X-Ray Medical Group, Inc provides excellence and professional service in CT (computed tomography), sometimes called CAT scan at our various locations throughout San Diego. Our CT scan uses special x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angles around the body and then uses computer processing of the information to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs.
CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue—Lung, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels—with great clarity. Using our specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the body, our Radiologists at X-Ray Medical Group can more easily diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
CT can clearly show even very small bones as well as surrounding tissues such as muscle and blood vessels. This makes it invaluable in diagnosing and treating spinal problems and injuries to the hands, feet and other skeletal structures. CT images can also be used to measure bone mineral density for the detection of osteoporosis. In cases of trauma CT can quickly identify injuries to the liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and other internal organs. CT can also play a significant role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases that can lead to stroke, kidney failure or even death.
CT is one of the best tools for studying the chest and abdomen. It is often the preferred method for diagnosing many different cancers, including lung, liver and pancreatic cancer, since the image allows a physician to confirm the presence of a tumor and measure its size, precise location and the extent of the tumor's involvement with other nearby tissue.
The National Lung Screening Trial, a large recent study conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the Lung Screening Study group, showed that participants had a significantly reduced risk of dying of lung cancer. The trial, performed between 2002 and 2010, enrolled over 50,000 current or former heavy smokers, ages 55-74, with at least 30 "pack-years" of smoking history (calculated by multiplying the average number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years a person has smoked). Participants who were screened for lung cancer with regular CT scans with lowered radiation dose showed up to 20% decreased risk of dying from lung cancer compared to screening with chest x-ray, according to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011. The benefit stems from detecting lung cancer at an early stage, before symptoms develop.
Details can be found on the following National Cancer Institute website
Please contact your doctor, to see if you qualify
Metal objects can affect the image, so avoid clothing with zippers and snaps. You may also be asked to remove hairpins, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids and any removable dental work, depending on the part of the body that is being scanned. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for one or more hours before the exam. Women should always inform their doctor or x-ray Technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your CT exam.
