How does the CT scan work?
Unlike standard X-rays, which produce pictures of the shadows cast by body structures of varying thickness, CT scanning uses X-rays in a much different way. Many X-ray beams are passed through the abdomen/pelvis at many angles, and special detectors measure the amount of radiation absorbed by different tissues. The X-ray tube revolves around you, and sends and records data from many angles, forming cross-sectional pictures (slices) of the area. The pictures are then reviewed on a computer screen. Modern CT units, called spiral CT, produce higher-quality pictures in a shorter time, an important feature for children and patients who are elderly or critically ill, as well as for those who cannot hold their breath for a long time. Today’s scanners can image large regions of the body during a single 20-second breath-hold.
Related Questions
- I had a CT scan which showed a 9 mm rounded hypoattenuation on my left frontal lobe just adjacent to the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. What does that result from my CT scan mean?
- I don know how to order for a CT scan and for conversions for my cases to be performed on SimPlant. Do you have any model letters for that?
- What is a multidetector CT scan?
