Definition

Noun: 1. A medical imaging technique: A method of examining the internal structures of the body by combining a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around a single axis. A computer processes these images to generate cross-sectional (tomographic) slices or a three-dimensional image of the scanned area. - The doctor ordered a computed tomography scan to get a detailed view of the patient's lungs.

Usage

• Primary Use: Used as a noun, often abbreviated as CT. It is typically followed by "scan" (CT scan) when referring to the procedure itself.
  • The emergency room uses computed tomography to quickly diagnose internal injuries.
  • Advances in computed tomography have greatly improved diagnostic accuracy.

Examples

• In a medical context:
  • Computed tomography revealed a small fracture that was not visible on a standard X-ray.
  • The radiologist specializes in interpreting computed tomography images of the brain.

Advanced Usage

• "CT angiography": A specialized application of computed tomography used to visualize blood vessels.
  • CT angiography is often used to check for blockages in the coronary arteries.
• "High-resolution CT": Refers to computed tomography scans with very fine detail, often used for lung imaging.
  • The patient underwent a high-resolution CT scan for a better assessment of interstitial lung disease.

Variants and Related Words

• CT scan (n): The common term for the procedure using computed tomography.
  • She went to the hospital for a CT scan of her abdomen.
• Computed axial tomography (CAT) (n): A synonymous, older term for computed tomography.
  • Computed axial tomography was a groundbreaking technology in the 1970s.
• Tomography (n): The general process of imaging by sections. Computed tomography is a specific type of tomography.
  • Various forms of tomography, including computed tomography, are essential in modern medicine.

Synonyms

• CT scanning: The act of performing a computed tomography procedure.
• CAT scanning: An older synonymous term (from Computed Axial Tomography).

Related Phrases

• To undergo a CT/computed tomography: To have the scan performed.
  • The patient had to undergo a computed tomography to guide the surgical plan.
• CT-guided biopsy: A procedure where a computed tomography image is used to guide a needle to a precise location for tissue sampling.
  • The oncologist recommended a CT-guided biopsy of the liver lesion.

Noun

1. a method of examining body organs by scanning them with X rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis