What is a CT Scan

A CT or Computerized Tomography (also known as CAT) scan is a special type of x-ray. A normal x-ray sends out a single x-ray through your body, whereas the CT scanner will send several beams from lots of different angles.  This allows the Consultant to get a clearer idea of the density of the tissues in your problem area. Much like an MRI scan, a specialized computer will collate the results from the different x-ray beams and create a picture of the density of your tissues in the form of a cross-section through your body.

Beams that have passed through less dense tissue, such as the lungs, will be stronger, whereas beams that have passed through denser tissue such as bone, will be weaker.

A common type of CT scan is a scan of the sinuses. This will show any changes in the density of the bony parts of your sinuses, which may be the cause of sinus pain. If your Consultant decides to operate on your sinuses, he will follow the CT scan closely to check he is treating the exact area of your sinus that is causing the problem.