Your doctors might send you for scans to help them work out what treatment you need or whether a treatment is working. 

Scans are a bit like X-rays but can show much more detail. 

These tests usually take longer than X-rays so you need to lie very still.  You may be allowed to listen to some music or to watch a film to help you do this.

Here are some of the scans that you might need:

• MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) can show your whole body
• CT scan (computerised tomography scan) can also show your whole body
• Ultrasound scans show smaller parts, usually around your tummy
• Echo scans can also be used for your tummy and also to show your heart

There are other types of tests which don't produce pictures but produce charts to show what is happening with a part of your body.  These are the ones we use the most:

• ECG (electrocardiogram) tests will show how your heart is working
• EEG (electroencephalograph) will show how your brain is working - you can read more about this test by clicking here

Our play team can help you understand how different scans work. Ask your play specialist about it.