What Is A CT Scan?

When CT Scans Are Used

Computerized tomography scans are used to create images of organs and structures inside of a patient's body that most commonly include the pelvis, soft tissues, brain, lungs, bones, abdomen, and blood vessels. These scans are highly preferred to make a clinical diagnosis of several types of cancers, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. A CT scan can tell a patient's doctor the exact size of a tumor, where it is located concerning other structures, and the extent of which it has affected neighboring tissues. This type of scan can tell a doctor if a patient has any bleeding, tumors, or swollen arteries in their brain. CT scans can be useful when evaluating the condition of a patient's bones, identifying signs of bone disease, state of their spine, and changes in bone density. In some cases, computed tomography scans can be used as a guide for a patient's doctor when they need to do a biopsy or take a tissue sample.

Discover how to prepare for a CT scan next.