Advance in CT technology 

Spinal CT scan 

If an MRI is unavailable, a CT of the spine can demonstrate the bony canal, intervertebral foramen, and disc protrusion. After instilling some intrathecal contrast, CT scanning clearly demonstrated lesions compressing the spinal cord or the cervical-medullary junction. 

Coronal CT scan 

In the absence of the latest scanners and good reconstruction, full neck extension combined with maximal angulation of the CT gantry permits direct coronal scanning.   A coronal CT -scan shows a tumor of the ethmoidal sinus.

CT angiography 

Helical scanning during infusion of intravenous contrast provides a non-invasive method of demonstrating intracranial vessels in 2 and 3-D CT angiography is as accurate as conventional angiography in detecting small aneurysms. 

CT scan in bone diseases

Computed tomography (CT) is used selectively for assessing patients with bone and joint disease. CT may be used when skeletal configuration needs defining when calcific lesions are being assessed, when MRI is contraindicated, or when articular regions are being evaluated in which an adjacent joint replacement creates signal artifacts on MRI, using specific metal artifact reduction algorithms.

CT scan for brain 

CT – scan is good for demonstrating bone and calcification well. It will also detect abnormalities of the brain and ventricles, such as atrophy, tumors, cysts, abscesses, vascular lesions, and hydrocephalus but a CT – scan is not optimal for lesions of meninges, and cranial nerves. 

CT scan in Respiratory condition

Computed tomography (CT scan ) provides detailed images of the pulmonary parenchyma, mediastinum, pleura, and bony structures. The displayed range of densities can be adjusted to highlight different structures, such as the lung parenchyma, the mediastinal vascular structures, or the bone.

In cases of suspected lung cancer, CT  is central to both diagnosis and staging and facilitates percutaneous needle biopsy.

CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has become the investigation of choice in the diagnosis of pulmonary.

CT may assist in identifying the cavitation of tuberculosis, fungal infection
 , and other signs of infection (halo–air crescent) thromboembolism. CT may be used to assess disease progression, thereby predicting prognosis and in screening to detect the earliest signs of disease.

Computed tomography angiography (CTA)

Computed tomography angiography is a computed reconstruction of vascular structures in the body.  In CTA, iodine is injected using a power injector for both venous and arterial imaging. CTA is used to detect thrombosis within veins or arteries, stenosis, aneurysms,  vascular malformation, and pulmonary embolism.

Computed tomography urography (CTU)

Computed tomography urography (CTU) is used to evaluate cysts and mass lesions in the kidney or filling defects within the collecting systems. CTU has largely replaced the previous gold-standard investigation of intravenous urography (IVU) for the investigation of the upper urinary tract.

For the investigation of patients with renal trauma, a triple-phase CT scan with a delayed phase, to assess the integrity of the collecting system, is performed.

What are the benefits of a CT scan compared to an MRI? 

A CT scan is generally quicker, less expensive, and readily available than MRI. It is often better than MRI at assessing cortical bone and for specific density measurement. Please note there is variation in the type and quality of imaging depending on department, training, the expertise of the radiologists, and the preference of clinical staff.