Diagnostic Imaging
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Frequently Asked Questions

Computed Tomography

C.T. stands for "computed tomography". C.T. scans obtain cross sectional images of  body parts that are a series of special x-ray pictures of a region of the body arranged as a set of image "slices". The image slices are obtained from the top to the bottom of the region of interest and each slice contains information about the organs at the level of that slice. Together, the whole set of image slices that are obtained provide a detailed view of the organs in the scanned region.

The C.T. scan machine takes images using x-ray's. The patient lies on the C.T. table and is moved into the C.T. "gantry". This part of the machine contains an x-ray tube and x-ray detectors that spin rapidly around the patient taking x-ray measurements. The measurements are fed to a specialized computer that assembles the measurement data into a series of C.T. pictures. The images are viewed as a series of standard 2D pictures. When required, the image data can be used to construct 3D pictures of the body region that has been examined.

C.T. Equipment:

C.T. control room	C.T. gantry and table

C.T. scans provide highly detailed images of every region of the body and are are most commonly used to examine the brain, chest, abdomen/pelvis and back. Scans of any other body region can also be obtained. C.T. is useful to evaluate the body for signs of infection, masses, trauma, degenerative changes etc. Often, C.T. scanning is the only way this information can be obtained. C.T. is often used to provide directional guidance for interventional procedures such as biopsies and drainage of abnormal fluid collections. C.T. examinations sometimes require the use of injected contrast material (x-ray dye). 

 Sample Images:

C.T body (abdomen)	C.T. body (chest)

C.T. brain	C.T. brain