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The radiation doses received from CT scans is variable. Compared to the lowest dose X-ray techniques, CT scans can have 100 to 1,000 times higher dose than conventional X-rays. [149] However, a lumbar spine X-ray has a similar dose as a head CT. [150] Articles in the media often exaggerate the relative dose of CT by comparing the lowest-dose X ...
Computed tomography or CT scan (previously known as CAT scan, the "A" standing for "axial") uses ionizing radiation (x-ray radiation) in conjunction with a computer to create images of both soft and hard tissues. These images look as though the patient was sliced like bread (thus, "tomography" – "tomo" means "slice").
When an exposure is made, X-ray radiation exits the tube as what is known as the primary beam. When the primary beam passes through the body, some of the radiation is absorbed in a process known as attenuation. Anatomy that is denser has a higher rate of attenuation than anatomy that is less dense, so bone will absorb more X-rays than soft tissue.
Quantitative CT scans are primarily used to evaluate bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and hip. In general, solid phantoms placed in a pad under the patient during CT image acquisition are used for calibration. These phantoms contain materials that represent a number of different equivalent bone mineral densities.
Number of chest X-rays resulting in same effective dose Skull radiography (X-ray) 0.015 1 Chest X-ray 0.013 1 Lumbar spine X-ray 0.44 30 Abdomen X-ray 0.46 35 Pelvis X-ray 0.48 35 Screening mammography (4 views) 0.2 15 Dental X-ray (intraoral) 0.013 1 Diagnostic fluoroscopy: barium swallow 1 70 Cardiac angiography 7 500 Head CT 2 150 Chest CT 10
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves and blood vessels at the level of the lumbar vertebrae. Spinal stenosis may also affect the cervical or thoracic region, in which case it is known as cervical spinal stenosis or thoracic spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis can ...
Image from a CT scan of the brain. CT imaging uses X-rays in conjunction with computing algorithms to image the body. [7] In CT, an X-ray tube opposite an X-ray detector (or detectors) in a ring-shaped apparatus rotate around a patient, producing a computer-generated cross-sectional image (tomogram). [8]
Historically the procedure involved the injection of a radiocontrast agent into the cervical or lumbar spine, followed by several X-ray projections. Today, myelography has largely been replaced by the use of MRI scans , although the technique is still sometimes used under certain circumstances – though now usually in conjunction with CT ...