CT Scanning for Ear, Nose, and Throat

Computed tomography (CT) scans have been valuable tools in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries since 1974. Also called CAT scans, these scanners create very detailed two- and three-dimensional pictures of the organs, bones, and blood vessels inside the body. CT scanning is unique in that it can scan different types of tissues at the same time. The physician can then select the type of tissue to be viewed.

CT scanning significantly enhances patient care

By offering CT scanning in our office, we can perform the scan the same day of your visit and our physicians can initiate treatment planning right away. Patients no longer have to go to a second facility to have the scan done and then come back for a 3rd visit to get the results and begin treatment. The MiniCAT™ scanner can also be used with image-guided surgery systems, providing greater flexibility for surgical planning and post-operative evaluation and care.

The CT scanner significantly enhances our physicians' abilities to diagnose and treat chronic sinusitis, nasal airway obstructions, and other conditions. It can also be used to help evaluate sleep apnea.

How it works

Photo of the MiniCAT™ scanner courtesy of Xoran Technologies

CT scanners use x-rays to produce images. As with traditional x-rays, the technology is based on the fact that different types of tissues absorb the x-rays at different levels. This creates variations in the exposures of the images that are formed and results in pictures that have amazing detail and resolution. The CT scan data is sent digitally to a computer.

Designed specifically for ENT and auditory scans, our MiniCAT™ scanner allows patients to sit upright comfortably in the scanner's built-in chair rather than lying down inside an enclosed tube. And, the radiation dose from the MiniCAT™ scanner is lower than that of a conventional CT scan.

Inside the scanner there is a rotating frame with an x-ray tube on one side and a detector on the other. This frame rotates 360 degrees around the patient. Each time it makes a rotation it gathers another "slice" of information. Scans taken with a MiniCAT™ scanner consist of hundreds of slices as thin as 0.2 mm. This is almost one order of magnitude better than scans taken with a full-body CT scanner, which typically generates slices that are 2 to 3 mm thick.

The information that is gathered is sent to a computer where it is manipulated to produce a two-dimensional image of the slice. The computer puts all of the slices together to create the complete image.

The entire scan takes about 40 seconds for an adult and 20 for a child.

For more information about CT scanning or to find out about problems related to the ear, nose, or throat that are not listed on this site, please contact us.