Radiology Flashcards
Name six imaging modalities
- Plain radiography
- Contrast studies
- Ultrasound
- CT
- MRI
- Nuclear medicine
What are contrast studies?
General term for any agent that improves visualisation of anatomy
What is the contrast agent used in MRI?
Gadolinium
What is plain radiography used to visualise in head and neck?
- Lateral soft tissue
- Facial views (maxillofacial)
- Orthopantomogram (dental assessment)
What changes are made to visualise bone and soft tissue when using pain radiograph?
Soft tissue uses lower dose radiation, and bone requires high radiation does to eliminate soft tissue
If cancers have spread to the bone, what T stage are they usually?
T4 - advanced stage of disease
What contrast agents are used in contrast studies?
Barium and iodine based water soluble contrast media
Barium toxic outside of GI tract, use water soluble one instead if you suspect perforation
What is a sialogram?
Radiographic examination of the salivary glands using contrast agent
What is a sonogram?
X-ray procedure that is done to visualize any abnormal opening (sinus) in the body, following the injection of contrast media (x-ray dye) into the opening.
What is videofluoroscopy?
X-ray that looks at the way your swallowing works with use of barium
What is the significance of a functional vs mechanical videofluoroscopy?
Function looks as if something has stopped working i.e. due to stroke or operation, whereas mechanical is looking at if there is something physically obstructing the pathway i.e. tumour or stricture
What are the investigations used to determine swallowing function of a patient?
- Videofluoroscopy
- Speech therapist
- Blom-singer valve assessment
What is a blow-singer valve?
Tube used after laryngectomy which connects trachea and oesophagus – initially oesophageal speech (belching) then develop a degree of speech
What is an ultrasound used for?
- Solid vs cystic masses
* Vascularity (doppler)
What forms of ultrasound investigation are there?
- Doppler
* Ultrasound guided FNA