A full body computed tomography (CT) scan utilizes x-rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside of the body.
During the full body CT scan , you will be asked to lie on a table that is hooked to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine. The CT scanner sends X-ray pulses through the body area being studied. Each pulse lasts less than a second and takes a picture of a thin slice of the organ or area. One part of the scanning machine can tilt to take pictures from different positions. The pictures are saved on a computer.
A full body CT scan can be used to study many parts of your body, such as the chest, belly, pelvis, or an arm or leg. It also can take pictures of body organs, such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, lungs, and heart. It also can study blood vessels, bones, and the spinal cord. Fluoroscopy, which uses a steady beam of X-rays to look at movement within the body, may also be done during a CT scan.
An iodine dye is often used to make structures and organs easier to see on the CT pictures. The dye may be used to check blood flow, find tumors, and look for other problems. Dye can be put in a vein via an IV in your arm, or you may drink the dye for some tests, or the dye may be put into other parts of your body (such as the rectum or a joint), to see those areas better. CT pictures may be taken before and after the dye is used.
CT scans are used to study areas of the body and arm or leg.
Chest (thorax). A CT scan of the chest can look for problems with the lungs, heart, esophagus, the major blood vessel, the aorta, or the tissues in the center of the chest. Some common problems a CT scan may find include infection, lung cancer, a pulmonary embolism and an aneurysm. It also can be used to see if cancer has spread into the chest from another area of the body.
Abdomen. A CT scan of the belly or abdomen can find cysts, abscesses, infection, tumors, an aneurysm, enlarged lymph nodes, foreign objects, bleeding in the belly, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and appendicitis.
A CT scan may be used to guide a needle during a tissue biopsy. It may also be used to guide the placement of a needle to drain an abscess. For people with cancer, a CT scan can help determine how much the cancer has spread. This is called staging the cancer.
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