CT scans are useful in many different medical situations in which diagnostic imagery is needed. They can evaluate subtle abnormalities in your soft tissue, such as the brain or other organs. These images are also used when you have specific symptoms like pain or dizziness. They can even be helpful in examining the spread of diseases like cancer.Depending on where the CT scan is directed in your body, there are a variety of uses:
- Head or Brain CT Scans: Look for masses, stroke, bleeds and other abnormalities, as well as examine the skull
- Neck CT Scans: Study lumps and look for enlarged lymph nodes or glands
- Chest CT Scans: Offer further insight into abnormalities caught by a regular chest X-ray
- Abdominal or Pelvic CT Scans: Check the organs found in this region and diagnose unexplained abdominal pain
- Sinus CT Scans: Diagnose and detect sinus disease or obstructions
- Spine CT Scans: Detect spine issues like narrowing of the spinal canal or a herniated disc, as well as fractures
Types of CT Scans
At Health Images, we specialize in various types of CT scans, including:
- Computerized Axial Tomography: Also referred to as a CT or CAT scan, this is a computerized X-ray procedure that provides a three-dimensional scan of your brain or other parts of your body. It’s commonly used to find irregularities, disease or internal damage, but can also help guide surgeons during complicated operations. During a CT scan, you must lay on your back as your body moves through a tube. The entire procedure usually takes 30 minutes or less.
- CT Angiography: This minimally invasive medical test helps doctors diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions. Frequently, a contrast dye is injected through an IV during the CT scan to produce detailed images of your blood vessels and tissues. A CT angiogram helps us determine if a blood vessel is blocked. If it is blocked, the images then allow us to find where the blockage is, as well as how big it is. It also helps us identify aneurysms or plaque buildup. CT angiograms are less invasive than standard angiograms.
- CT Urography: A urography is a specialized radiological exam that focuses on evaluating the urinary tract, specifically the kidneys, ureters and bladder. It uses CT technology to produce cross-sectional images of these internal organs, which allows your physician to diagnose conditions and plan a course of action. It’s often used to detect kidney stones or evaluate patients who have blood in their urine.