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Normal external abdomen
Normal external abdomen

Chest tomogram
Definition:
A tomogram refers to a slice, or section, which is imaged by moving the X-ray tube and recording film simultaneously and in opposite directions. This method serves to blur out structures in front of and behind the area of interest.

Alternative Names:
Laminagraphy; Planigraphy; Stratigraphy; Tomogram - chest

How the test is performed:
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’s office by an X-ray technician. You will likely be asked to lie on your back on the X-ray table. You will need to remain still during the test.
How to prepare for the test:
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. You must wear a hospital gown. You must remove all jewelry.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How the test will feel:
There is no discomfort.
Why the test is performed:
Tomography is used to further examine a chest lesion when other tests are inconclusive.

The tomography will show pulmonary densities (cavitation, calcification, and presence of fat in the lungs), tumors, or lesions (any breakdown of the tissue).
What abnormal results mean:
The chest tomography may show lesions or tumors, help differentiate blood vessels from a small protuberance or swelling, and identify bronchial dilation or narrowing.
What the risks are:
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the X-ray.
Special considerations:

In modern hospitals and medical centers, plain film tomography has been superceded by computed tomography (CT).
Review Date: 12/6/2001
Reviewed By: Evan Mair, M.D., Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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