Helical computed tomography for abdominal imaging.

Significant technologic advances have taken place in computed tomography (CT). Current-generation conventional CT scanners are able to image a slice of tissue in as little as 2 to 3 seconds and can acquire several consecutive images. Although it is a substantial improvement from the CT of 5 years ago, there remain practical limits to the utility of conventional CT imaging within the abdomen. Recently, a new type of CT gantry design ("slip-ring") and faster computers have contributed to the development of a new generation of CT scanners, the "helical" or "spiral" CT scanners.