Radiology Flashcards
Why is the use of radiology to visualise body parts, tissues and organs useful for?
Clinical diagnosis
Treatment planning
Disease monitoring
Image guided intervention
What is a Plain Radiograph?
The image produced by the passage of x-rays through an object
How is a Plain Radiograph produced?
X-rays generated and projected towards the detector with the patient positioned in between
When X-rays hit the detector plate it turns black
X-rays are absorbed/attenuated most by the dense materials in a patient like bone and any metals
What are the 4 main densities?
From most dense to least dense:
Bone
Soft tissue
Fat
Air
What are the advantages of Radiographs/X-rays?
Are quick
Readily available
Cheap
What are the disadvantages of Radiographs/X-rays?
Ionising radiation
Poor soft tissue contrast
What are Radiographs useful for?
Imaging of skeletal trauma (Fractures or Joint dislocations)
Evaluating chronic bone or joint pathologies (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic osteomyelitis)
What is articular cartilage?
The hyaline cartilage found at the ends of bones where joints are found
On an x-ray, why does articular cartilage of joints appear black/dark?
Its less dense then bone so its more radiolucent
The darkness makes it look like there’s a joint space
What is a fracture?
A complete or incomplete break in the continuity of the bone
How do fractures appear on radiographs/X-rays?
Fracture ones/lucent dark lines on the radiograph
What are the 6 types of fracture?
-Transverse
-Linear
-Oblique
-Spiral
-Greenstick
-Comminuted
What is a transverse fracture?
Fracture which is horizontal/perpendicular to the bone
What is a linear fracture?
Fracture which runs straight down the length of the bone/parallel to the bone
What is an Oblique fracture?
Fracture that happens at an angle/diagonal
What is a spiral fracture?
Fracture where the fracture line wraps around the bone in a spiral motion