CT Scan or CAT Scan Say: cee-tee skan or kat skan CT scans have nothing to do with cats, except that when people talk about them, they usually say "cat scan" instead of "CT scan." CT stands for computed tomography, so you can see why people say "CT." CT scans are a kind of X-ray that gives doctors a much better picture of what's going on inside the body. Regular X-rays show your bones and some other parts of the body, but CT scans show much more detail. Like X-rays, CT scans don't hurt. When someone is sick or injured, doctors use them to help figure out what might be wrong. Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.