Spiral computed tomography of the brain, thoracic cavity, lungs, abdominal organs

The effectiveness of treatment depends entirely on the accuracy of the diagnosis. Often there are so-called "medical errors", when a person begins to be treated for a completely different disease, causing irreparable harm to his body. An incorrectly prescribed therapy leads to a chronic course of the disease or even a lethal outcome. More recently, in medicine, a spiral-computer tomography has been used to make an accurate diagnosis.

The essence of the methodology

What is a computed tomography? This is a high-tech method, characterized by numerous advantages and unique accuracy. At the same time, the doctor gets the result much faster than with standard procedures.

How is spiral-computed tomography performed ? During its carrying out the table on which the patient should lay, starts to move smoothly and slowly. Around it, the X-ray tube with the detectors located on its surface begins to rotate in the same way.

The device is able to recognize neoplasms of a very small size, up to 1 mm. This allows for timely detection and cure of cancer. Scanning of one anatomical area is carried out within 5 minutes, and the laser camera performs large-format shots.

A striking effect is achieved on 64-slice modern high-speed scanners - at a low level of radiation, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of excellent quality are obtained.

Indications

Spiral tomography is necessary in the following cases:

• A study of the brain, as a result of which the doctor can detect areas of a stroke and injured blood vessels;
• The detection of inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses;
• The establishment of the cause of the formation of lymph nodes on the neck;
• Confirmation of the diagnosis before surgery on the abdominal cavity;
• Identification of changes in the lungs;
• Diagnosis of intervertebral hernias.

Benefits

Spiral computed tomography has certain advantages over conventional methods of investigation:

• Scanning (collecting information) is very fast. For a short period of time, an image of a certain anatomical area is formed, while the quality of the images is very high.
• Spatial 3D images are more accurate, and 3D models show the specific location of the pathology. The use of spiral scanning techniques allows you to examine arteries, detect aneurysms of vessels, their extent, narrowing.
• Non-invasiveness in comparison with myelography, ventriculography.
• The images do not show artifacts from the blood flow.
• Compared with conventional tomography, the radiation of the patient is reduced by X-rays.

How is the procedure carried out?

4 hours before the tomography is performed, you can not drink and eat. Sometimes a patient needs to drink a contrast agent before examining specific organs.

To make a spiral computed tomography, the patient must lie on a table that is movable, so that it is rolled into a special tunnel. To make it more convenient for the researcher, the table is equipped with special straps and cushions. This helps during the examination to limit its movement, so that the pictures are not blurred and clear.

Those patients who, for certain reasons, can not stay for a long time motionless and for a short time to hold their breath, inject sedatives.

In another room there is a computer station, behind which a doctor-technologist works, using the screen to control the scanner and giving the patient appropriate directions.

Spiral-computed tomography is considered quite safe. Although during the examination the patient receives a small amount of X-ray irradiation, but it is so small that it does not cause any harm to the body.

Contraindications

There is a certain risk of an allergic reaction when the patient is injected with a contrast agent or sedative.

If the patient suffers from asthma, diabetes, kidney failure, thyroid disease or heart disease, he must necessarily inform the doctor.

This procedure is contraindicated in pregnant women. If it is carried out in case of emergency, the belly is covered with a lead shield. It is also forbidden to examine those patients who have pacemakers, ferromagnetic implants, and weighing more than 130 kg.

Examination of the abdominal cavity

Spiral computed tomography of the abdominal cavity allows you to see a clear multilayered image of organs such as the spleen, liver, pancreas and others. Conduct it if the patient complains of pain in the pelvic region, abdomen, as well as in certain diseases of the large and small intestine.

In addition, the procedure is necessary for diagnosis:

• Appendicitis, diverticulitis, pyelonephritis, stones in the bladder and kidneys;
• Cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, internal bleeding, polyps and inflammatory processes in the intestine;
• Cancer of the abdominal cavity;
• Diseases of lymph nodes and vessels.

Spiral computed tomography of abdominal organs is performed with the obligatory use of contrast medium.

Lung examination

This procedure is necessary for the detection of lung cancer and metastases. Spiral computed tomography of the lung is prescribed in the event that there are all signs of a malignant tumor of these organs, and the X-ray image could not give accurate information about it. In addition, the examination is prescribed for tuberculosis, lung abscess, parasitic lung cysts, sarcoidosis, pneumonia.

Before the procedure, the patient is injected into the vein with a contrast agent containing iodine. If this medicine is allergic, you should inform your doctor about it.

Examination of the brain

Spiral computed tomography of the brain is widely used to diagnose severe and very serious head injuries, with high intracranial pressure, changes in blood circulation. The device is able to detect pathological conditions (neoplasms, abscesses, cavities), which are not visible on a conventional tomograph. With this procedure, the probability of detection and prevention of strokes and heart attacks increases.

In addition, spiral tomography is necessary in the following cases:

• To establish the causes of headaches, sudden paralysis, periodic obscuration of consciousness, a variety of visual disorders, with a violation of the sensitivity of individual areas of the body;
• If there is a suspicion of a brain tumor, rupture of the aortic aneurysm, intracranial bleeding;
• To establish a violation of the function of the inner ear in case of hearing impairment;
• If it is necessary to develop a plan for the forthcoming operation or to evaluate the success of an operation on the brain;
• To identify the damaged parts of the brain.

Sometimes the examination of the brain requires the use of contrast medium, which greatly facilitates the detection of cysts, atherosclerotic plaques, tumors, metastases, blood clots.

Chest cavity examination

Spiral computed tomography of the thoracic cavity is used to detect tuberculous foci, bronchopleural fistula and bronchiectasis cavities. This procedure allows you to accurately locate the tumor, rupture or stratification of the walls of blood vessels, to detect an increase in lymph nodes.

Such a survey is successfully used in oncosurgery, allowing to study the condition of a cancerous tumor, determine its boundaries and dimensions. In some cases, spiral tomography is prescribed for the detection of foreign bodies, for the urgent establishment of causes of dyspnea or with difficulties with swallowing.

Conclusion

Thus, spiral-computed tomography is a modern method of examining various organs, which makes it possible to establish the correct diagnosis very accurately. Doses of radiation in such a study are so insignificant that they do not cause any harm to a person, so do not be afraid of such a procedure.