the appropriate radiology or specialist advice and guidance must be sought and the need for imaging agreed.

Once imaging has been agreed, include a copy of the advice and guidance with your request and send this via the normal request route.

Direct access CT pathways

Please see the following summaries of direct access CT pathways. It is expected that patients will be scanned within 72 hours of the referral being submitted.

CT KUB direct access pathway for renal colic

Patients who present with acute loin to groin pain of less than seven days can be imaged. Stringent referral criteria must be met for this cohort of patients.

Please use the CT KUB (renal colic) referral form which is available on your practice management system for you to complete electronically.

• Patient has undergone a face to face GP consultation
• Acute onset of loin to groin pain with microscopic haematuria >2+
• No CT KUB imaging in the previous six months
• Proof that the patient is not pregnant:
  • Ultrasound, including pelvic ultrasound, is recommended for women of child bearing age rather than CT
  • If the last menstrual period (LMP) was:
    • less than seven days, CT KUB can be carried out (allowing two to three days for us to book the scan)
    • more than seven days, please provide a pregnancy test result along with the request and ask the patient to abstain from sex/protected sex

CT TAP direct access pathway for weight loss

Patients who present with vague symptoms can now be imaged.

Please use the CT TAP weight loss referral form which is available on your practice management system for you to complete electronically.

• Aged ≥40 years
• Strong suspicion of malignancy
• Face to face consultation has taken place
• FIT negative
• They are not pregnant:
  • Ultrasound, including pelvic ultrasound, is recommended for women of child bearing age rather than CT
  • If the last menstrual period (LMP) was:
    • less than seven days, CT KUB can be carried out (allowing two to three days for us to book the scan)
    • more than seven days, please provide a pregnancy test result along with the request and ask the patient to abstain from sex/protected sex
• Have significant, unexplained and persistent weight loss (at least 10% of body weight over four to six weeks)
• Have an additional symptom and/or sign (e.g. unexplained abdominal pain, new onset persistent cough) for more than four to six weeks