CAT Scan pictures courtesy of General Electric

The Cat Scanner

Abdomen

A computerized tomography <CT) whole body scanner. A ‘CAT’ Scan, is now serving BTMH,patients. This three-quarters of a million dollar electronic marvel is hailed by many as the most significant advance in diagnostic medicine since the discovery of x-rays. \ The CT scanner combines aniadvanced x-ray scanning system , with a powerful mini-computer to permit physicians to study virtually any portion of the human anatomy and to make a rapid and accurate diagnosis. The CT picture is entirely different in appearance from a conventional x-ray. It is actually a cross-sectional view of one waferthin slice through the patient. It Is as though the patient were cut in two at that point and the exposed tissue photographed end on. This is akin to examining a slice of bread in a loaf without opening the package. - The ultra-high resolution capabilities of the CT scanner enable it to demonstrate very small variances in tissue density - variations so small they have not been visible without standard xray imaging techniques. This means that for the first time the physician can see details of miniscule body formations, such as the optic nerves, white and gray matter differences in the brain, the tiny structures in the inner ear and spine. The CT scan also is able to pinpoint the location of tumors, cysts, degenerated tissue and other abnormalities that conventional radiology could not approximate. Hus precise information helps surgeons plan the surgery with the least amount of patient danger. But there are other patient benefits as well. CT scans often turn

up information that precludes the neeu for risky exploratory surgery, and in many cases CT can eliminate the need for often painful diagnostic brain or spinal stutfies. For most people, the CT scan is completely painless. For a typical study, the patient is positioned on the examination table and then moved into the doughnut-like opening of the CT scanner. On one side, concealed within the machine, is the x-ray tube. Directly opposite are the detectors, also hidden out of sight. In the General Electric CT whole body scanning system, both rotate simultaneously in a complete circle around the patient. Once the cross-sectional ‘slice 1 to be studied is properly aligned, the scan can be performed. There is no discomfort to the patient, and nothing-except positioning aids-touches the patient. A complete examination might include from 10 to 20 individual scans to insure that nothing is overlooked. Each is performed consecutively , with only a few seconds delay between studies. When the scan is completed, the different views are reconstructed into a single image which shows the exact tissue density at some 150,000 or more points. The image is then displayed on a TV screen for the doctor to review. A high-speed computer is essential to correlate and reconstruct the enormous quantity of density information into a meaningful picture. The computer used by the CT scanner can complete the mdhons of-calculations required and display the completed image in under one minute. And while the computer is at work additional scans can be in progress. CT scanners have only been in widespread use fqr the past five years, but already they have irrevocably changed the way the docter looks at your body.