Diagnostic Imaging — CT Scan

At our Richmond location, Houston Metro Urology provides our patients the most technically efficient CT equipment to aid in diagnosis and treatment.  The CT scanner is one of the best diagnostic tools for analyzing urinary system disorders by providing detailed cross sectional views of all types of tissues.  Our professional team of radiologists and technicians assures that our patients are receiving accurate information for the best treatment by our team of physicians.

The LightSpeed® CT scanner from GE Medical Systems lets clinicians complete extremely fast exams while tailoring image quality, anatomic coverage and scan speeds to meet patient and application needs.

Computed Tomography (CT) System, also know as a “CAT Scan” is a medical diagnostic tool that allows the visualization of internal structures within the human body. This aids physicians in diagnosing disease, viewing internal abnormalities and assessing the extent of trauma damage.

During a typical CT procedure, the patient is placed on a table. The table then moves the patient through the gantry (a donut-shaped device), which houses an X-ray tube and detector array. For each image acquired, the X-ray tube rotates around the patient and the X-rays pass through the patient to the detector array, and thousands of X-ray measurements are acquired. The computer then processes this information and displays the corresponding images on a computer screen. (See Figure 1) This imaging technique avoids any superimposition of organs or tissues upon one another that might occur during other types of X-ray tomographic studies.

The CT exam creates images analogous to a single slice of bread from a whole loaf or a slice from an orange. (See Figure 2) Hence, the word ‘slice’ is often used to describe a view of patient anatomy.

The quality of an image depends on the nature of the X-ray source and detectors, the number and speed of the measurements made, the details of the reconstruction technique (algorithm), the machine characteristics, and the methods of data display and interpretation. The computer allows healthcare professionals to shade, rotate, correlate and measure anatomy in the image. This data can be manipulated to derive even more precise clinical information. While conventional X-ray can discern tissue density difference of five percent, CT can distinguish a density difference of 1 percent or less, aiding in diagnostic confidence.

The GE LightSpeed® was introduced in 1998 as the world's first multi-slice scanner. It provides clinicians with a unique feature called variable-speed scanning, which offers greater flexibility to customize patient procedures and perform new types of patient exams. When combined with new acquisition techniques, variable-speed scanning can capture fast-moving images of the heart for cardiovascular studies. The features also allow doctors to perform other studies, such as those for neurology, oncology, trauma and angiography. Along with new procedures, doctors have the flexibility to customize protocols for each unique patient, which enhances productivity and image quality.

LightSpeed® Customers Typically
Conduct the Following Procedures:

• Cardiac and coronary vessel analysis

• Coronary artery calcification scoring

• Angiography studies

• Trauma/emergency room situations

• Stroke assessment

• Oncology/cancer care

• Pulmonary emboli

• Inner ear ailments

• Spinal injuries

• Abdominal injuries

• Pediatric assessment

• Kidney exams

• Liver exams

• Lung exams

Patient Benefits

The LightSpeed® CT scanner allows doctors to simultaneously capture multiple images of a patient’s anatomy in a matter of minutes.  Several patient benefits are listed below.

• Automated dose-reduction features

• Breathing lights help patients remain motionless during scans

• Less time needed for breath-holds, resulting in less stress to the patient

• Greater flexibility (e.g., obtain thinner or thicker slices without rescanning the patient)

• Full CT Angiography coverage

• Better cross-sectional displays and 3D images

• Clear images aid improved patient diagnosis

• Fast, accurate scan times mean faster patient exams

• Captures heart images in a single breath-hold

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For more information about this procedure, contact a urologist in the group
at 713-351-0644. Click here to download a brochure about CT Scan.