The use of computed tomography (CT) scan presentation
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The document discusses the use of computed tomography (CT) scans to assess body composition. It notes that CT scans can provide highly accurate and detailed images of tissues like fat, muscle, and organs. The advantages of CT scans are its high resolution images, ability to quantify tissues, and clinical usefulness when images are already being taken. However, concerns include the costs, specialized skills and equipment required, and risks of radiation exposure. The document concludes that while radiation risks exist, CT scans remain very useful for diagnostic purposes due to their image quality and information provided.
The use of computed tomography (CT) scan presentation
- 1. The use of computed tomography (CT) scan in body composition assessment Johnson Mwove Advances in Nutritional Assessment and Interventions
- 2. Introduction • Body composition refers to the amount of fat and lean tissues in our body; it is a science that looks beyond a unit of body weight, accounting for the proportion of different tissues and its relationship to health. • The emerging use of imaging techniques in the clinical setting has highlighted the importance of body compositions as predictors of morbidity and mortality.
- 3. Introduction • Body composition health is vital in treatment decisions, prognostic outcomes, and quality of life in several nonclinical and clinical states (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014). • Body composition can be estimated using different modalities; anthropometry, body volume/density, total body water or hydrometry, major body elements, impedance, imaging/x-ray attenuation such as computerized tomography (CT), and multi-compartment models.
- 4. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • A CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses a computer processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices of the skeletal muscle, bone, visceral organs, brain tissue and other soft tissues inside the body. • As the X-rays passes through the different tissues attenuation (absorption) occurs differently (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014).
- 5. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • This attenuation through different tissues is detected and an image is reconstructed (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014). • Sometimes a dye called contrast material, put in a vein (IV) or placed in other parts e.g. a joint, or taken as a drink depending on the type of scan, may be used to help better visualize the organs.
- 6. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • CT scan can be used to visualize nearly all parts of the body with exquisite anatomical detail in a brief scan time (Ricciardi, 2016) to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment (Adkinson et al., 2017).
- 7. Advantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • It is a highly accurate quantitative and qualitative measure of body composition at the tissue-organ level, particularly total and regional adipose tissue and skeletal muscle tissue. • Gives a high image resolution. • It has a consistent image attenuation value within and between scans.
- 8. Advantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • It is useful in clinical settings where these images are acquired for medical diagnosis/ follow-up purposes. • CT Scan provides more details than plain X-rays. The use of computed tomography has been shown to be superior to plain radiography for the detection of injuries in important body regions including the spine, thorax, abdomen and pelvis (Hunt, Smith, & Oliver, 2012).
- 9. Advantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • Ideal for certain complications where other options are less useful. CT scan can identify the highest percentage of sarcopenia in cirrhosis and no other techniques are actually available as a replacement (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014). • It is also well established as the first investigation of choice for significant traumatic brain injury (Hunt et al., 2012).
- 10. Advantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • It can be used to predict occurrence of certain complications or diseases e.g. occurrence of pancreatic anastomotic failure (PAF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (Kirihara et al., 2013). • Results in reduced time to diagnosis and intervention, as well as significant improvements in clinical outcome and survival (Hunt et al., 2012).
- 11. Disadvantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • Limited to highly specialized settings, costly, and requires specialized skills to operate (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014) • Risk of developing cancer - Concerns regarding the large radiation exposure to ionising radiation dosage that patients are exposed to (Hunt et al., 2012; Prado & Heymsfield, 2014).
- 12. Disadvantages of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan • Cannot accommodate very large subjects (patients who cannot fit in the scanner), (Prado & Heymsfield, 2014) • There is a perceived risks of the secondary transfer and scanning room environment itself becoming a source of the radiation (Hunt et al., 2012). • The dye used may cause allergic reactions to some people. If diabetic or taking metformin, the dye may cause problems.
- 13. Conclusion • CT Scans are ideal for diagnostic purposes. They have been hailed as the better option as compared to other methods of determining body compositions owing to their ability to provide better quality images and providing more information in a short scan time. • Since they involve exposure to ionizing radiation, there are safety concerns raised as to the effects of these radiations on patients. • Nevertheless, their usefulness has been demonstrated to outweigh the risks.
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