Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Definition of Tomography

Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026

Tomography: The process for generating a tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a three-dimensional object. Tomography achieves this remarkable result by simply moving an X-ray source in one direction as the X-ray film is moved in the opposite direction during the exposure to sharpen structures in the focal plane, while structures in other planes appear blurred. The tomogram is the picture; the tomograph is the apparatus; and tomography is the process.

See also: Computed tomography (CT); Computed tomography colography; Computerized axial tomography scan (CAT scan); Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT); Positron emission tomography (PET scan).

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