What is a CT scan used for in cancer?

A CT (computed tomography) scan uses special X-ray equipment and a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body, slice by slice.

According to the National Cancer Institute, CT has many uses in cancer care. It can help screen for cancer, diagnose the presence of a tumor, provide information about the stage of a cancer, show exactly where to perform a biopsy, guide certain local treatments, help plan radiation therapy or surgery, check whether a cancer is responding to treatment, and detect whether a tumor has come back.

No single scan diagnoses cancer on its own. Your doctor reads a CT scan alongside your other tests and is the best person to explain what it means for you.