CT scan - Mayo Clinic

A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body and uses computer ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforCTscanAboutDoctors&Departments Print Overview CTscan Openpop-updialogbox Close CTscan CTscan ACTscancanbeusedtovisualizenearlyallpartsofthebodyandisusedtodiagnosediseaseorinjuryaswellastoplanmedical,surgicalorradiationtreatment. Acomputerizedtomography(CT)scancombinesaseriesofX-rayimagestakenfromdifferentanglesaroundyourbodyandusescomputerprocessingtocreatecross-sectionalimages(slices)ofthebones,bloodvesselsandsofttissuesinsideyourbody.CTscanimagesprovidemore-detailedinformationthanplainX-raysdo. ACTscanhasmanyuses,butit'sparticularlywell-suitedtoquicklyexaminepeoplewhomayhaveinternalinjuriesfromcaraccidentsorothertypesoftrauma.ACTscancanbeusedtovisualizenearlyallpartsofthebodyandisusedtodiagnosediseaseorinjuryaswellastoplanmedical,surgicalorradiationtreatment.Products&ServicesSignupforEmail:GetYourFreeResource–CopingwithCancer Whyit'sdoneYourdoctormayrecommendaCTscantohelp: Diagnosemuscleandbonedisorders,suchasbonetumorsandfractures Pinpointthelocationofatumor,infectionorbloodclot Guideproceduressuchassurgery,biopsyandradiationtherapy Detectandmonitordiseasesandconditionssuchascancer,heartdisease,lungnodulesandlivermasses Monitortheeffectivenessofcertaintreatments,suchascancertreatment Detectinternalinjuriesandinternalbleeding MoreInformationAbdominalaorticaneurysmAcousticneuromaAcromegalyAcutecoronarysyndromeAcutekidneyfailureAcutelymphocyticleukemiaAcutesinusitisAddison'sdiseaseAdultStill'sdiseaseAlcoholichepatitisAlzheimer'sdiseaseAmnesiaAnalcancerAnginaAnkylosingspondylitisAnthraxAorticaneurysmAorticdissectionAphasiaAppendicitisARDSArteriosclerosis/atherosclerosisArteriovenousfistulaArteriovenousmalformationArthritisAsbestosisAscariasisAspergillosisAsthmaAtaxiaAtelectasisBackpainBell'spalsyBenignperipheralnervetumorBladdercancerBladderstonesBlastocystishominisBloodinurine(hematuria)BonecancerBonespursBrainaneurysmBrainAVM(arteriovenousmalformation)BrainmetastasesBreastcancerBrokenankleBrokenarmBrokencollarboneBrokenfootBrokenlegBrokennoseBrokenribsBrokenwristBrucellosisBurningmouthsyndromeC.difficileinfectionCarcinoidsyndromeCarcinoidtumorsCarotidarterydiseaseCastlemandiseaseCerebralpalsyCervicalspondylosisChiarimalformationCholangiocarcinoma(bileductcancer)CholecystitisChoroidplexuscarcinomaChronicdailyheadachesChronicexertionalcompartmentsyndromeChroniclymphocyticleukemiaChronicsinusitisChurg-StrausssyndromeCirrhosisColoncancerConcussionCoughheadachesCraniopharyngiomaCraniosynostosisCrohn'sdiseaseCutaneousT-celllymphomaCyclicvomitingsyndromeCysticfibrosisDementiaDiffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosis(DISH)DilatedcardiomyopathyDiverticulitisDystoniaEisenmengersyndromeEmbryonaltumorsEmphysemaEncephalitisEndocarditisEndometrialcancerEnlargedbreastsinmen(gynecomastia)EnlargedheartEnlargedliverEnlargedspleen(splenomegaly)EpilepsyEsophagealcancerEsophagealvaricesEwingsarcomaEyemelanomaFibrousdysplasiaFootdropFrontotemporaldementiaGallbladdercancerGallstonesGangreneGliomaGlomerulonephritisGraves'diseaseGreenstickfracturesGrowthplatefracturesHairycellleukemiaHeadachesinchildrenHeartdiseaseHeartmurmursHerniateddiskHipfractureHirsutismHodgkin'slymphoma(Hodgkin'sdisease)HurthlecellcancerHydroceleHypercalcemiaIndigestionInflammatoryboweldisease(IBD)InflammatorybreastcancerInterstitiallungdiseaseIntestinalischemiaIntestinalobstructionIntracranialhematomaIntussusceptionInvasivelobularcarcinomaIrritablebowelsyndromeIschemiccolitisKidneycancerKrabbediseaseKyphosisLegionnaires'diseaseLewybodydementiaLipomaLivercancerLiverdiseaseLiverhemangiomaLungcancerLymphedemaMalebreastcancerMarfansyndromeMedianarcuateligamentsyndrome(MALS)MembranousnephropathyMeniere'sdiseaseMeningiomaMeningitisMenstrualcrampsMerkelcellcarcinomaMesotheliomaMigraineMigrainewithauraMildcognitiveimpairment(MCI)MouthcancerMultiplemyelomaMultisysteminflammatorysyndromeinchildren(MIS-C)MyastheniagravisNaegleriainfectionNasalpolypsNeckpainNeuroblastomaNonalcoholicfattyliverdiseaseNonallergicrhinitisNon-Hodgkin'slymphomaOsteochondritisdissecansOsteomyelitisOsteoporosisPancreaticcancerPancreaticcystsPancreatitisParagangliomaParotidtumorsPatellofemoralpainsyndromePectusexcavatumPericardialeffusionPericarditisPeripheralnervetumorsPersistentpost-concussivesymptoms(Post-concussionsyndrome)PheochromocytomaPituitarytumorsPleurisyPneumonitisPneumothoraxPolycystickidneydiseasePost-poliosyndromePrimarybiliarycholangitisProstatecancerPseudotumorcerebri(idiopathicintracranialhypertension)PulmonaryembolismPulmonaryfibrosisPulmonaryhypertensionPulmonaryvalvestenosisRectovaginalfistulaRecurrentbreastcancerResiduallimbpainRetinoblastomaRettsyndromeRupturedspleenSacroiliitisSalivaryglandtumorsSarcoidosisSchizophreniaSciaticaScrotalmassesSeizuresSepsisShakenbabysyndromeSheehan'ssyndromeSinusheadachesSpinalstenosisSprainedankleStomachcancerStrokeSwollenlymphnodesSyringomyeliaTapeworminfectionTensionheadacheTesticularcancerThoracicaorticaneurysmThroatcancerThrombophlebitisThumbarthritisThunderclapheadachesTinnitusToothabscessToxichepatitisTransientglobalamnesiaTransientischemicattack(TIA)TraumaticbraininjuryTuberoussclerosisUlcerativecolitisUterinefibroidsVaginalcancerVasculardementiaVasculitisVentricularfibrillationVocalcordparalysisVulvarcancerWilms'tumorWilson'sdiseaseWristpainZollinger-EllisonsyndromeShowmorerelatedinformation RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic RisksRadiationexposureDuringaCTscan,you'rebrieflyexposedtoionizingradiation.TheamountofradiationisgreaterthanyouwouldgetduringaplainX-raybecausetheCTscangathersmore-detailedinformation.ThelowdosesofradiationusedinCTscanshavenotbeenshowntocauselong-termharm,althoughatmuchhigherdoses,theremaybeasmallincreaseinyourpotentialriskofcancer. CTscanshavemanybenefitsthatoutweighanysmallpotentialrisk.Doctorsusethelowestdoseofradiationpossibletoobtaintheneededmedicalinformation.Also,newer,fastermachinesandtechniquesrequirelessradiationthanwaspreviouslyused.TalkwithyourdoctoraboutthebenefitsandrisksofyourCTscan. HarmtounbornbabiesTellyourdoctorifyou'repregnant.AlthoughtheradiationfromaCTscanisunlikelytoinjureyourbaby,yourdoctormayrecommendanothertypeofexam,suchasultrasoundorMRI,toavoidexposingyourbabytoradiation.AtthelowdosesofradiationusedinCTimaging,nonegativeeffectshavebeenobservedinhumans. ReactionstocontrastmaterialIncertaincases,yourdoctormayrecommendthatyoureceiveaspecialdyecalledcontrastmaterial.ThiscanbesomethingthatyouareaskedtodrinkbeforeyourCTscan,orsomethingthatisgiventhroughaveininyourarmorinsertedintoyourrectum.Althoughrare,thecontrastmaterialcancausemedicalproblemsorallergicreactions. Mostreactionsaremildandresultinarashoritchiness.Inrareinstances,anallergicreactioncanbeserious,evenlife-threatening.Tellyourdoctorifyou'veeverhadareactiontocontrastmaterial. HowyouprepareDependingonwhichpartofyourbodyisbeingscanned,youmaybeaskedto: Takeoffsomeorallofyourclothingandwearahospitalgown Removemetalobjects,suchasabelt,jewelry,denturesandeyeglasses,whichmightinterferewithimageresults Refrainfromeatingordrinkingforafewhoursbeforeyourscan ContrastmaterialAspecialdyecalledcontrastmaterialisneededforsomeCTscanstohelphighlighttheareasofyourbodybeingexamined.ThecontrastmaterialblocksX-raysandappearswhiteonimages,whichcanhelpemphasizebloodvessels,intestinesorotherstructures. Contrastmaterialmightbegiventoyou: Bymouth.Ifyouresophagusorstomachisbeingscanned,youmayneedtoswallowaliquidthatcontainscontrastmaterial.Thisdrinkmaytasteunpleasant. Byinjection.Contrastagentscanbeinjectedthroughaveininyourarmtohelpyourgallbladder,urinarytract,liverorbloodvesselsstandoutontheimages.Youmayexperienceafeelingofwarmthduringtheinjectionorametallictasteinyourmouth. Byenema.Acontrastmaterialmaybeinsertedinyourrectumtohelpvisualizeyourintestines.Thisprocedurecanmakeyoufeelbloatedanduncomfortable. PreparingyourchildforascanIfyourinfantortoddlerishavingaCTscan,thedoctormayrecommendasedativetokeepyourchildcalmandstill.Movementblurstheimagesandmayleadtoinaccurateresults.Askyourdoctorhowtoprepareyourchild. WhatyoucanexpectYoucanhaveaCTscandoneinahospitaloranoutpatientfacility.CTscansarepainlessand,withnewermachines,takeonlyafewminutes.Thewholeprocesstypicallytakesabout30minutes. DuringtheprocedureCTscannersareshapedlikealargedoughnutstandingonitsside.Youlieonanarrow,motorizedtablethatslidesthroughtheopeningintoatunnel.Strapsandpillowsmaybeusedtohelpyoustayinposition.Duringaheadscan,thetablemaybefittedwithaspecialcradlethatholdsyourheadstill. Whilethetablemovesyouintothescanner,detectorsandtheX-raytuberotatearoundyou.Eachrotationyieldsseveralimagesofthinslicesofyourbody.Youmayhearbuzzingandwhirringnoises. Atechnologistinaseparateroomcanseeandhearyou.Youwillbeabletocommunicatewiththetechnologistviaintercom.Thetechnologistmayaskyoutoholdyourbreathatcertainpointstoavoidblurringtheimages. AftertheprocedureAftertheexamyoucanreturntoyournormalroutine.Ifyouweregivencontrastmaterial,youmayreceivespecialinstructions.Insomecases,youmaybeaskedtowaitforashorttimebeforeleavingtoensurethatyoufeelwellaftertheexam.Afterthescan,you'lllikelybetoldtodrinklotsoffluidstohelpyourkidneysremovethecontrastmaterialfromyourbody. ResultsCTimagesarestoredaselectronicdatafilesandareusuallyreviewedonacomputerscreen.Aradiologistinterpretstheseimagesandsendsareporttoyourdoctor. Clinicaltrials ExploreMayoClinicstudiesoftestsandprocedurestohelpprevent,detect,treatormanageconditions. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Doctors&Departments Feb.28,2020 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Radiation-emittingproducts:Computedtomography(CT).U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration.http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/MedicalX-Rays/ucm115317.htm.AccessedJan.19,2018. LeeC,etal.Radiation-relatedrisksofimaging.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJan.19,2018. Computedtomography(CT)–Body.RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct.AccessedFeb.1,2018. McColloughC,etal.AnswerstocommonquestionsabouttheuseandsafetyofCTscans.MayoClinicProceedings.2015;90:1380. ACR-SPRpracticeparameterforimagingpregnantorpotentiallypregnantadolescentsandwomenwithionizingradiation.Reston,Va.:AmericanCollegeofRadiology.https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/pregnant-pts.pdf.AccessedJan.19,2018. Related Abdominalaorticaneurysm Acousticneuroma Acromegaly Acutecoronarysyndrome Acutekidneyfailure Acutelymphocyticleukemia Acutesinusitis Addison'sdisease AdultStill'sdisease Alcoholichepatitis Alzheimer'sdisease Amenorrhea Amnesia Analcancer Angina Ankylosingspondylitis Anthrax Aorticaneurysm Aorticdissection Aphasia Appendicitis ARDS Arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis Arteriovenousfistula Arteriovenousmalformation Arthritis Asbestosis Ascariasis Aspergillosis Asthma Ataxia Atelectasis Backpain Bell'spalsy Benignperipheralnervetumor Bladdercancer Bladderstones Blastocystishominis Bloodinurine(hematuria) Bonecancer Bonemetastasis Bonespurs Brainaneurysm BrainAVM(arteriovenousmalformation) Brainmetastases Braintumor Breastcancer Brokenankle Brokenarm Brokencollarbone Brokenfoot Brokenleg Brokennose Brokenribs Brokenwrist Brucellosis Burningmouthsyndrome C.difficileinfection Cancer Carcinoidsyndrome Carcinoidtumors Carotidarterydisease Castlemandisease Cerebralpalsy Cervicalcancer Cervicalspondylosis Chestpain Chiarimalformation Cholangiocarcinoma(bileductcancer) Cholecystitis Choroidplexuscarcinoma Chroniccough Chronicdailyheadaches Chronicexertionalcompartmentsyndrome Chroniclymphocyticleukemia Chronicpelvicpaininwomen Chronicsinusitis Churg-Strausssyndrome Cirrhosis Clusterheadache Coloncancer Coma Concussion COPD Coughheadaches Craniopharyngioma Craniosynostosis Crohn'sdisease CTscanimagesofthebrain CTscanofbraintissuedamagedbystroke CTscanslices CTscans:Aretheysafe? Cushingsyndrome CutaneousT-celllymphoma Cyclicvomitingsyndrome Cysticfibrosis Dementia Diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosis(DISH) Dilatedcardiomyopathy Diverticulitis Dysarthria Dystonia Eisenmengersyndrome Embryonaltumors Emphysema Encephalitis Endocarditis Endometrialcancer Enlargedbreastsinmen(gynecomastia) Enlargedheart Enlargedliver Enlargedspleen(splenomegaly) Epilepsy Esophagealcancer Esophagealvarices Ewingsarcoma Exerciseheadaches Eyemelanoma Fibrousdysplasia Footdrop Frontotemporaldementia Gallbladdercancer Gallstones Gangrene Glioma Glomerulonephritis Graves'disease Greenstickfractures Growthplatefractures Hairycellleukemia Headachesinchildren Heartdisease Heartfailure Heartmurmurs Herniateddisk Hiccups Hipfracture Hirsutism Hodgkin'slymphoma(Hodgkin'sdisease) Hurthlecellcancer Hydrocele Hypercalcemia Indigestion Inflammatoryboweldisease(IBD) Inflammatorybreastcancer Interstitiallungdisease Intestinalischemia Intestinalobstruction Intracranialhematoma Intussusception Invasivelobularcarcinoma Irritablebowelsyndrome Ischemiccolitis Kidneycancer Kidneystones Krabbedisease Kyphosis Legionnaires'disease Lewybodydementia Lipoma Livercancer Liverdisease Liverhemangioma Lungcancer Lymphedema Malebreastcancer Marfansyndrome Medianarcuateligamentsyndrome(MALS) Membranousnephropathy Meniere'sdisease Meningioma Meningitis Menstrualcramps Merkelcellcarcinoma Mesothelioma Microcephaly Migraine Migrainewithaura Mildcognitiveimpairment(MCI) Mouthcancer Multiplemyeloma Multisysteminflammatorysyndromeinchildren(MIS-C) Myastheniagravis Naegleriainfection Nasalpolyps Nasopharyngealcarcinoma Neckpain Neuroblastoma Neurofibromatosis Nonalcoholicfattyliverdisease Nonallergicrhinitis Non-Hodgkin'slymphoma Osteochondritisdissecans Osteomyelitis Osteoporosis Pancreaticcancer Pancreaticcysts Pancreatitis Paraganglioma Paraneoplasticsyndromesofthenervoussystem Parotidtumors Patellofemoralpainsyndrome Pectusexcavatum Pericardialeffusion Pericarditis Peripheralnervetumors Peripheralneuropathy Peritonitis Persistentpost-concussivesymptoms(Post-concussionsyndrome) Pheochromocytoma Pituitarytumors Pleurisy Pneumonitis Pneumothorax Polycystickidneydisease Post-poliosyndrome Primarybiliarycholangitis Prostatecancer Pseudotumorcerebri(idiopathicintracranialhypertension) Pulmonaryembolism Pulmonaryfibrosis Pulmonaryhypertension Pulmonaryvalvestenosis Rectovaginalfistula Recurrentbreastcancer Residuallimbpain Retinoblastoma Rettsyndrome Reye'ssyndrome Rupturedspleen Sacroiliitis Salivaryglandtumors Sarcoidosis Schizophrenia Sciatica Scrotalmasses Seizures Sepsis Sexheadaches Shakenbabysyndrome Sheehan'ssyndrome Sinusheadaches Snoring Softtissuesarcoma Spinalcordinjury Spinalcordtumor Spinalstenosis Spontaneouscoronaryarterydissection(SCAD) Sprainedankle Stomachcancer Stroke Swollenlymphnodes Syringomyelia Tapeworminfection Tensionheadache Testicularcancer Thoracicaorticaneurysm Throatcancer Thrombophlebitis Thumbarthritis Thunderclapheadaches Tinnitus TMJdisorders Toothabscess Toxichepatitis Transientglobalamnesia Transientischemicattack(TIA) Traumaticbraininjury Tuberoussclerosis Ulcerativecolitis Uterinefibroids Vaginalcancer Vasculardementia Vasculitis Ventricularfibrillation Vertebraltumor Vocalcordparalysis Vulvarcancer Whiplash Wilms'tumor Wilson'sdisease Wristpain Zollinger-Ellisonsyndrome Showmorerelatedcontent NewsfromMayoClinic Withphoton-counting-detectorCT,MayoClinicatforefrontofCTimagingtechnology June28,2021,11:37p.m.CDT Products&Services SignupforEmail:GetYourFreeResource–CopingwithCancer CTscanAboutDoctors&Departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. 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