Spiral CT

Spiral Computed Tomography (Spiral CT Scan)

From time to time our research staff receive telephone calls from participants in our study asking for information regarding Spiral Computed Tomography (Spiral CT Scan). Spiral CT scans currently are being evaluated nationally as one tool in the early detection of lung cancer.

Spiral CT is a non invasive procedure using X-rays to scan the entire chest in about 15 seconds The patient lies on a table while being passed through the CT machine, which is shaped like a donut with a large hole. The machine rotates around the patient and a computer creates a 3-D model of the lungs based on the scanned images. The amount of radiation absorbed during a spiral CT scan is comparable to that absorbed during a mammogram.