Final answer:
CT and CAT stand for Computed Tomography and Computed Axial Tomography, which are noninvasive medical imaging techniques that generate detailed cross-sectional images of the body using X-rays and computer processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abbreviations CT and CAT stand for Computed Tomography and Computed Axial Tomography, respectively. These medical imaging techniques involve the use of computers to generate cross-sectional images, or "slices," of the body. Developed in the 1970s, they have the ability to produce highly detailed images by analyzing the way X-rays are absorbed or reflected at different levels as they pass through the body.
During a CT or CAT scan, the patient lies on a motorized platform, and a scanner rotates around them, capturing X-ray images from various angles. These images are then processed by a computer to create a composite two-dimensional image of a slice of the body. The advantage of this method over standard X-rays is its capability to image soft tissues and organs that may be obscured by bones in two-dimensional X-rays.
With advances in computing power and software, CT scans have become routine for many diagnostic evaluations. They are particularly useful for imaging soft tissues, such as those in the brain, thorax, and abdomen. G. Hounsfield and A. Cormack were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1979 for their contribution to the development of computed tomography.