[Spiral scanners: principles and clinical prospects].

Helical computed tomography (CT) involves continuous patient shifting during X-ray source rotation and data acquisition. As a result, a volume data set is obtained in a short period of time. An entire examination can be completed in a single breath hold, without additional radiation exposure, optimizing enhancement with intravenous contrast material. By overcoming some of the constraints of conventional CT, helical CT has advanced prospects, including multiplanar reconstruction and CT angiography, as reviewed in this article. There are undergoing studies to confirm these preliminary findings: its clinical applications are currently evolving.