Computed Tomography Technologist Practice Exam 2026 - Free CT Technologist Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice of beam type utilized by first generation scanners is the pencil beam. First generation CT scanners employed a single narrow beam of x-rays, which was focused on a point in the patient's body, similar to a pencil, thus the term "pencil beam." This design involved a rotating x-ray tube and a detector that moved in one linear direction in a straight line across the patient, collecting data from one slice of the body at a time.

The pencil beam contributed to the early design and functioning of CT technology, characterized by its simplicity and clarity in imaging. Understanding this beam type is crucial, as it represents the foundational level of computed tomography before advancements like fan beams and spiral beams emerged, which are used in later generations of CT scanners for more efficient and faster imaging.