What is Computer-assisted Tomography?
Computed tomography is a diagnostic tool which uses x-rays to generate detailed images of "slices" of the body. Think of the body as a loaf of bread.  In a CT scan, the patient lies still on a table while the x-ray source and sensors/detectors rotate around the patient, and the table moves horizontally. Thus, x-ray data is collected from multiple angles. Computers process the x-ray data in order to generate detailed, composite images of the relevant 'slices' of the body.

Because CT scans reveal the exact shape and location of soft tissues as well as bone, computed tomography is useful in diagnosing a number of conditions including tumors and infections.

CT has become one of the most important tools to diagnose head and spine injuries, lung and liver disease, cancer, tumors, blood clots, internal bleeding and other diseases and illnesses.

Performing the CT Exam
During a CT exam, a patient lies on a table and is slowly moved into the large, bright and comfortable donut-shaped opening of the scanner. Once positioned, a series of X-ray beams create hundreds of cross-sectional pictures that represent slices of the patient’s body. Seconds later, the system’s computer assembles the slices into 2 D and 3 D images.