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Computed Tomography Imaging @ Focus

Computed Tomography (CT or “CAT” Scan) scanning is a rapid, painless diagnostic examination that combines x-rays and computers. A CT scan allows the radiologist to see the location, nature, and extent of many different diseases or abnormalities inside your body. CT scanning can be used to obtain information about almost any body organ (such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands, lungs, and heart), blood vessels, the abdominal cavity, bones, and the spinal cord. Our centers have Multislice (16 Slice/Sec) & Spiral CT scanners equipped with new software techniques and workstations i.e. Advantage Workstation 4.2 which generate data and detail quickly and accurately.

Procedures:

CT Head or Brain

CT Scan of Paranasal Sinus

Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)

Perfusion Imaging

Virtual Bronchoscopy

Body Imaging

Computed Tomography of Head or Brain

Computed tomography (CT), sometimes called CAT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to obtain many images from different angles and then join them together to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs. CT scanning provides more detailed information on head injuries, stroke, brain tumors and other brain diseases than do regular radiographs (plain x-ray films). It also can show bone, soft tissues and blood vessels in the same images. CT of the head and brain is a patient-friendly exam that involves radiation exposure.

Some common uses of the procedure:

Detection of bleeding, brain damage and skull fractures in patients with head injuries.
Detecting a blood clot or bleeding within the brain shortly after a patient exhibits symptoms of a stroke.
Detection of stroke, especially with a new technique called Perfusion CT.
Evaluation of the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in patients with facial trauma, and planning surgical reconstruction.
Detection of bleeding in a patient with a sudden severe headache who may have a ruptured or leaking aneurysm.
Detection of most brain tumors.
Diagnosing diseases of the temporal bone on the side of the skull, which may be causing hearing problems.
Detection of enlarged brain cavities (ventricles) in patients with hydrocephalus.
Determining whether inflammation or other changes are present in the paranasal sinuses.
Planning radiation therapy for cancer of the brain or other tissues.
Guiding the passage of a needle used to obtain a tissue sample (biopsy) from the brain.
Non-invasive assessment of aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations through a technique called CT angiography.
Detecting diseases or malformations of the skull.
Three-dimensional imaging of the skull and brain structures.

CT Scan of Paranasal Sinus

The paranasal sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces located within the bones of the face and surrounding the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity is a system of air channels connecting the nose with the back of the throat. There are four pairs of sinuses, each connected to the nasal cavity by small openings. The paranasal sinuses are lined with a special tissue called a nasal mucous membrane that secretes mucus to keep the nose and sinuses moist and thus to humidify the air passing toward the lungs. Normally, air passes in and out of the sinuses and mucous drains from the sinuses into the nose.

Some common uses of the procedure:

Computed tomography (CT) can provide important information about sinus and nasal structure. CT is able to detect sinuses that are filled with fluid or sinus membranes that are thickened. It can assist your physician in diagnosing sinusitis, which can be due to either infection or inflammation in one or more of the sinuses. This condition may be acute (sudden and short), chronic (ongoing and long-term) or recurring (repeated). Among the causes of sinusitis are allergies, upper respiratory infection and an obstruction in the nose. When the nasal mucous membrane swells, the opening from the sinuses to the nasal cavity can become blocked. Fluids that would normally drain into the nose become trapped in the sinuses and infection can set in. Pressure, pain, headache, fever and tenderness in the sinus area can result.

CT may also be used to define the anatomy before surgery or to give further information about certain tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses.

Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)

CTA is an examination that screens for arterial disease by utilizing x-rays from a CT or “CAT” scanner. This exam visualizes vascular structures throughout the body, including arteries serving the brain to those bringing blood to the heart, lungs, kidneys and arms and legs. CT (computed tomography) angiography (CTA) is an examination that uses x-rays to visualize blood flow in arterial and venous vessels throughout the body, from arteries serving the brain to those bringing blood to the lungs, kidneys, and arms and legs.

CT combines the use of x-rays with computerized analysis of the images. Beams of x-rays are passed from a rotating device through the area of interest in the patient's body from several different angles to create cross-sectional images, which then are assembled by computer into a three-dimensional picture of the area being studied. Compared to catheter angiography, which involves placing a sizable catheter and injecting contrast material into a large artery or vein, CTA is a much less invasive and more patient-friendly procedure—contrast material is injected into a small peripheral vein by using a small needle or catheter. This type of exam has been used to screen large numbers of individuals for arterial disease. Most patients undergo CT angiography without being admitted to a hospital.

Perfusion Imaging

Perfusion Imaging is done as an adjunct to our routine Computed Tomography examination. Perfusion is used to check the flow of blood to normal tissue and diseased tissue. Since CT is the diagnostic method of choice in many acute situations, CT Perfusion is the logical next step to quantify patient's condition quickly so clinicians can begin appropriate treatment. CT Perfusion offers a clear opportunity to expand CT capabilities to provide valuable information to referring clinicians, and excellent service to patients. With CT Perfusion, one scanner does it all.

Because of the many intricacies of hemodynamics, CT Perfusion analyzes both arterial inflow and venous outflow for the calculation of the parametric image. This eliminates the standard assumptions about vasculature in the brain that introduce variability into the blood volume measurement.

CT Perfusion yields another unique benefit: low contrast bolus rates. Higher injection rates can carry higher risks, and may not be acceptable for certain types of patients. CT Perfusion uses arterial and venous data from the entire acquisition, so a rapid bolus is not required to calculate MTT or time to peak. CT perfusion imaging has been proposed to be used primarily as a method of evaluating patients suspected of having an acute stroke whenever thrombolysis is considered. CT perfusion imaging may provide information about the presence and site of vascular occlusion, the presence and extent of ischemia, and about tissue viability. This information may help the clinician determine whether thrombolysis is appropriate.

Virtual Bronchoscopy (VB)

Multidetector CT generated virtual bronchoscopy (VB) represents one of the most recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) visualization techniques which allows a 3D evaluation of the airways down to the sixth- to seventh-generation. In comparison with real bronchoscopy, VB has some advantages: it is a non-invasive procedure that can visualize areas inaccessible to the flexible bronchoscope.

Several approaches to virtual endoscopy are being explored in the biomedical imaging field. The figure below shows a polygonal based method. The airways of the Visible Human male have been segmented and polygonal models have been created. The coloration of the airways has been obtained from the cryo section data and mapped onto the polygonal model. Realtime manipulation allows the physician to investigate the anatomy in an intuitive manner including the execution of a virtual endoscopic exam.

Virtual bronchoscopy is able to evaluate bronchial stenosis and obstruction caused by both endoluminal pathology (tumor, mucus, foreign bodies) and external compression (anatomical structures, tumor, lymph nodes), can be helpful in the preoperative planning of stent placement and can be used to evaluate surgical sutures after lung transplantations, lobectomy or pneumectomy. In children, in some indications, VB can replace fiber optical bronchoscopy (FB) when this technique is considered too invasive. Finally, VB can also be used to evaluate anatomical malformations and bronchial variants. Virtual bronchoscopy is accurate but its accuracy is not 100% because false-positives and false-negatives occur. Virtual bronchoscopy contributes to a better understanding of tracheo-bronchial pathology. Fiber optical bronchoscopy will, without doubt, remain the golden standard but it can be expected that in the near future, the technique of VB will find a place in the daily routine.

Body Imaging

CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue with great clarity, including organs like the liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys, lung, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels—with great clarity. Using specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the colon and the rectum, an experienced radiologist can accurately diagnose many causes of abdominal pain such as an abscess in the abdomen, an inflamed colon or colon cancer, diverticulitis, cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders and appendicitis. Often, no additional diagnostic workup is necessary and treatment planning can begin immediately.

Multislice (16 Slice / sec) Division

C-10, Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016

Tel.: +91-11-42199992 (30 Lines)

Fax: +91-11-26852473

E-mail: , focusimaging@gmail.com


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