CT scans (computerised (axial) tomography scans) can give doctors information to help them diagnose a variety of conditions. They can help to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis, or occasionally identify a condition that was not even suspected.
Unlike other imaging methods, a CT scan can give a detailed view of lots of different tissue types in the body, including lungs, bones, soft tissues and blood vessels.
- Head scan: an effective method of checking the brain for suspected tumours, bleeding or swelling of the arteries. It is also useful for investigating the brain following a stroke.
- Abdominal scan: used to detect tumours and diagnose conditions that cause internal organs – including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines or lungs - to be enlarged or inflamed.
- Vascular scan: used to assess vascular (blood flow) conditions in different parts of the body.
- Bone scan: used to assess injury and disease to bones, particularly in the spine. It can be used to assess bone density when investigating osteoporosis.
- Accidental injury: a CT scan can be used after serious accidents to look for internal injuries, such as tears of the spleen, kidneys or liver.
- Preparation for tests and treatments: a CT scan can identify normal and abnormal tissue. This can be useful for planning areas for radiotherapy treatment. It can also act as a guide for taking tissue samples and needle biopsies.
CT scan screening
There is concern that, in some cases, CT scans are being used unnecessarily. Some private medical providers offer CT scans as a type of screening to detect disease in patients who do not have symptoms or any significant risk factors for a disease. This can be expensive and often put you at unnecessary risk.
CT scans are so detailed that they can detect what appear to be abnormalities in healthy people. Usually, the abnormalities are not serious, but the diagnosis can lead to undue anxiety and unnecessary further tests.
It is important to weigh up the potential benefits and risks associated with a CT scan before choosing to have one (Read the article on the: “Risks of CT scans”).
It is generally not recommended that you have a CT scan for peace of mind if you do not have any symptoms. If you have symptoms of injury or illness that require an evaluation using a CT scan, you may benefit from a scan, but should only have one after medical referral.
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