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Computed tomography of the chest or chest CT is a group of computed tomography scan
Computed tomography of the chest or chest CT is a group of computed tomography scan protocol
Protocol may refer to:
Sociology and politics
* Protocol (politics)
Protocol originally (in Late Middle English, c. 15th century) meant the minutes or logbook taken at a meeting, upon which an agreement was based. The term now commonly refers to ...
s used in medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to revea ...
to evaluate the lung
The lungs are the primary Organ (biology), organs of the respiratory system in many animals, including humans. In mammals and most other tetrapods, two lungs are located near the Vertebral column, backbone on either side of the heart. Their ...
s and search for lung disorders.
Contrast agent
A contrast agent (or contrast medium) is a substance used to increase the contrast of structures or fluids within the body in medical imaging. Contrast agents absorb or alter external electromagnetism or ultrasound, which is different from radiop ...
s are sometimes used in CT scans of the chest to accentuate or enhance the differences in radiopacity between vascular Vascular can refer to:
* blood vessels, the vascular system in animals
* vascular tissue
Vascular tissue is a complex transporting tissue, formed of more than one cell type, found in vascular plants. The primary components of vascular tissue ...
ized and less vascularized structures, but a standard chest CT scan is usually non-contrasted (i.e. "plain") and relies on different algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of Rigour#Mathematics, mathematically rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific Computational problem, problems or to perform a computation. Algo ...
s to produce various series of digitalized images known as ''view'' or "''window''". Modern detail-oriented scans such as high-resolution computed tomography
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a type of computed tomography (CT) with specific techniques to enhance image resolution. It is used in the diagnosis of various health problems, though most commonly for lung disease, by assessing th ...
(HRCT) is the gold standard
A gold standard is a backed currency, monetary system in which the standard economics, economic unit of account is based on a fixed quantity of gold. The gold standard was the basis for the international monetary system from the 1870s to the ...
in respiratory medicine
''Respiratory Medicine'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Elsevier covering research in pulmonology. According to the ''Journal Citation Reports'', ''Respiratory Medicine'' has a 2020 impact factor
The impact factor (I ...
and thoracic surgery for investigating disorders of the lung parenchyma
upright=1.6, Lung parenchyma showing damage due to large subpleural bullae.
Parenchyma () is the bulk of functional substance in an animal organ such as the brain or lungs, or a structure such as a tumour. In zoology, it is the tissue that ...
(alveoli
Alveolus (; pl. alveoli, adj. alveolar) is a general anatomical term for a concave cavity or pit.
Uses in anatomy and zoology
* Pulmonary alveolus, an air sac in the lungs
** Alveolar cell or pneumocyte
** Alveolar duct
** Alveolar macrophage
* M ...
).
Contrasted CT scans of the chest are usually used to confirm diagnosis of for lung cancer
Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...
and abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body, usually caused by bacterial infection. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pre ...
es, as well as to assess lymph node
A lymph node, or lymph gland, is a kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system and the adaptive immune system. A large number of lymph nodes are linked throughout the body by the lymphatic vessels. They are major sites of lymphocytes that includ ...
status at the hila Hila may refer to:
*plural form of Hilum (disambiguation), Hilum
*Village in Israel: Mitzpe Hila
*Hila (given name), in Hebrew
* For the Islamic concept of "stratagem", see Ḥiyal
*Hila, Ambon, the town on the Indonesian island of Ambon where Fort ...
and the mediastinum
The mediastinum (from ;: mediastina) is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. Surrounded by loose connective tissue, it is a region that contains vital organs and structures within the thorax, mainly the heart and its vessels, the eso ...
. CT pulmonary angiogram
A CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) is a medical diagnostic test that employs Computed tomography angiography, computed tomography (CT) angiography to obtain an image of the pulmonary artery, pulmonary arteries. Its main use is to diagnose pulmonary e ...
, which uses time-matched ("phased") protocols to assess the lung perfusion and the patency of great arteries The great arteries are the primary arteries that carry blood away from the heart, which include:
* ''Pulmonary artery'': the vessel that carries oxygen-depleted blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
* ''Aorta'': the blood vessel through whic ...
and veins
Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and fetal c ...
, particularly to look for pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an pulmonary artery, artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain ...
.
References
{{reflist Diagnostic radiology Respiratory system imaging X-ray computed tomography