Reasons You May Need a CT Scan

A computed tomography (CT) scan is a diagnostic imaging test1 that creates a detailed cross-sectional image of any given area in the body. It is an excellent imaging test for detecting abnormalities in the body, including vascular lesions, cancer, and cysts. It can also help evaluate bone density and detect bone fractures. 

A CT scan uses special techniques and computer processing to combine multiple slices into one image. It produces cross-sectional images of bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. These images are often more precise than regular X-ray images because they reveal differences in density rather than just differences in brightness. 

A CT scan can help your doctor detect many different conditions more accurately than an X-ray or ultrasound alone. Let’s look at when CT Scans may be necessary:

 

Confirmation of a diagnosis made by other means

Sometimes, conditions diagnosed with other tests, such as an ultrasound, are not completely clear. In these situations, a CT scan can be used to confirm the diagnosis. If other tests show a suspicious area but do not provide enough detail to determine the exact nature of the abnormality, CT imaging can be helpful. 

For example, a CT scan can help determine the extent of bleeding when someone has a suspected blood clot in their leg. It can also help confirm the presence of an infection or the extent of swelling if someone has a possible infection in their lymph nodes. CT scans are also helpful in identifying underlying conditions and complications related to other procedures, such as an endoscopy or MRI.

 

Detecting the extent of an illness or injury

A CT scan can detect and examine bone fractures and soft tissue injuries. It is a handy tool in the diagnosis and evaluation of traumatic injuries.2 In these situations, a CT scan can help your doctor determine the extent of an injury and identify any broken bones, ruptured organs, or other abnormal findings. CT scans can also help assess patients who are unconscious or who are in critical condition. 

They can be used to identify severe head injuries, intracranial bleeding, skull fractures, and other issues that may affect brain function. CT scans can even help determine the extent of infections, such as blood infections (sepsis), lung infections, and kidney infections. They can also help assess patients who have bacterial infections in their blood (bacteremia). Bacteremia can occur in people who have a weakened immune system

Examples include people who have had a heart or kidney transplant, received chemotherapy, or had diabetes. Bacteremia can lead to severe complications, such as sepsis, meningitis, or an infection in the joint. A CT scan can help identify the source of the infection and guide treatment.

 

Detecting the presence of cancer

A CT scan can detect and diagnose certain cancers, such as lung, breast, and gastrointestinal. A CT scan can also help monitor the condition of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. This can be helpful for cancers that are difficult to diagnose, such as pancreatic cancer

It can also help assess the degree of spread of cancer3 to other parts of the body (metastasis). This can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment. CT scans help stage certain cancers, such as lung cancer. Staging is discovering if cancer has spread to nearby areas, such as the lymph nodes, or if it has spread to distant organs. 

CT scans can also help determine the best treatment options for cancer patients. They accommodate patients who have undergone surgery and have been identified as having a high risk of cancer recurrence.

 

Determining the cause of an illness or condition

If an illness is difficult to diagnose despite a thorough examination, a CT scan can help reveal the cause. A CT scan can look for specific conditions, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, blood clots, or obstructions in the digestive tract. CT scans can help diagnose and determine the best treatment options for people with acute illnesses, such as a stroke or heart attack. 

They can also be helpful in people who have chronic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease4 or rheumatoid arthritis. A CT scan can help your doctor determine the extent of the disease and look for complications, such as a tumor or cyst. It can also help you find the best treatment option based on your current state.

 

Determining the degree of severity of a particular illness or condition

A CT scan can help determine the extent of injuries and the degree of a person’s disability. It can also help assess people who have end-stage diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)5, or chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis. 

CT scans can measure the bones in the body, such as the bones in the spine. They can also be used to measure the degree of degeneration in certain areas, such as the degeneration of the cartilage in the knee joint. This information can help determine the best treatment option and prognosis.

 

Finding the best treatment option based on your current state and any co-existing conditions

A CT scan can be helpful in determining the best treatment option based on your current state and co-existing conditions. For example, if you have had a stroke and your neurologist determines that you have bleeding in your brain, a CT scan can help identify the source of the bleeding. A CT scan can help determine if the infection has spread if you have a bacterial infection. 

It can also help identify the source of the infection and guide treatment. If you have a chronic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, a CT scan can help your doctor look for complications, such as cysts or tumors. It can also help monitor the progression and effectiveness of treatment.

 

Bottom line

A CT scan is a powerful imaging test that can be helpful in many different situations. It is constructive for detecting abnormalities, determining the extent of an illness or injury, identifying the presence of cancer, and finding the best treatment approach based on your current state.

  1. Palestro, Christopher J., Charito Love, and Theodore T. Miller. “Diagnostic imaging tests and microbial infections.” Cellular microbiology 9.10 (2007): 2323-2333. ↩︎
  2. Gavelli, G., et al. “Traumatic injuries: imaging of thoracic injuries.” European radiology 12 (2002): 1273-1294. ↩︎
  3. MOHS, FREDERIC E., and THEODORE G. LATHROP. “Modes of spread of cancer of skin.” AMA Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology 66.4 (1952): 427-439. ↩︎
  4. Baumgart, Daniel C., and Simon R. Carding. “Inflammatory bowel disease: cause and immunobiology.” The Lancet 369.9573 (2007): 1627-1640. ↩︎
  5. Eisen, Andrew, Seung Kim, and Bhanu Pant. “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a phylogenetic disease of the corticomotoneuron?.” Muscle & nerve 15.2 (1992): 219-224. ↩︎

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Icy Health Editorial Team

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