The immediate goal of clinically based x‐ray‐transmission computed tomography (CT) is to provide a measurement of the x‐ray linear attenuation coefficient in cross section with the ultimate goal of impacting on patient managerment and care. To do this with the accuracy needed for clinical goals requires the careful integration of x‐ray physics, detector technology, and mathematical reconstruction theory. Performance evaluation and quality assurance are necessary adjuncts to a CT scanning program. A number of investigative studies are under way.