How many body regions does a whole abdominal CT scan cover?

Abdominal CT scanning covers two regions: upper abdominal CT and lower abdominal CT. The organs examined by upper abdominal CT include the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Lower abdominal CT examines areas such as the pancreas and spleen.

I. Upper Abdominal CT

1. Liver

Upper abdominal CT can reveal the liver's shape, size, density, and internal structure, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, and liver abscesses.

2. Gallbladder and Bile Ducts

Upper abdominal CT shows the density and shape of the gallbladder. When bile ducts are dilated, a tree-like pattern of low density extends from the hepatic hilum into the bile ducts, which is commonly associated with jaundice, cholelithiasis (gallstones), and biliary tract tumors.

II. Lower Abdominal CT

1. Pancreas

Lower abdominal CT clearly depicts the pancreas' morphology, density, shape, and size, assisting in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.

2. Spleen

Lower abdominal CT provides information on the spleen's density, size, and length, helping clinicians diagnose splenic rupture, splenic infarction, and splenic tumors.

In addition, abdominal CT can evaluate changes in kidney morphology, size, density, renal parenchyma, and renal interstitium, aiding in the diagnosis of renal tumors and urinary tract obstruction. It can also detect inflammation, tumors, or obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract.