Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

CT Scans at the hospitals of Methodist Health System

What is a CT scan?

The CT scan or CAT scan uses special equipment to take X-ray images of the body from many different angles. All of the images are sent to a computer, where they are combined into a single, detailed image. CT images show several types of tissue very clearly, including organs such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys. A CT scan can also reveal bleeding and vasculature (the arrangement of blood vessels in the body).

Who needs a CT scan?

A CT scan may be recommended when an illness or injury calls for imaging the whole body, abdomen, chest, head, or spine. A CT scan is used often to diagnose cancer throughout the body, as well as diseases that affect organs in the lower digestive tract, such as the intestines and colon.

CT scans are performed by the order of a physician.