What, How and Why CT?
What is CT? How does CT work? Why do we use CT? Find out below…
What is CT?
CT scans or Computed Tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses multiple x-rays to build up an image. Conventional x-rays will produce a 2D image for interpretation, where CT scans create a 3D image which then can be reconstructed. CT scans will show bone, muscle, organs and blood vessels and will pick up on any abnormalities within the body.
How does CT work?
CT scans involve a patient going under sedation or general anaesthetic before entering the machine. We call our machine ‘Donut’ as it looks like a giant donut. X-rays are taken as the inside of the donut spins allowing the machine to make image slices of the body, these are then reconstructed to create a 3D image. These images are then checked for any abnormalities and a report is produced.
Why do we use it?
CT is great as the level of detail we can see is just incredible! It is non-invasive and non-painful for our patients and can be used on all species of animals, including our more exotic patients. It is useful for a wide range of conditions including diagnosing disease, surgical planning and progress checking. CT is safe for our patients with concurrent disease or patients who are unwell with an unknown disease or Illness. As the procedure is non-invasive, patients can go home the same day as soon as they’ve woken up from the anaesthetic or sedation.
Our Vet and Nurse team can chat through whether it is the right thing for your pet if you have any questions or wish for further information.
