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CT Scans
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/ctscans.html

CT Scans

Also called: CAT scan
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics

See, Play and Learn

  • Videos and Tutorials

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Reference Desk
  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Children
  • Women
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Computed tomography (CT) is a type of imaging. It uses special x-ray equipment to make cross-sectional pictures of your body.

Doctors use CT scans to look for:

  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Cancers
  • Blood clots
  • Signs of heart disease
  • Internal bleeding

During a CT scan, you lie still on a table. The table slowly passes through the center of a large X-ray machine. The test is painless. During some tests you receive a contrast dye, which makes parts of your body show up better in the image.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer From the National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
  • CT Scan (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • What is Computed Tomography? (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • Full-Body CT Scans: What You Need to Know (Food and Drug Administration)
  • What Are the Radiation Risks from CT? (Food and Drug Administration)
  • Whole-Body CT Screening -- Should I or Shouldn't I Get One? (Food and Drug Administration)

Related Issues

  • Contrast Materials Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Abdominal and Pelvic CT (Computed Tomography) Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Body CT (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Coronary CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • CT (Computed Tomography) of the Sinuses Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • CT Angiography (CTA) Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • CT Enterography (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • CT Perfusion of the Head (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Head CT Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Heart Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Myelography From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) Scan (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Spine CT (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Tests for Lung Disease From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
  • Urography (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Virtual Colonoscopy From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Videos and Tutorials

  • Getting a CAT Scan (For Kids) Video (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Tomography, X-Ray Computed From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Feasibility study of "double-low" scanning protocol combined with artificial intelligence iterative...
  • Article: Lung cancer screening in Finland: a prospective randomized trial.
  • Article: A CT-based intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics nomogram for postoperative recurrence risk...
  • CT Scans -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • RadiologyInfo: Glossary of Terms (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

  • Food and Drug Administration
  • RadiologyInfo (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Children

  • Keeping Kids Still during Exams (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
  • Pediatric CT Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Women

  • Radiation Exposure and Pregnancy (Health Physics Society) - PDF

Patient Handouts

  • Abdominal CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Chest CT (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • CT angiography - abdomen and pelvis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • CT angiography - arms and legs (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • CT angiography - chest (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • CT angiography - head and neck (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Head CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Heart CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Lumbar Spine CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Lumbosacral spine CT (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Pelvic CT scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

CT Scans

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Abdominal CT scan
  • Arm CT scan
  • Cervical spine CT scan
  • Chest CT
  • CT angiography - abdomen and pelvis
  • CT angiography - arms and legs
  • CT angiography - chest
  • CT angiography - head and neck
  • CT scan
  • Head CT scan
  • Heart CT scan
  • Knee CT scan
  • Leg CT scan
  • Lumbar Spine CT scan
  • Lumbosacral spine CT
  • Orbit CT scan
  • Pelvic CT scan
  • Renal scan
  • Shoulder CT scan
  • Sinus CT scan
  • Thoracic spine CT scan

Related Health Topics

  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • X-Rays

Disclaimers

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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