Computed Tomography
Also known as
CT, CT scan, CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan.
What is CT scan?
Computed tomography is an examination that uses X-Rays to obtain
cross-sectional images of the human body. When X-Rays are irradiated
onto the human body, some of them are absorbed and some pass
through the body to produce an image.
In plain X-Ray imaging, the film directly absorbs penetrated X-Rays;
whereas, with a CT scan, an electronic device called a detector array
absorbs the penetrated X-Rays, measures their amount, then transmits
this data to a computer system.
A sophisticated computer system calculates and analyzes data from each
detector and reconstructs multiple two-dimensional cross-sectional images.
An X-Ray source and a CT detector rotate around the patient to obtain
each cross-sectional image.
CT images represent density and the atomic number of human tissue just
like a general X-Ray image. On a CT scan, the denser the tissue and
the higher the atomic number, the whiter the CT image: bone and calcium
appear white; air in lungs appears black; water, blood and internal
organs, such as liver, kidneys, and brain appear gray; and fat tissue
appears dark gray.
Advantages
- Provides detailed two-dimensional images with great clarity.
- Better images of many types of tissues, including the lungs; bones, soft tissue, and blood vessels.
- In trauma cases, a CT scan can reveal internal bleeding and other life-threatening injuries quickly.
- Simple, painless and noninvasive.
- Sensitive in detecting traumatic injuries, cancer and many other diseases.
- Cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems (when compare to MRI).
- Distinguishes normal and abnormal structures accurately:
Useful in guiding biopsy, fluid removal/aspiration, drainage of
abscesses, other minimally invasive procedures, and radiotherapy.
- Can provide three-dimensional images.
Types of CT scans
Head CT Scans
- Brain
- Facial
- Paranasal sinus
- Orbit
- Sellar (to view pituitary gland)
- Temporal bone
Body CT Scans
Spine CT Scans
- Cervical spine
- Thoracic spine
- Lumbosacral spine
Extremity CT Scans
How is the procedure performed?
You will be asked to lie down on the CT table. For Head CT Scans,
a pillows will be placed to support your head. For Body CT Scans,
your arms will be raised above your head.
After placing you in the proper position, a technologist will move
into the console room and begin exposing you to X-Rays. Once the X-Ray
tube rotates around your body 360 degrees to take one cross-sectional
image, the table will be slightly moved in order to get the next plane.
You will be asked to hold your breath during the scanning process.
Though you will be alone in the examination room during X-Ray exposure,
you will be able to communicate with your technologist by using an
intercom or raising your hands. The technologist will watch you during
the scanning through a glass window, as well as a video camera.
If a contrast medium is required to make organs and blood vessels more
visible, it will be injected into a vein during the exam.
The exam usually takes from 10-30 minutes.
Preparing for a CT scan
You will be asked to put on a hospital gown, and to remove all metal
objects from your body, such as zippers, snaps, and other accessories,
as they can interfere with the imaging quality. You will be required
to lie still on the exam table until the technologist tells you otherwise.
For contrast-enhanced CT scans, you should not eat or drink for one
or more hours before the exam. If you know that you have allergies to
contrast mediums, medications, iodine, specific foods, or if you have a
history of kidney problems, asthma, thyroid problems, diabetes or a heart
condition, inform your technologist or doctor beforehand. Contrast
agents will be injected into your bloodstream before X-Ray exposure.
For abdominal/pelvic CT scans, you may need to avoid food or drink for
several hours. You may be asked to swallow a liquid contrast agent to
allow better viewing of the stomach, small bowel, and colon. Sometimes
the contrast agent needs to be administrated by enema to study the colon,
or by vaginal tampon to evaluate the uterine cervix.
For a Head CT Scan, you may be asked to remove jewelry, eyeglasses,
dentures, hairpins, hearing aids, etc.
If you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy, you should inform your doctor,
technologist, or radiologist prior to the scan.
Obtaining results
A radiologist will review the CT scan and report the results to your
personal doctor, who will inform you of the results.
Risks of CT scan
Radiation exposure during a CT examination is equal to a year's worth of
natural background radiation (i.e., radon gas in a home, soil, or cosmic rays).
It is much more than the radiation exposure from a general X-Ray exam, such
as a chest X-Ray or a skull X-Ray, but it is less than that from barium enema,
upper GI series, or cardiac catheterization.
The benefits of CT study outweighs the risk of radiation exposure. Special
care should be taken, however, to expose children only when absolutely
necessary, because growing children are more sensitive the hazards of radiation.
Adverse reactions to contrast agent given intravenously, include:
Allergic reactions
Rashes, hives, itching, etc. Usually self-limiting, antihistamine can be
administered.
Anaphylactic reaction
This very rare reaction can cause breathing difficulty or swelling in the throat
or other parts of the body. Potentially life-threatening, it can be treated
with epinephrine, corticosteroids, or antihistamines. Radiology departments are
well trained to deal with it.
Kidney failure
Particularly among patients taking Glucophage (Metformin) for diabetes.
Mothers nursing their babies may resume breast-feeding 24 hours after the
contrast medium is given intravenously.
Limitations
Bone, air, fat, and other tissues are easy to distinguish with a CT scan because
they distinctly appear with different densities; however, it is difficult to
distinguish between body organs, tumors, cancer, blood vessels, muscles, and
fluids. Also, CT scans have limited ability to image knee joints, shoulder joints,
intervertebral discs and related structures. MRI is a better imaging modality
for the evaluation of soft tissue.
CT scans only provide axial cross-sections. If longitudinal cross-sections are
necessary to evaluate a problem, such as in a meniscus tear of knee joint,
ligament tear of rotator cuff, or a three-dimensional evaluation of cancer
before planning surgical removal, an MRI is recommended instead.
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