Uses of Computed Tomography

Computed Tomography is used in various medical situations where highly specific information is required to diagnose a medical condition, such as the size, density and location of a tumour or malformation.

Computed Tomography is used for the following situations:

• Diagnosis
• Surgery
• Precursor to therapies (usually radiation therapy)

Computed Tomography is commonly used in cancer diagnosis and treatment, with uses including:

• Detection or confirmation of the existence of a tumour
• Determining the size and location of the tumor
• Determining tumour spread
• Guiding a biopsy (a small needle used to remove cell or tissue samples for microscopic analysis)
• Aiding the planning of a course of radiation treatment
• Determining whether a cancer is responding to treatment
• Diagnosing various diseases
• Discovering the location and extent of a trauma