computed tomography

noun

: radiography in which a three-dimensional image of a body structure is constructed by computer from a series of plane cross-sectional images made along an axis

called also computed axial tomography, computerized axial tomography, computerized tomography

Examples of computed tomography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of his Black female patients had chest x-rays, computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that seemed to include shadows or squiggly lines known as artifacts. —Rod McCullom, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

Researchers from San Diego State University stuck an entire juvenile minke whale inside a computed tomography (CT) scanning machine to virtually slice and dice its anatomy with X-rays. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2018

For those who can get screened, the most common way is using low-dose computed tomography scans, called LDCT. —Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023

An example of an x-ray computed tomography (CT )scanner. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

computed tomography

noun

: a method of producing a three-dimensional image of an internal body structure by computerized combination of two-dimensional cross-sectional X-ray images

—abbreviation CT

called also computed axial tomography, computerized axial tomography, computerized tomography

see ct colonography, ct scan