CT SCAN IN

RADIOLOGY
MADE BY : BELAND KHALIL
MA1709O
Computed Tomography (CT) -
Body
 Computed tomography (CT) of the body uses
sophisticated x-ray technology to help detect a
variety of diseases and conditions. CT scanning
is fast, painless, noninvasive and accurate. In
emergency cases, it can reveal internal injuries
and bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.
CT imaging is:
 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.
 often the best method for detecting cancers in the chest, abdomen and pelvis,
such as lymphoma and cancers of the lung, liver, kidney, ovary and pancreas. 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.
 Radiologists and radiation oncologists often use the CT examination to:
 quickly identify injuries to the lungs, heart and vessels, liver, spleen,
kidneys, bowel or other internal organs in cases of trauma.
 guide biopsies and other procedures such as abscess drainages and
minimally invasive tumor treatments.
 plan for and assess the results of surgery, such as organ transplants or
gastric bypass.
 stage, plan and properly administer radiation treatments for tumors as
well as monitor response to chemotherapy.
 measure bone mineral density for the detection of osteoporosis.
 CT is based on the fundamental principle that the density of the tissue
passed by the x-ray beam can be measured from the calculation of
the attenuation coefficient. Using this principle, CT allows the
reconstruction of the density of the body, by two-dimensional section
perpendicular to the axis of the acquisition system.
 A CT scanner emits a series of narrow beams through the
human body as it moves through an arc.
 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.
 The CT scanner’s X-ray detector can see hundreds of
different levels of density. It can see tissues within a solid
organ.
 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.
 Sometimes, a contrast dye is used because it can help
show certain structures more clearly.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 CT is a useful tool for assisting diagnosis in medicine, but it
is a source of ionizing radiation, and it can potentially
cause cancer.