Imaging Advantages/Disadvantages

Question 1

X-Ray Advantages

Answer 1

Inexpensive
Sensitive to bony fractures and dislocation
Quick and portable
Can be viewed immediately
Least amount of radiation

Question 2

X-Ray Disadvantages

Answer 2

Limited for soft tissue injury
Exposes patient to radiation
Not very sensitive
Many interfering factors

Question 3

CT Advantages

Answer 3

Quick, most times less than 5 minutes
Less expensive than MRI
More sensitive to bone and soft tissue compared to X-ray

Question 4

CT Disadvantages

Answer 4

Large amount of radiation
Not safe in pregnancy (debated)
More expensive than plain X-rays

Question 5

MRI Advantages

Answer 5

No ionizing radiation
Very good for soft tissue abnormalities
Safe in pregnancy
Non-invasive
Can obtain large amounts of information

Question 6

MRI Disadvantages

Answer 6

Expensive
Takes longer than a CT
Very confining (claustrophobia)
Can’t use if patient has metal in their body

Question 7

PET Scan Advantages

Answer 7

See early changes in cells before it can be detected by CT or MRI
Sensitivity is 97-100% and specificity is 62-100 in detection of recurrent tumors
Provides metabolic and anatomic info
Large areas of coverage

Question 8

PET Scan Disadvantages

Answer 8

Slow-growing or less active tumors might not absorb as much of the tracer
May not detect small tumors
High blood sugar can interfere
Claustrophobia
Expensive
Patient cooperation is required
Not safe for pregnancy

Question 9

Ultrasound Advantages

Answer 9

Non-invasive
Can do repeat imagine
Portable
No radiation
Safe in pregnancy
Inexpensive
Painless

Question 10

Ultrasound Disadvantages

Answer 10

Technician dependent
Bowel gas can cause interference

Question 11

Nuclear Med Advantages

Answer 11

Shows morphology and function
Higher sensitivity for detecting physiologically significant coronary stenosis
Inexpensive

Question 12

Nuclear Med Disadvantages

Answer 12

Can’t always determine the structureal cause of decreased function
More interfering substances

Question 13

Endoscopy Advantages

Answer 13

Direct observation to the internal aspect of organ being evaluated
Can biopsy/remove at the same time
Can inject variceal blood vessels
Can perform surgical procedures
Can dilate and stent

Question 14

Endoscopy Disadvantages

Answer 14

Considered invasive
Need patient/guardian consent
Considered clean but not sterile
Significant and proper prep required
Perforation of organ or cavity
Persistent bleeding
Respiratory depression
Infection
Aspiration