Description

What are some common uses of the procedure?
Doctors typically use this procedure to help diagnose the cause of abdominal or pelvic pain. They also use it to diagnose diseases of the internal organs, small bowel and colon, such as:
• infections such as appendicitis, pyelonephritis or infected fluid collections, also known as abscesses.
• inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, pancreatitis or liver cirrhosis.
• cancers of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, ovaries and bladder as well as lymphoma.
• kidney and bladder stones.
• abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), injuries to abdominal organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, or other internal organs in cases of trauma.
Doctors also use CT scanning of the abdomen/pelvis to:
• guide biopsies and other procedures such as abscess drainages and minimally invasive tumor treatments.
• plan for and assess the results of surgery, such as organ transplants.
• stage, plan and properly administer radiation treatments for tumors as well as monitor response to chemotherapy.