Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Why it's done

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your doctor may recommend a CT scan to help:

  • Diagnose muscle and bone disorders, such as bone tumors and fractures
  • Pinpoint the location of a tumor, infection or blood clot
  • Guide procedures such as surgery, biopsy and radiation therapy
  • Detect and monitor diseases such as cancer or heart disease
  • Detect internal injuries and internal bleeding
References
  1. Mettler FA. Computed tomography. Essentials of Radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/169481595-5/0/1276/7.html?tocnode=49300943&fromURL=7.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0527-3..50004-4--cesec3_8. Accessed Nov. 6, 2009.
  2. CT-Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed Nov. 6, 2009.
  3. Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. About your CT scan. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2008.
  4. Safety: Radiation exposure in X-ray examinations. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray. Accessed Nov. 9, 2009.
  5. Radiation-emitting products: What are the radiation risks from CT? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/MedicalX-Rays/ucm115317.htm. Accessed Nov. 9, 2009.
  6. Contrast agents. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. https://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/contrast_eng.pdf. Accessed Nov. 9, 2009.
  7. CT: Abdomen and pelvis. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=abdominct. Accessed Nov. 9m 2009.
  8. Keeping kids still during exams. American Society of Radiologic Technologists.  https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/KeepingKidsStillDuringExams.aspx. Accessed Nov. 9, 2009.
MY00309 Jan. 12, 2010

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger