Imaging Flashcards
What is radiology?
the medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body
What are the methods of diagnostic imaging?
X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and nuclear medicine scans
What is an x-ray?
it is a form of electromagnetic radiation that produces images of the structures inside the body
What color do the dense tissues in the body show up as in an xray?
white
What is a CT scan?
a scan that uses a special machine to rotate around the body and obtain cross sectional images of structures that cant be seen with regular X-rays
What test sometimes requires the use of a contrast medium?
a CT scan
What are common contrast substances used in medical imaging?
barium sulfate and iodine compounds
How are contrast mediums administered to a patient?
orally, rectally, or intravenously
What is an MRI?
technique using strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce 3D detailed anatomical imaging
What scan is most commonly used to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy tissue?
MRIs
What is an ultrasound?
a scan using high frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the body’s internal structures
What are ultrasounds good at?
providing clear pictures of soft tissues
How is an ultrasound image created?
sound waves are emitted from a probe and pass through the skin and bounce off the body’s tissues to reflect back to the probe
What is an ultrasound image also called?
a sonogram or an echogram
What is a nuclear medicine scan?
a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses radioactive substances to create images of internal organs and tissues
How does a nuclear medicine scan work?
radioactive substances are administered to the patient, the radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in the area being examined and are detected by a special camera
