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CT Scan (Computed Tomography) (What is CT Scan? ((The cross-sectional…
CT Scan (Computed Tomography)
What is CT Scan?
CT scan or called as Computed Tomography is a diagnostic medical test that uses traditional x-rays,produces multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body.
The cross-sectional images generated during a CT scan can be reformatted in multiple planes, and can even generate three-dimensional images. These images can be viewed on a computer monitor, printed on film or by a 3D printer, or transferred to a CD or DVD.
Use of CT Scan
one of the fastest and most accurate tools for examining the chest, abdomen and pelvis because it provides detailed, cross-sectional views of all types of tissue.
used to examine patients with injuries from trauma such as a motor vehicle accident.
performed on patients with acute symptoms such as chest or abdominal pain or difficulty breathing.
. It's considered the best method since the image allows a physician to confirm the presence of a tumor, measure its size, identify its precise location and determine the extent of its involvement with other nearby tissue.
an examination that plays a significant role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases that can lead to stroke, kidney failure or even death. CT is commonly used to assess for pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung vessels) as well as for aortic aneurysms.
Benefits of CT Scan
CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.
A major advantage of CT is its ability to image bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same time.
Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very detailed images of many types of tissue aswell as the lungs, bones, and blood vessels.
CT examinations are fast and simple; in emergency cases, they can reveal internal injuries and bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.
CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.
CT is less sensitive to patient movement than MRI.
CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical device of any kind, unlike MRI.
Risks of CT Scan
The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Safety page for more informationabout radiation dose.
Women should always inform their physician and x-ray or CT technologist if there is anypossibility that they are pregnant. See the Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.
CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary because of potential risk to the fetus in the womb.
Manufacturers of intravenous contrast indicate mothers should not breastfeed their babies for 24-48 hours after contrast medium is given. However, both the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology note that the available data suggest that it is safe to continue breastfeeding after receiving intravenous contrast. For further information please consult the ACR Manual on Contrast Media and its references.
The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, andradiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.
CT Scan Dose
■ A complete CT exam can comprise multiple scans,which can double or triple the total dose. For example,one common CT exam combines a chest scan, an abdominalscan, and a pelvic scan, producing a combineddose of 22.9 mSv. This exceeds the dose delivered byany other exposure listed in Table 1.
■ CT is far more commonly performed than other high-dose exams. This is why, as noted earlier, CT is responsible for a higher proportion of the dose received by the population as a whole than are other radiographical techniques.