Computerized tomography (CT) imaging scans

Computerized tomography is one of the most common scans performed to identify medical conditions in patients.

Computerized CT scans create visual images of tissues and organs to identify potential structural irregularities in tissues or organs that may indicate disease or injury. Scans are typically very quick, lasting from a few seconds to one minute, and are not painful. In some scans, the patient is injected with an iodine-based contrast material, which makes the blood vessels more pronounced – to help identify obstructions and anatomical irregularities.

Uses of CT scans

Assuta physicians use CTs routinely for the following patient care applications:

Imaging-based diagnostics

• Cardiac CT (virtual catheterization): Non-invasive heart scanning without minimally invasive cardiac catheterization
• CT angiography to visualize blood vessels in the neck, skull, lower extremities, kidneys, urinary tract, and/or stomach
• Virtual colonoscopy for diagnosing colon lesions
• Scans of the bones in the hands, ankles, shoulders, or pelvic joints to assess structural fractures or therapeutic effectiveness – with the help of 3D visualizations
• Lower limb measurement
• Low-dose CT scan of the chest to screen heavy smokers for early diagnosis of lung cancer
• Urinary system CT to locate stones in urinary tract
• CT urography to evaluate the kidneys, ureters, and the bladder
• CT enterography for scanning the small intestine

Image-guided treatments

• Treatment of malignancies using CT-guided radio ablation
• Transdermal biopsies of the chest, stomach, pelvis, or bones that require highly precise navigation
• Image-guided deep abscess drainage