CT SCAN Computed tomography is a sophisticated diagnostic imaging procedure capable of depicting anatomy at different levels within the body. This ability is possible because the x-ray source rotates around the patient during a CT scan, encircling the patient's body and capturing anatomical detail from many angles. Each rotation of the x-ray beam produces a single cross-sectional "slice" of anatomy, like the slices in a loaf of bread. CT scans are used for many types of diagnostic procedures. They may be used to examine the head to check for bleeding, tumors, blood clots or signs of stroke. In other parts of the body, CT may be used to distinguish whether a growth is solid or fluid-filled, detect ruptured disks in the spine, determine an organ's size and shape, and evaluate many types of disease processes.