Imaging Flashcards by Lucy Jefford

What is an xray?

An electromagnetic packet of energy with a extremely short wavelength .

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How short is the wavelength for xrays?

Between 0.1 and 10 nanometres

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What is one of the main problems with xray generation?

Produces a lot of heat

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What does the intensity of xrays depend on?

Tube current
Atomic number of target
Tube voltage

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What are the three xray interactions with matter?

Absorption
Transmission
Scatter

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Define attenuation.

The process by which radiation loses power as it travels through matter and interacts with it.

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Name three factors which increase attenuation.

Increases with Z (atomic number)
Increases with density
Increases with thickness

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What helps with the generation of an ultrasound?

Sound waves

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List some of the features of an MRI machine

-Rotating x-ray tube
-Multiple beams
-Single axis of rotation
-Digital geometry processing….axial image

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List some applications for CT

Trauma
Cancer staging and response to treatment
Guidance for procedures

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Define ionising radiation.

A particle or wave with sufficient energy to ‘ionise’ a neutral atom or molecule, and leave them with either a positive or negative charge.

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What is the unit used for describing the absorption of radiation by the human body?

Sievert

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Name three ways to minimise exposure to raditiation.

minimise time
use shields
distance yourself

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MRI is useful for examining which two parts of the body v well?

Brain and spinal cord

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Name some imaging

 Plain radiographs
 Barium studies
 CT
 MRI
 PET

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What is a barium xray?

A barium X-ray is a radiographic (X-ray) examination of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

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What parts of the body is the barium swallow and meal for?

Oesophagus, stomach and duodenum

What part of the body is the barium follow through used for?

Small intestine

What part of the body is the barium enema used for?

The large bowel

Name the cross sectional imaging used for the diagnosis of cancer.

PET
CT
MRI

When is CT used in cancer imaging?

CT is used in the initial diagnosis staging of the disease

List some of the things that can be highlighted from a CT.

-Biopsy of the lesions
- Monitoring response to treatment
- Evaluation of residual mass after treatment
- Recognition of complications of treatment
- When there is concern for disease relapse

Explain the scientific basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

->it’s one of the learning outcomes I’M SORRY

 Radiofrequency pulse displaces protons and images created by displaying time taken for protons to “relax” back to the original alignment.

What is MRI very good at showing?

The detail of bone soft tissue

Name some of the areas MRI is useful in imaging.

 Brain, spine and musculoskeletal  abdomen and pelvis  cardiac imaging

List some disadvantages of MRI.

 Brain, spine and musculoskeletal  abdomen and pelvis  cardiac imaging

Name the advantage for screening.

Diagnose disease at an earlier stage, before symptoms start meaning things like cancer is easier to treat and most likely to be curable

List some of the screening carried out by the NHS.

 Breast  Bowel  Cervix

Name various principles  The condition should be an important health problem.

 The condition should be an important health problem.  There should be a latent stage of the disease.  There should be a test or examination for the condition.  The test should be acceptable to the population There should be a treatment for the condition.  Facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available.

What is the screening for breast cancer?

Mammography screening

Explain that imaging investigations can be expensive and should only be requested when appropriate.

Benefit to the individual and the population should outweigh the cost

What is molecular imaging?

Radionuclide imaging

Name the most frequenty used type of molecular imaging.

PET

Name the two elements of radiopharmaceuticals

Radioactive element + Pharmaceutical element

List some of the properties of an ideal isotope.

-Half-life similar to length of examination -Gamma emitter, rather than a or b -Energy of g rays should be 50-300 keV -Radionuclide should be readily available at hospital site -Easily bound to pharmaceutical component -Radiopharmaceutical should be simple to prepare -Radiopharmaceutical should be eliminated in similar half-time to duration of examination

What is a gamma camera used for?

Used to image gamma radiation–emitting radioisotopes.

What is SPECT usually used for?

brain and cardiac studies

What is SPECT?

CT version of nuclear medicine where gamma cameras rotate around area of interest

What type of imagining is PET?

Molecular imaging

Learning outcome says- Examples of inflammatory and infectious diseases ...so ig give some examples of inflammation?

- aortitis (inflammation of the aorta). -ulcerative colitis (a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed)

Describe the main risk of ionising radiation.

Risk of inducing fatal cancer e.g. CT abdomen & pelvis = 1:1600 (but risk is 1:4 for population and risk is relative)

Describe the benefits of ionising radiation.

diagnosis, management change, treatment) should always outweigh costs (radiation, risk to patient and staff, ££) idk this is what he said