CAT, n.5 Med.
(kæt)
Abbrev. of comput(eriz)ed axial (or computer-assisted) tomography, a form of tomography in which a computer controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data, and produces the image. Cf. CT s.v. C 3 a. Used attrib. in CAT scanning, etc.
| 1975 Wall Street Jrnl. 10 Dec. 1 The machine, known as a CAT scanner, produces in minutes an X-ray picture revealing the deadly tumor that had escaped her physicians' notice. 1976 A. Richardson in R. W. P. Russell Cerebral Arterial Dis. xi. 225/1 In the routine elective radiology pride of place must now be taken by the use of computerised transverse axial tomography (CAT scan) by the apparatus devised by EMI. 1976 Americana Ann. 1977 322/2 CAT scanning came of age in 1976. 1979 L. Shainberg Brain Surgeon (1980) i. 20 He had an X-ray of his cerebral tissue called a CAT-scan. 1983 Listener 28 Apr. 2/3 Voluntary groups have raised the money..to buy CAT scanners for their local hospitals. |