Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Exploración por tomografía axial computarizada
Computerized axial tomography scan (kum-PYOO-teh-RIZED AK-see-ul toh-MAH-gruh-fee skan)
A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called CAT scan, computed tomography scan, computerized tomography, and CT scan.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.