‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

By : Mohamed Ahmed Babiker

What is Computed Tomography (CT) ?
 The term “computed tomography”, or CT, refers to a
computerized x-ray imaging procedure in which a narrow beam
of x-rays is aimed at a patient and quickly rotated around the
body, producing signals (based on the attenuation coefficient of
materials) that are processed by the machine’s computer to
generate cross-sectional images—or “slices”—of the body.

 These slices are called tomographic images and contain more

detailed information than conventional x-rays.

 Once a number of successive slices are collected by the machine’s

computer, they can be digitally “stacked” together to form a
three-dimensional image of the patient that allows for easier
identification and location of basic structures as well as possible
tumors or abnormalities.
General overview of x-ray
Production of x-ray
X-rays for CT scans are made in two ways. One way involves
an electron slowing down as it travels around an atom. The
energy that is lost when the electron loses its
momentum forms an X-ray. This is called “bremsstrahlung”,
from the German word for ‘braking radiation’. The
bremsstrahlung x-rays wavelength can vary over the x-ray
spectrum.
The second method of X-ray production occurs when an inner
shell electron is ejected out from an incoming electron from an
electron and an outer shell electron down to replace a lowest
shell electron. When this happens, an x-ray is formed.

This lowest shell electron is ejected by the collision with the

incoming electron. This method is called “Kshell” emission.
Kshell emission produces X-rays at one wavelength only.
INTRODUCTION

Designed by Godfrey N. Hounsfield to

overcome the visual representation
challenges in radiography and conventional
tomography by collimating the X-ray beam
and transmitting it only through small
cross-sections of the body
 G.N.HOUNSFIELD ALLAN M. CORMACK

In 1979, G.N. Hounsfield shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine
with Allan MacLeod Cormack, Physics Professor who developed solutions
to mathematical problems involved in CT.
Important events
YEAR EVENTS
1969 G.N. Hounsfield developed first clinically useful
CT head scanner

1971 First clinically useful CT head scanner was

installed at Atkinson-Morley Hospital (England)
1972 First paper on CT presented to British Institute
of Radiology by Hounsfield and Dr. Ambrose

1974 Dr. Ledley introduced the whole body CT

scanner (ACTA scanner)
1979 G.N. Hounsfield shared the Nobel Prize with
Allan MacLeod Cormack
 Tomography Scanners
CT Machines are basically a motorized table with an array of cathode ray X-
ray tubes positioned around the patient’s body in a radial fashion. With the
aid of computers, image data can be acquired and processed to reconstruct
images of the underlying information.
Cross-sectional slices
Think like looking into a loaf of bread by cutting it into thin slices
and then viewing the slices individually.
Comparison of CT with Conventional Radiography

 Conventional radiography
suffers from the collapsing of
3D structures onto a 2D image

 CT gives accurate diagnostic

information about the
distribution of structures
inside the body
 Comparison of CT with Conventional Radiography
A conventional X-ray image is basically a shadow.
Shadows give you an incomplete picture of an object's shape.

This is the basic idea of computer aided tomography. In a CT scan machine, the X-ray
beam moves all around the patient, scanning from hundreds of different angles.
Comparison of CT with Conventional Radiography
Radiographic procedure is qualitative and not quantitative
Principle of CT Imaging
 X-ray source rotating around the patient
 Patient is exposured by narrow x-ray beam
 Detector array on the opposite site of the patient
 Up to 1000 projections are measured in angles covering 360 degree
 Object is represented by an matrix of volume elements (voxels)
 Beam attenuation is measured = ray sum
 CT numbers
 The numbers in the
image matrix are
called CT numbers.

 Each pixel has a

number which
represents the x-ray
attenuation in the
corresponding voxel of
the object
GENERATIONS
 Data gathering techniques have developed in stages
termed Generations.

 Scan time reduction is the predominant reason for

introducing new configurations
 Scanning the patient - Evolution of
CT scanners
1st Generation 2nd Generation

3rd Generation 4th Generation

Fifth-Generation CT Scanners (EBCT)

 Electron gun
 Large Arcs of tungsten targets
 Detector ring
 17 slices per second
 In EBCT an electron beam is electro-magnetically
steered towards an array of tungsten X-ray anodes that
are positioned circularly around the patient. The
anode that was hit emits X-rays that are collimated and
detected as in conventional CT. The use of an electron
beam allows for very quick scanning because there are
no moving parts. An entire scan can be completed in
50 to 100 milliseconds. This quick scan time makes this
the only CT method which can scan the beating heart.
At the present time, these machines are installed in
only a few sites world-wide.
 CT Room Layout
 CT room must meet several requirements
 it must have floors with adequate load-carrying capacity
 its walls must be constructed of X-ray absorbing material (this is
usually a barium (Ba) plaster)
 the floor should be lined with material that is both anti-slip and
antistatic
 Separate rooms for CT scanner and radiographers
 Separated by special protective window-glass (containing lead, Pb)
Advantages and disadvantages of CT
Advantages :
 CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.
 A major advantage of CT is its ability to image bone,
soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same time.
 Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very
detailed images of many types of tissue as well as the
lungs, bones, and blood vessels.
 CT examinations are fast and simple; in emergency
cases, they can reveal internal injuries and bleeding
quickly enough to help save lives.
 CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool
for a wide range of clinical problems.
 CT is less sensitive to patient movement than MRI.
 CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical
device of any kind, unlike MRI.
 CT imaging provides real-time imaging
Disadvantages
 The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies
 CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for
pregnant women unless medically necessary because
of potential risk to the baby in the womb.
 Manufacturers of intravenous contrast indicate
mothers should not breastfeed their babies for 24-48
hours after contrast medium is given.
 Because children are more sensitive to radiation, they
should have a CT exam only if it is essential for making
a diagnosis and should not have repeated CT exams
unless absolutely necessary. CT scans in children
should always be done with low-dose technique.