In recent years CT scanning has become faster, more detailed and more available in the acute trauma care setting. CT shows high accuracy for a wide range of injuries which is reflected by a low missed diagnosis rate. Hence, the conventional radiological work-up according to the ATLS may not be the optimal choice of primary diagnostics anymore. Furthermore, severely injured patients frequently require secondary CT scanning of many parts of the body after conventional imaging. Modern multidetector CT scanners (MDCT) can perform imaging of the head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis in a single examination ('total body' CT scanning). The past few years this 'total body' imaging concept gained popularity as a possible alternative to the conventional imaging strategy. With the use of immediate 'total body' CT (TBCT) scanning in trauma patients, rapid and detailed information of organ and tissue injury becomes available and a well-founded plan for further therapy can be made.