In ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. X-rays are a form of radiation that can be directed at the body. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees.

With CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic detectors rotate around you, measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout your body. At the same time, the examination table is moving through the scanner, so that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path. A special computer program processes this series of pictures, or slices of your body, to create two dimensional cross-sectional images, which are then displayed on a monitor.

For some CT exams, a contrast material is used to enhance visibility in the area of the body being studied. If a contrast material is used, it will be swallowed or injected through an intravenous line (IV).