This
procedure is performed at:
Larchmont
Medical Center II, Mt. Laurel
Willingboro
Imaging Center
Medford Medical
Center
This
is an imaging technique in which x-rays are used to create
images which are cross-sectional pictures of your body.
At Larchmont Imaging Associates, we use the newest type
of CT scanner which is called Helical CT. Using the Helical
mode on this scanner allows an entire region of your body
to be scanned in a volumetric acquisition rather than one
slice at a time. By using this technique, one can minimize
the chance that a small abnormality will be missed due to
the location on any individual slice. This type of scanning
is also much faster, which is good for patient convenience,
but also allowing much better visualization of blood vessels
when intravenous contrast is used.
CT scanning gives doctors the ability to look inside your
body in a way that regular x-rays cannot. For example, while
regular x-rays of the head only show the skull, CT actually
shows the brain tissue itself. The machine does this by
producing cross-sectional pictures of your body. Using our
helical scanner, we can also generate a picture in any plane
of sectioning. This can be very helpful because it allows
one to generate a picture of structures in your body from
the best view. Three-dimensional models can also be created,
which can be very useful and may avoid the need for other
invasive tests, such as angiography or exploratory surgery.
If you do need surgery, often this information can be invaluable
in helping your surgeon plan the procedure.
Some
of the problems that CT can help diagnose are strokes, bleeding
in or around the brain, infections, tumors, and abnormally
enlarged lymph nodes. CT scanning is the best way to quickly
and accurately evaluate the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Often
when the body is scanned, and sometimes for head CT's, intravenous
contrast is used. Injection of this contrast helps in the
detection of infection and tumor sites.
What
are the advantages of CT Scanning?
CT
Scanning provides accurate and highly detailed diagnostic
information. CT can detect very small abnormalities which
allows treatment to begin when the chances for cure are
greatest. It is safe and painless and often replaces more
invasive procedures, such as angiography or exploratory
surgery. Furthermore, it is conveniently performed as an
outpatient procedure.
Who
will interpret the study?
When
your scan is completed, the results are interpreted and
analyzed by a board certified radiologist. This is a physician
who has completed at least 4 to 5 years of advanced training
after obtaining his or her medical degree. The radiologist
will provide your physician with an interpretation of the
results. Your doctor will combine the CT scan results with
other information about you, including symptoms, physical
examination, and other test results. Your physician can
then make a diagnosis and explain what the results mean
for you in terms of your health and whether or not treatment
is needed.
