Final answer:
Computed Tomography (CT), or Computed Axial Tomography, is an advanced imaging technique that provides cross-sectional, two-dimensional images of the body by combining multiple X-ray images taken from different angles. It is highly useful for assessing soft tissue and has a level of precision down to the millimeter, but it comes with a higher exposure to radiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Computed Axial Tomography (CT) Structural Technique
Computed Axial Tomography, also known as Computed Tomography (CT), is a medical imaging technique developed in the 1970s that provides a detailed cross-sectional view of the body's structures. A CT scanner sends X-ray beams through the body as the patient lies on a motorized platform. As X-ray particles are differently absorbed by various types of tissues, the many detectors around the patient capture this variation. After a 360-degree rotation around the patient, a computer processes the data to create a two-dimensional image of each sliced section. Physicians can then analyze these slices to assess and measure bodily structures, with such precision that even a lesion of a few millimeters can be detected.
One of the key advantages of CT scanning is the superior level of detail it provides, especially for soft tissue structures like the brain and internal organs, which are not as visible with traditional X-ray techniques. Multiple slices can be further analyzed to construct three-dimensional images, providing significant diagnostic information. However, it's important to note that CT scans expose patients to higher levels of radiation compared to standard X-ray imaging. Consequently, there is an increased risk of cancer development, particularly in children and adults who undergo multiple CT scans.