Going as far back as the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and finding use for them in examining the body for diagnostic purposes a year later, medical imaging has been a way to help determine abnormalities, injuries, and diseases. X-rays are still used today, as well as many other imaging options, including computed tomography (CT) scans.
These scans, used to examine internal organs and tissue, are quite useful, but are there times when a full-body scan may be necessary? Residents of the Beverly Hills, California, area, looking for diagnostic imaging like CT scans can find help from Dr. Shawn Veiseh and our dedicated medical staff.
Let’s look at how CT scans work to display an image, what they can be used to determine, and under what circumstances a full-body scan might be necessary.
An X-ray sends minor doses of radiation through your body to produce imaging information based on how lighter and denser tissue and bone absorb it. How well the radiation is absorbed determines the sharpness of the image, but the image is still a 2D reflection of the information.
CT scans use X-rays to get results, but the technology of the device allows for hundreds of images due to its structure. You’re placed on a table and moved into the CT device that spins around you, taking pictures and creating a 3D image of the body part for which we need information.
With both X-rays and CT scans, there are times when a contrast material is used to help illuminate the parts of your body we need to know more about.
With these scans, we can gather data on things like:
This data is helpful with issues like Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, heart disease, kidney stones, spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, and various forms of cancer.
Most of the time, you won’t need to have your whole body scanned for general problems. However, if a medical problem is widespread and data is needed on many parts of your body, a full-body scan can be useful.
This scan can provide information about the stages of different forms of cancer, especially if the cells have metastasized (spread beyond the original point of development into other tissues and organs). Severe damage from traumatic injuries may also require a full-body scan to catch problems that may be missed through other analyses.
The risk of using this method has to be weighed against the radiation exposure. For this reason, full-body scans are done on an individual basis after discussing the options with you and making sure it’s the best choice.
For full-body scans or other imaging options, make an appointment with Dr. Veiseh and our team today. Call our office or schedule a visit online.
