What is the Difference between a CT Scanner and a Cone Beam CT Scanner



The Traditional CT Scanner and the Cone Beam CT Scanner are two ways of doing the same thing which is scanning with each method claiming its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. When people think of a CT scan, they generally envision a huge machine that takes up a whole room scanning their entire body. Thanks to ever dynamic technology, there is much more than ordinary in the field of CT scans. While both scanners undertake the same basic function, there are technical differences that can influence your preference as well as practitioners.

CT Scans (computed tomography scan)
A CT scan is basically pictures of internal body structures generated by a computer from multiple X-ray images. The x-rays utilize radiation from a radioactive contrast injected into the body to create cross-sectional images. There are various reasons why you may be required to take a CT scan like diagnosis, surgery, among others.
Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scanner vs. Traditional CT scanner
A CBCT scanner uses a cone beam radiating from an X-ray source in the shape of a con covering large volume with one single rotation about the patient. The X-ray images are reconstructed by use of algorithms to come up with 3D high resolution images.
On the other hand, a conventional CT Scanner uses a fan beam in which transmitted radiation is in the form of a helix/ spiral. The images are interpolated into image detectors arranged around the patient in an arc where only single slice images per scan can be produced. In a single breath hold, considerable regions of the body can be imaged. It is also possible ot obtain 3D images from conventional CT scans.
A traditional CT scanner utilizes a high-output anode X-ray tube that rotates whereas a CBCT scanner utilizes a medical fluoroscopy tube that is low power.
There is also a huge difference between the two scanners based on the amount of radiation exposure patients are subjected to. A CBCT has quicker motion compared to the spiral motion of a traditional CT scanner. It is therefore possible to conduct a CT scan using a CBCT scanner with lower doses of radiation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 4 KPIs you need to run a successful Radiology Imaging Department

Image
Many medical imaging executives should be feeling like they forgot something. What have they forgotten? Important metrics. Yes, they’re measuring quality metrics like patient satisfaction, referring-physician satisfaction, and length of stay. They’ve carefully reviewed the recommendations from the advisory board and CMS’s PQRS program, and they’ve religiously tracking their relative value units. Nevertheless they’re not measuring things that are vital to the success of their radiology imaging department. Because healthcare has changed, and the shift from volume to value has begun in earnest. To keep up, we have to measure items that matter in today’s world. 1.      Exam repeat rates: often, we see radiology departments carefully measuring turnaround times but forgetting to measure exam repeat rates. This measurement may not have been critical in the past, but it is now and it’s likely to be more important in the future. If you’ve got a problem with th...
Read more

What is an Open MRI?

Image
While the traditional High-field MRI has high accuracy and slightly shorter scan times, there are occasions when an Open MRI is beneficial. If you never heard of Open MRI, read on to find out more about this technology and if it’s a good option for you. Open MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. This noninvasive process is used to diagnose medical conditions without radiation. MRIs are important for getting detailed pictures of joints, spine, organs, and other internal structures. MRIs can be extremely useful in diagnosing and monitoring various conditions an getting an MRI can give your physician the information he or she needs to formulate a treatment plan. While a traditional MRI is a closed magnetic cylinder, Open MRIs have top and bottom magnetic areas which do not enclose the patient. This structure has many benefits to patients and is a great option to cons...
Read more

Shoulder Arthrograms: Your Questions Answered!

Image
What is it? ·         An arthrogram is a radiology study of a joint where contrast or sometimes called as “dye” is put in the joint with images then taken of the joint. ·         The images can be taken with the fluoroscopy/ x-ray system or with MRI or CT. Why do we do it? ·         The contrast distends the joint, allowing us to see soft tissue structures about the joint better. ·         For the shoulder, an arthrogram may be requested by your doctor for the following reasons: o    Suspected tear of the labrum or cartilage lining of the joint o    To show whether a tear of the tendons of the rotator cuff is full-thickness, meaning going all the way through the tendon o    To evaluate the shoulder after surgery How do we do it? ·         We will cleans...
Read more