The book is intended for all those who work daily, regularly or even occasionally with CT - physicians, engineers, technicians and physicists, as well as students learnig about CT. Written by one of the world's leading experts, it offers a comprehensive description of the theoretical and technical system fundamentals of computed tomography (CT) for a wide readership, from conventional single-slice acquisitions to volume acquisition with multi-slice and cone-beam spiral CT. It covers in detail all characteristic parameters relevant for image quality and all performance features significant for clinical application. Readers will thus be informed how to use a CT system to an optimum depending on the different diagnostic requirements. This includes a detailed discussion about the dose required and about dose measurements as well as how to reduce dose in CT. All considerations pay special attention to spiral CT and to developments towards advanced multi-slice and cone-beam CT. For the fourth edition, latest topics like breast CT and automatic exposure control have been added. A glossary describes important technical terms in alphabetical order. The enclosed DVD offers of all figures in the book and attractive case studies, including many examples from most recent 64-slice acquisitions, and interactive exercises for image viewing and manipulation.