MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES (slide 13)

Question 1

X-ray

How does it work?

Answer 1

-radiation that can penetrate skin and soft tissues but cannot
penetrate metals and bones (ie. dense tissue)
-dense structures that absorb radiation appear white on the
radiograph

Question 2

X-ray
Advantages

Answer 2

quick, painless, non-invasive

Question 3

X-ray
Disadvantages

Answer 3

can cause changes and mutations to DNA (need to wear lead
vests)

Question 4

X-ray
Examples of use

Answer 4

Diagnose bone injuries (most common)
Check for cancer, diagnose problems in organ systems (ie.
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases), mammograms,
observe size of heart or check structure of blood vessels,
cavities in teeth
A beam of x-rays can be used to kill cancer cells

Question 5

Ultrasound

How does it work?

Answer 5

-high-frequency sound waves to produce images of body tissues
and organs. Sound waves enter the body and are reflected back by
internal body structures

Question 6

Ultrasound
Advantages

Answer 6

No documented risks, can see organs and movement in real
time, painless, no radiation

Question 7

Ultrasound
Disadvantages

Answer 7

can’t be used for intestinal area (gases/air can blur the images
produced), not for bone (cannot penetrate bone), special
preparations sometimes needed (ie. fasting)

Question 8

Ultrasound
Examples of use

Answer 8

Study soft tissue and major organs
Study developing fetus (most common)
Guides the needle during a biopsy
Diagnose heart problems

Question 9

CT or CAT Scan
How does it work?

Answer 9

-using X-ray equipment to form a three dimensional (3D) image
from a series of images (2D) taken at different angles of the body

Question 10

Advantages (ie. benefits) CT or CAT Scan

Answer 10

more detailed than simple x-ray, can do bone, soft tissue and
blood vessels at the same time
frequently used in ERs because is painless, quick, and provides
detailed information

Question 11

Disadvantages (ie. risks) CT or CAT Scan

Answer 11

radiation can cause changes and mutations to DNA (need to
wear lead vests)

Question 12

Examples of use CT or CAT Scan

Answer 12

Diagnose cancer, abnormalities to skeletal system, vascular
diseases
Image bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at same time
CT of head can detect bleeding of brain

Question 13

How does it work? MRI Scan
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Answer 13

-uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images
of the body
-magnets produce magnetic field that interacts with hydrogen
atoms in the body to produce an image

Question 14

Advantages (ie. benefits) MRI Scan
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Answer 14

less confines when testing is being done, open MRI is an option,
painless, greater detail than CT

Question 15

Disadvantages (ie. risks) MRI Scan
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Answer 15

claustrophobia, can’t move while pictures are being taken, takes
more time than CT

Question 15

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
How does it work?

Answer 15

-type of nuclear medicine; patient is given a radioisotope that
emits particles/positrons (radio isotope emits radiation that can be
detected by a camera/computer and converted into an image)

Question 16

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
Advantages (ie. benefits)

Answer 16

can pinpoint a problem area when CT scan is not able to,
painless, non-invasive, radioisotopes are simply excreted

Question 17

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography) Disadvantages (ie. risks)

Answer 17

exposure to gamma rays, claustrophobia, radioactive material
can cause allergic reaction

Question 18

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography) Examples of use

Answer 18

Used most often to detect cancer and see how treatment is
working
Detects heart disease and brain disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s
disease and epilepsy)
Can be used in combination with CT scan to produce cross-
sectional images

Question 19

Fluoroscopy How does it work

Answer 19

-type of x-ray
-uses a continuous beam of X-rays to produce images. The patient
ingests barium or iodine to see organs more clearly

Question 20

Fluoroscopy Advantages

Answer 20

can see movement in real time, painless

Question 21

Fluoroscopy Disadvantages

Answer 21

have to ingest a dye, can cause changes and mutations to DNA
(need to wear lead vests)

Question 22

Fluoroscopy examples of use

Answer 22

Shows the movement of organs, such as the stomach,
intestine, and colon
View blood vessels of heart and brain for narrowing or
blockages (angiogram)

Question 23

Biophotonics (Endoscopy)

how does it work

Answer 23

-an examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover
the presence, cause, or extent of a disease; use of microscope
allow for lab technicians to examine the shape and size of cells, as
well as other abnormalities

Question 24

Biophotonics (Endoscopy)

Advantages

Answer 24

can be used to distinguish benign tumours from malignant
tumours

Question 25

Biophotonics (Endoscopy) disadvantages

Answer 25

invasive, not all tissues are easily accessible

Question 26

Biophotonics (Endoscopy)

examples of use

Answer 26

Used most often to examine moles and tumours to detect
cancer
Among others, biopsies can be used for bone marrow, skin, and
breast tissue
Can be used with endoscope to take a biopsy of the GI tract
or lungs

Question 27

A hockey injury may be a fractured hip.

Answer 27

I would do an X-ray because it’s probably a bone injury.

Question 28

Assessing a neck injury after skiing.

Answer 28

I would do a CT Scan to check for soft tissue injury.

Question 29

A possible brain injury following a car accident.

Answer 29

I would do a MRI Scan to check for brain damage.

Question 30

An abdominal pain could be a gallstone.

Answer 30

Ultrasound because it is good at diagnosing or excluding gallstone