Computed Tomography (CT)   scan is a medical imaging procedure utilising x-ray and digital imaging technology to examine the body’s internal structures for diagnostic purposes.

The   CT   is chiefly used to present clear images of internal organs, soft tissues and bone to aid in the diagnosis of a myriad of medical conditions.

Through cross-sectioning of images, the   CT   computer can generate an image of every type of body structure at once.

However, it can also be done on a specific organ or tissue (e.g. brain, kidney, liver, etc.), depending on what your doctor is looking for.

Why use CT scans?

A   CT   scan is a useful tool in a diverse variety of medical scenarios.

Some of the most common reasons your doctor may request a   CT   scan include:

Types of CT Scans

CT scans are used to diagnose disease and injury, as well as to monitor the progress of a particular course of treatment, such as medication use.

They also have great diagnostic capabilities – particularly in the head, lungs, cardiac, abdominal and pelvic regions as follows:

Head:  To detect tumors, infarction, hemorrhage and bone trauma.

Lungs:  To d etect acute and chronic changes in the internal structure of the lung. A   CT   is preferable in this case, as two-dimensional x-rays often fail to show defects inside the lung.

Cardiac:   The   CT   is a great advent in the diagnosis of cardiac conditions, as its high resolution and high speed allows for clear coronary artery images.

Abdominal and Pelvic:   As a sensitive form of testing, the CT is used to determine different stages of cancer, as well as investigating acute abdominal pain.

Advantages 

CT   scans have clear advantages over traditional two-dimensional radiography:

1. CT eliminates the superimposition of structures outside of the area of interest.

2. Subtle changes in internal structures are easily spotted. The scan’s high-contrast resolution ensures that tissues differing in physical density by less than one percent can be easily distinguished.

These improvements are among many which advantages which make diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions easier.

What can I expect?  

  A   CT   scan is a simple, non-invasive procedure.

This is how the process typically unfolds: 

IMPORTANT: When booking for a CT examination, please advise the receptionist if you have had a previous allergic reaction to x-ray contrast (dye).