The utility of computed tomography in evaluation of extracranial diseases

The application of CT to the extracranial portions of the body has only been possible since 1975, when technological advances made scanning in less than 20 seconds available to radiologists. Our experience during the first 5 years with body CT have been rewarding and we have demonstrated several significant contributions in the radiologic diagnosis of disease entities that have changed the ideal approach to the evaluation of many patients. The introduction and development of body CT has also been controversial on several issues, primarily related to cost. Increasing clinical experience will improve our definition of the strengths and limitations of CT and allow a more precise definition of the efficient utilization of this new technology. Improvements continue to be reported and it is safe to predict that CT will have further applications to clinical diagnosis in the near future.