Computed Tomography (CT Scan)

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Computed Tomography(CT Scan)

• By George Douleh

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History

• CT was invented by Godfrey Hounsfield, a British
  Engineer and Allan Comrack, a South African
  physicist, in 1972.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize for contributions to
  medicine and science in 1979.
• First CT scanners available in 1976, originally
  dedicated to head imaging only.
• Became widely available by 1980.
• However took days to construct a single image.

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History
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Current Technology

• Roughly 6,000 CT Scanners in the U.S
• And about 30,000 worldwide.
• Therefore have become much less costly.
• 2,000-3,000 to get a CT Scan
• A 512 x 512 inch image can now be constructed in
  less than a second.
• Images are now much more detailed.

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Current Technology
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Procedure

• Many x-ray beams and a set of x-ray detectors
  rotate around the body, measuring the amount of
  radiation absorbed by your body.
• The examination table is at the same time moving
  through the scanner, so it follows a spiral path.
• A special computer processes the data and created
  a 2 dimensional cross sectional image of your
  body.
• Displayed on the monitor.
• Procedure usually takes about 30 minutes

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Uses of CT Scans

• CT Scans are used to view
• Internal organs
• Bone
• Soft tissue
• Blood vessels

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Pros

• Painless and accurate
• Can image bone, soft tissue, and blood vessel at
  the same time
• Can be used even if you have an implanted device.
• Fast and simple reveal internal injuries quickly
  enough to save lives!

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Cons

• Radiation exposure
• Very slight chance of obtaining cancer
• Very time consuming
• patient must remain motionless for roughly 30
  minutes

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Limitations

• Soft tissue near the brain, internal pelvis
  organs, knee or shoulder can be seen more clearly
  with MRI
• The moving table weight limit is about 450 pounds
• Radiation exposure limits amount of CT Scans you
  can receive.
• Claustrophobia

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Future

• Multi-Sensor CT Scan
• shorter exam times
• Decreased X-Ray exposure
• Even faster results
• More detail

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Works Cited

• "Brief History of CT CT Scan." Imaginis. Web.
  22 Apr. 2011. lthttp//www.imaginis.com/ct-scan/b
  rief-history-of-ctgt.
• "CAT Scan (CT) - Body." RadiologyInfo - The
  Radiology Information Resource for Patients. Web.
  22 Apr. 2011. lthttp//radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cf
  m?pgbodyctgt.
• "CT Scan - Tests, Test Results Diagnosis - NY
  Times Health Information." Health News - The New
  York Times. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. lthttp//health.nyti
  mes.com/health/guides/test/ct-scan/overview.htmlgt.
  
• Davis, Lawrence M. "CT Scan." EMedicineHealth.
  Web. 23 Apr. 2011. lthttp//www.emedicinehealth.com
  /ct_scan/article_em.htmgt.
• Saxena, Rajeev. "CT Scan Machine Gives Radiation
  Overdoses At Cedar Sinai Hospital Trends
  Updates." Trends Updates - Gadgets, Fashion,
  Automobile, Environment. Web. 24 Apr. 2011.
  lthttp//trendsupdates.com/ct-scan-machine-gives-ra
  diation-overdoses-at-cedar-sinai-hospital/gt.