CT scans produce 2-dimensional images of a &#;slice&#; or section of the body, but the data can also be used to construct 3-dimensional images. A CT scan can be compared to looking at one slice of bread within a whole loaf.
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A computerized tomography (CT) or computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan combines data from several X-rays to produce a detailed image of structures inside the body. CAT scans are used in hospitals worldwide.
The National Cancer Institute advise patients to discuss the risks and benefits of CT scans with their doctors.
CT is a useful tool for assisting diagnosis in medicine, but it is a source of ionizing radiation, and it can potentially cause cancer .
The accuracy and speed of CT scans may be improved with the application of spiral CT, a relatively new technology. The beam takes a spiral path during the scanning, so it gathers continuous data with no gaps between images.
If images lower down the body are required, such as the rectum, the patient may be given a barium enema. If blood vessel images are the target, a contrast agent will be injected into the veins.
For instance, if a 3-D image of the abdomen is required, the patient may have to drink a barium meal. The barium appears white on the scan as it travels through the digestive system.
Sometimes, a contrast dye is used because it can help show certain structures more clearly.
This data is transmitted to a computer, which builds up a 3-D cross-sectional picture of the part of the body and displays it on the screen.
The CT scanner&#;s X-ray detector can see hundreds of different levels of density. It can see tissues within a solid organ.
This is different from an X-ray machine, which sends just one radiation beam. The CT scan produces a more detailed final picture than an X-ray image.
A CT scanner emits a series of narrow beams through the human body as it moves through an arc.
The main differences between CT and MRI are:
It can also provide vital data about injuries to a patient&#;s hands, feet, and other skeletal structures. Even small bones are clearly visible, as well as their surrounding tissue.
It can help a doctor assess bone diseases, bone density, and the state of the patient&#;s spine.
As a CT scan detects abnormal tissue, it is useful for planning areas for radiotherapy and biopsies, and it can provide valuable data on blood flow and other vascular conditions.
A CT scan can reveal a tumor in the abdomen, and any swelling or inflammation in nearby internal organs. It can show any lacerations of the spleen, kidneys, or liver.
A scan of the head can provide important information about the brain, for instance, if there is any bleeding, swelling of the arteries, or a tumor.
The image allows a doctor to confirm the presence and location of a tumor , its size, and how much it has affected nearby tissue.
CT is often the preferred way of diagnosing many cancers, such as liver, lung, and pancreatic cancers .
It is useful for obtaining images of:
The patient may need to abstain from food, and possibly drink, for a specific period before the scan.
In most places, the patient will need to undress, usually down to their underwear, and put on a gown that the health center will provide. Avoid wearing jewelry.
If the hospital does not provide a gown, the patient should wear loose-fitting clothes free of metal buttons and zippers.
Some patients may have to drink a contrast dye, or the dye may be given as an enema, or injected.This improves the picture of some blood vessels or tissues.
Any patient who has an allergy to contrast material should tell the doctor beforehand. Some medications can reduce allergic reactions to contrast materials.
As metal interferes with the workings of the CT scanner, the patient will need to remove all jewelry and metal fastenings.
The patient will need to lie down on a motorized examination table that slides into a doughnut-shaped CT scanner machine.
In most cases, the patient will lie on their back, facing up. But, sometimes, they may need to lie facedown or sideways.
After one x-ray picture, the couch will move slightly, and then the machine will take another image, and so on. The patient needs to lie very still for the best results.
During the scan, everybody except for the patient will leave the room. An intercom will enable two-way communication between the radiographer and the patient.
If the patient is a child, a parent or adult might be allowed to stand or sit nearby, but they will have to wear a lead apron to prevent radiation exposure.
A CT scan can see nearly all parts of the body. It's used to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment.
A computerized tomography scan, also called a CT scan, is a type of imaging that uses X-ray techniques to create detailed images of the body. It then uses a computer to create cross-sectional images, also called slices, of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images show more detail than plain X-rays do.
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A CT scan has many uses. It's used to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment.
Your healthcare professional may suggest a CT scan for many reasons. For instance, a CT scan can help:
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During a CT scan, you're briefly exposed to a type of energy called ionizing radiation. The amount of radiation is greater than the amount from a plain X-ray because the CT scan gathers more-detailed information.
The low doses of radiation used in CT scans have not been shown to cause long-term harm. But for repeated scans, there may be a small increase in the lifetime risk of cancer. This can affect children more than adults.
CT scans have many benefits that outweigh any small risk. Healthcare professionals use the lowest dose of radiation to get the needed medical information. And newer, faster machines and techniques use less radiation than older CT scans did. Talk with your healthcare professional about the benefits and risks of a CT scan.
Tell your healthcare professional if you're pregnant. The radiation from a CT scan is unlikely to harm your baby unless the scan is of your belly or pelvis. But your health professional might suggest another type of exam so that the baby isn't exposed to radiation. Exams that don't use radiation include ultrasound and MRI.
A special dye called contrast material is needed for some CT scans. The dye appears bright on images. So it makes certain areas of the body that are being scanned show up better. This can help make blood vessels, intestines or other structures easier to see.
Contrast material might be given:
Although rare, medical problems or allergic reactions can happen with contrast material. Most reactions are mild and result in a rash or itchiness. More rarely, an allergic reaction can be serious, even life-threatening. Tell your healthcare professional if you've ever had a reaction to contrast material.
Depending on which part of your body is being scanned, you may be asked to:
If your infant or toddler is having a CT scan, the healthcare professional may suggest a medicine called a sedative to help keep your child calm and still. Movement blurs the images and may affect the results. Ask your health professional how to help get your child ready for the scan.
You can have a CT scan in a hospital or an outpatient facility. CT scans are painless. With newer machines, scans take only a few minutes. The whole process most often takes about 30 minutes.
A CT scanner is shaped like a large doughnut standing on its side. You lie on a narrow table with a motor that slides through the center of the scanner into a tunnel. Straps and pillows may be used to help you stay in place. During a head scan, the table may be fitted with a special cradle that holds your head still.
While the table moves you into the scanner, the X-ray tube rotates around you. Each time it rotates, it gives images of thin slices of your body. You may hear buzzing and whirring noises.
A healthcare professional called a CT technologist sits in another room and can see and hear you. You can talk with the technologist through an intercom. To help you keep still during the scan, the technologist might ask you to hold your breath at certain points. Movement can blur the images.
After the exam you can return to your regular routine. If you were given contrast dye, you may be asked to wait for a short time before leaving to make sure that you feel OK after the exam. You also might be told to drink lots of fluids to help your kidneys remove the dye from your body.
CT images are stored as electronic data files. They're most often reviewed on a computer screen. A doctor who specializes in imaging, called a radiologist, looks at the images and creates a report that's kept in your medical records. Your healthcare professional talks with you about the results.
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