Online Registry Prep - CT Course Outline
1. System Operation and Components
- Computed Tomography Defined
- Overview of CT System Components
- CT Scanner Designs Including Multi-Row Detector, Electron Beam, PET/CT Scanners and Cone Beam CT in Oncology
Operator's Console - Host Computer
- The Gantry
- Patient Table
- The CT X-ray Tube
- Review of X-ray Production
- Collimation
- Detectors: Composition, Function, Single and Multi-Row
- Array Processor
- Picture Archiving and Communication System
- Networks, DICOM
2. CT Image Formation
- Overview of a Digital Image
- The Digital CT Image
- Scanning Methods
- Localizer Scan
- Conventional Serial CT Scan
- Single-row Detector CT Scanners
- Multi-row Detector Scanners
- Helical Scan
- Image Reconstruction Including Back Projection, Convolution and Cone Beam Reconstruction
- Retrospective Reconstruction
- Multiplanar Reconstruction
- 3D Shaded Surface Display
- Volume Rendering
- Maximum Intensity Projection
- Filming and Archiving
3. CT Image Quality
- Spatial Resolution, Temporal Resolution, Contrast, Noise, Dose
- Linear Attenuation Coefficient
- CT Number
- mAs
- kVp
- Slice Thickness on Single-row and Multi-row Detector Scanners
- Table Increment
- Pitch
- Reconstruction Interval
- Field-of-View (scan, reconstruction, display)
- Matrix
- Magnification
- Window Width and Window Level
- Quality Assurance
4. Patient Handling and Safety
- Ethical and Legal Issues
- Patient Education and Preparation
- Patient Screening
- Lab Values
- Radiation Safety and Measuring Radiation Dose
- Ways to Minimize Patient Dose
- Patient Monitoring and Code Procedures
- Vital Signs
- Infection Control
