What is CT scanning the whole body?

Scan computer tomography (CT) of the whole body collects pictures of the whole body of the patient in a number of X -rays processed by computer. This technology is sometimes recommended for disease prevention to catch early warning signs of health problems. Government agencies and professional organizations of healthcare providers recommended this due to related risks. Diagnostically, scanning the whole body is rarely useful, because doctors usually have to look at only one area of ​​the body, not the whole. If medically indicated in a particular case, it can be considered. The dose can be high with CT scanning the whole body due to the number of pictures needed, which is more dangerous than scanning individual areas such as chest or pelvis. It makes it a potentially risky procedure, as it can increase the chances of developing cancer later in life. For preventCISCREENING, these risks may outweigh the advantage of catching something. During the test it is important to keep on to keep in order toLA ensured clear image quality. The computer compiles and processes images to generate useful images inside the body. Technicians can choose different slices they look at if they are concerned about a particular finding such as strange growth or organ,

Some populations may be exposed to increased risk of failures and can benefit from selective screening. For example, smokers can receive a CT chest scan to check the growth in the lungs. They usually do not need to scan the whole body CT, because a particular area of ​​interest is the chest. By limiting the exposure, health workers can achieve a balance between useful preventive care potentially dangerous and unnecessary medical procedures.

There may be cases where a doctor wants the whole body to learn more about what is happening inside the patient. This can be discussed with the patient and other members of the care team to find outWhether it's a good idea. The test is non -invasive, which may be beneficial for patient evaluation, and in some cases the risk of cancer may be for the benefits of the test. This testing may also include the use of contrast agents to enhance the anatomical structures of a special interest.