The body CAT scan or CT scans are abbreviations for Computed Axial Tomography and Computed Tomography tests. The CT scan is a non invasive procedure to help healthcare providers have a better understanding of prevailing health conditions and decide the course of treatment accordingly. The CT scan is a combination of x-ray equipment and computers which together produce clear images of the internal body. The cross sectional pictures generated by the x-ray machine can then be studied on the computer and can also be printed. CT scans help provide images of internal organs, blood vessels, bones, soft tissues. A comprehensive view helps study the organs better as compared to a regular x-ray test. Musculoskeletal disorders, tissue damage, blockages, diseases, abnormalities, cardiac diseases and cancers can be diagnosed with the help of a CT scan.
Different types of x-ray CT systems may be used depending on the need for information as decided by your physician. Some commonly known scan include whole or full body scan, 64 slice CT scan and EBT ( Electron Beam Tomography) body scan. The EBT body scan is mainly used to scan for calcium deposits on the walls of the arteries of the heart. Multi slice CT scans such as 64 slice CT scan provide wafer thin sections of body structures to help provide clarity to the object being scanned. CT scans are an advantage to determine the possibility of health disorders and monitor the benefits of treatment.
A full body CAT scan produces clear 3D images in a short span of time. A full body scan comprises of images that range from the chin to the hip. While doing the scan the patient is expected to hold the breath to ensure clarity in images that are provided by the x-ray equipment. A full body CAT scan can provide varied information pertaining to possibility or existence of health disorders such as cancers, coronary heart diseases, lung cancers and breast cancer. Cancers and heart diseases detected after a full body CT scan are manageable or treatable only if it is detected early.
CT scans are usually advised to those who have symptoms or show signs of having a type of health disorder. A CT scan then aids the physician in deciding the course of treatment with better understanding of the patient’s health condition. CT scans expose the body to high levels of radiation and is therefore not advisable for those choosing a CT scan as a preventive mechanism.