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Radiology
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 X-rays
- Identify bony structures, X-rays have been developed for their use in medical imaging. Radiology is a specialized field of medicine. Radiographers employ radiography and other techniques for diagnostic imaging. Indeed, this is probably the most common use of X-ray technology.
X-rays are especially useful in the detection of pathology of the skeletal system, but are also useful for detecting some disease processes in soft tissue. Some notable examples are the very common chest X-ray, which can be used to identify lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer or pulmonary edema, and the abdominal X-ray, which can detect ileus (blockage of the intestine), free air (from visceral perforations) and free fluid (in ascites). In some cases, the use of X-rays is debatable, such as gallstones (which are rarely radiopaque) or kidney stones (which are often visible, but not always). Also, traditional plain X-rays pose very little use in the imaging of soft tissues such as the brain or muscle. Imaging alternatives for soft tissues are computed axial tomography (CAT or CT scanning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. |
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 Ultrasounds - An ultrasound machine creates images that allow various organs in the body to be examined. The machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives these reflected waves and uses them to create a picture. Unlike with an x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.
Common ultrasounds are for pregnancy or obstetrics ultrasound, vascular
ultrasound to check blood flow like in the heart or arms and legs called
Doppler, abdominal ultrasounds and thyroid ultrasounds. |
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OPEN MRI
- A magnetic resonance imaging, is a routine diagnostic procedure. Images of
the internal tissues of the human body are produced by using the tiny magnets of
hydrogen nuclei which are abundant in all of us as parts of water, fat, protein,
and other molecules. The large magnetic field of the MRI machine causes the
hydrogen magnets to align, while applied radio waves excite them to transmit
signals similar to the radio waves generated at FM radio stations. The locations
of the signals within the body are identified using magnetic field gradient
pulses which are the source of the loud
knocking noises heard during the
examination. Once enough signals have been collected, they are processed by
powerful computers to generate pictures of the human anatomy in vivid detail for
the radiologist to analyze and diagnose abnormalities. For complete details see MRI.
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 CT-Scan
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A computerized axial tomography scan is more commonly
known by its abbreviated name, CAT scan or CT scan. It is an x-ray procedure
which combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate
cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal
organs and structures of the body. A CAT scan is used to define normal and
abnormal structures in the body and/or assist in procedures by helping to
accurately guide the placement of instruments or treatments. A large
donut-shaped x-ray machine takes x-ray images at many different angles around
the body. These images are processed by a computer to produce cross-sectional
pictures of the body. In each of these pictures the body is seen as an x-ray
"slice" of the body, which is recorded on a film. This recorded image
is called a tomogram. "Computerized Axial Tomography" refers to the
recorded tomogram "sections" at different levels of the body. For
complete details see CT Scan. |
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 Bone
Density - Bone density is a medical term
referring to the amount of matter per cubic centimeter of
bones. It is measured by a procedure called densitometry. No
longer is it necessary to go to radiology or nuclear medicine
departments of hospitals or clinics, because Montwood Medical
Centers can perform done density scan in-house. The
measurement is painless and non-invasive and involves minimal
radiation exposure. Measurements are most commonly made over
the lumbar spine and over the upper part of the hip. The
forearm is scanned if either the hip or the lumbar spine can't
be.
For complete details see Bone
Density. |
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