Computed Tomography (CT Scan)

Computed Tomography (CT Scan): Definition, Purpose, Preparation, and Procedure

What is a CT Scan?

A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and computer technology to provide your physician with very detailed images of your body in cross-sectional views. Your doctor may order a CT scan if he suspects a fracture that doesn't show up on an x-ray, such as on your pelvis or collarbone, a tumor, or if you've had severe injuries to your abdomen, chest, spinal cord or pelvis.

A CT scan is painless. The CT scanner is a cylinder-like tube. You will lie still on a table that slides into the center of the scanner. An X-ray tube will rotate around you and take multiple pictures from different directions. A computer combines these X-rays into clear images on a television monitor. If your doctor needs to see certain areas of your body more clearly, you may need to be injected with a dye or drink a substance to make this possible.

Be sure to inform your doctor of any allergies you have and if you are pregnant before having a CT scan.

Purpose of CT Scans

Your specialist may prescribe a CT scan to offer assistance:

- Analyze muscle and bone tissue, for example, bone tumors and breaks

- Pinpoint the area of a tumor, disease or blood cluster

- Guide strategies, for example, surgery, biopsy and radiation treatment

- Identify and screen ailments and conditions, for example, growth, coronary illness, lung knobs and liver masses

- Screen the viability of specific medications, for example, growth treatment

- Identify wounds and inner bleeding

Computed tomography images help a lot in the medical field. Here are some of a CT images use:

- one of the quickest and most precise devices for inspecting the chest, stomach area, and pelvis since it gives itemized, cross-sectional perspectives of a wide range of tissue.

- used to look at patients with wounds from injury, for example, an engine vehicle mishap.

- performed on patients with intense side effects, for example, chest or stomach agony or trouble relaxing.

- regularly the best technique for distinguishing a wide range of malignancies, for example, lymphoma and diseases of the lung, liver, kidney, ovary and pancreas since the picture enables a doctor to affirm the nearness of a tumor, measure its size, recognize its exact area and decide the degree of its association with other close-by tissue.

- an examination that assumes a huge part of the recognition, analysis, and treatment of vascular ailments that can prompt stroke, kidney failure or even problems. CT is regularly used to evaluate for aspiratory embolism (a blood coagulation in the lung vessels) and in addition to aortic aneurysms.

- priceless in diagnosing and treating spinal issues and wounds to the hands, feet and other skeletal structures since it can obviously indicate even little bones and additionally encompassing tissues, for example, muscle and veins.

How To Prepare for CT Scans

You should wear agreeable, baggy garments to your exam. You might be given an outfit to wear amid the strategy.

Metal articles, including gems, eyeglasses, dentures, and clasps, may influence the CT pictures and ought to be left at home or evacuated before your exam. You may likewise be made a request to evacuate listening devices and removable dental work. Ladies will be made a request to evacuate bras containing a metal underwire. You might be made a request to expel any piercings, if conceivable.

You will be requested that not eat or drink anything for a couple of hours already if differentiate material will be utilized as a part of your exam. You ought to illuminate your doctor of all drugs you are taking and on the off chance that you have any hypersensitivities. On the off chance that you have a known hypersensitivity to differentiate material, or "color," your specialist may endorse prescriptions (as a rule a steroid) to diminish the danger of an unfavorably susceptible response. These prescriptions should be taken 12 hours before the organization of differentiation material. To evade pointless deferrals, contact your specialist before the correct time of your exam.

Additionally, educate your specialist about any current sicknesses or other therapeutic conditions and whether you have a past filled with coronary illness, asthma, diabetes, kidney malady or thyroid issues. Any of these conditions may expand the danger of an uncommon unfriendly impact.

Ladies ought to dependably educate their doctor and the CT technologist if there is any plausibility that they might be pregnant. See the Safety page for more data about pregnancy and x-rays.

CT Scan Procedure

From various perspectives, CT scanning works, particularly like other x-ray examinations. Distinctive body parts assimilate the x-rays in changing degrees. It is this urgent distinction in assimilation that permits the body parts to be recognized from each other on an x-ray film or CT electronic picture.

- In an ordinary x-ray exam, a little measure of radiation is gone for and goes through the piece of the body being analyzed, recording a picture on an exceptional electronic picture recording plate. Bones seem white on the x-ray; delicate tissue, for example, organs like the heart or liver, appears in shades of dim, and air seems dark.

- With CT scanning, various x-ray pillars and an arrangement of electronic x-ray identifiers turn around you, measuring the measure of radiation being assimilated all through your body. Now and then, the examination table will move amid the scan, with the goal that the x-ray shaft takes after a winding way. An exceptional PC program forms this vast volume of information to make two-dimensional cross-sectional pictures of your body, which are then shown on a screen. CT imaging is here and there contrasted with investigating a piece of bread by cutting the roll into thin cuts. At the point when the picture cuts are reassembled by PC programming, the outcome is an exceptionally definite multidimensional perspective of the body's inside.

You might also want to read:

- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cholecystitis

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers