Computed tomography, more commonly known as a CT or CAT scan, is a diagnostic medical test that, like traditional x-rays, produces multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. CT was developed independently by a British engineer named Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Alan Cormack. It has become a mainstay for diagnosing medical diseases. CT of the body uses X-rays to perform its work. These X-rays come from an X-ray tube which is placed inside a square machine called the gantry. The part of your body to be scanned goes inside a hole in this gantry.
All parts of the body can be scanned with CT. For each part, there are specific indications or reasons for scanning. Your referring doctor and the consultant radiologist are the best judges of the usefulness of CT scanning in a specific situation and areas.
Using specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the body, radiologists can more easily diagnose problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, appendicitis, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
