CT scan: what is it? Easily explained

CT examination stands for computer tomography. The term is familiar - but most people don't know exactly what that is. We explain clearly what happens during a CT examination.

CT - the more detailed X-ray examination

Like X-rays, ultrasound and MRI, computed tomography is one of the imaging examination methods in medicine.

• The representation of the inside of the body works on the basis of X-rays. Another article explains in detail what X-rays are and how they are used in medicine.
• The difference between a normal X-ray examination and CT is that the latter does not X-rays a specific part of the body. Instead, a CT works in such a way that a rotating X-ray source is installed within the ring through which the patient is being pushed.
• This X-ray source is also a ring that permanently emits X-rays on one side and has a receiver on the other side that intercepts the rays. Since the tube constantly circles around the patient's body during the examination, the patient is literally illuminated from all sides - and this either over the whole body or just in the area to be examined.
• The receiver sends the incoming signals to a computer, which uses the many individual images to calculate a three-dimensional image - this 3D representation is the great advantage of CT compared to simple X-rays.
• Since a CT works with X-rays, there is consequently the same risk of increased radiation exposure. In addition, additional contrast media are sometimes used in a CT examination. These always carry the risk of an allergic reaction.
• The CT examination is not as psychologically stressful as an MRI examination. The tube of the MRI is felt by many people to be cramped. This is not the case with CT, since it is only a ring that has a comparatively large diameter of around 70 centimeters. We will explain the difference between MRI and CT in more detail in another article.

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