computed axial tomography

noun

com·put·ed axial tomography | \ kəm-ˌpyüt-əd-

Medical Definition of computed axial tomography

(Entry 1 of 5)

: computed tomography —abbreviation CAT

computed tomographic

adjective

Medical Definition of computed tomographic (Entry 2 of 5)

: using, produced by, or obtained by computed tomography a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen computed tomographic findings

computed tomographic colonography

noun

variants: also computerized tomographic colonography or computed tomography colonography

Medical Definition of computed tomographic colonography (Entry 3 of 5)

: ct colonography The radiologists have their own procedure—the computed tomographic colonography (CTC), or virtual colonoscopy. It uses X-rays and computers to produce multiple images of the inside of the colon. — The Boston Globe, 13 Mar. 2008 Tests that detect both pre-cancerous polyps and cancer include colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema, and computerized tomographic colonography … — Food & Fitness Advisor, May 2008 You're right about the president having a virtual colonoscopy (which is a nickname; the more formal term is computed tomography colonography).— Robert J. Mayer, Harvard Health Letter, June 2010

computed tomography

noun

Medical Definition of computed tomography (Entry 4 of 5)

: a method of producing a three-dimensional image of an internal body structure by computerized combination of two-dimensional cross-sectional X-ray images —abbreviation CT

— called also computed axial tomography, computerized axial tomography, computerized tomography

— see ct colonography, ct scan

single photon emission computed tomography

noun

Medical Definition of single photon emission computed tomography (Entry 5 of 5)

: a medical imaging technique that is used especially for mapping brain function and that is similar to positron-emission tomography in using the photons emitted by the agency of a radioactive tracer to create an image but that differs in being able to detect only a single photon for each nuclear disintegration and in generating a lower-quality image —abbreviation SPECT