S9 Medical Imaging Flashcards
What is an X-ray?
Focused beam of high energy electrons pass through body onto receiver (some are absorbed/scattered dependent on density)
Thinking about fat, air, metal, bone and soft tissue, label from high density to low density in X-ray.
Air, fat, soft tissue, bone, metal
On an X-ray is white high or low density?
High density
What are the advantages of using an X-ray?
- Quick
- Cheap
- Portable
- Simple
What are the disadvantages of using an X-ray?
- Radiation
- 2D imaging
- Can’t visualise all areas
What are the uses of X-ray?
Checking for bone fractures and trauma in e.g. the chest
What is fluoroscopy?
Uses a constant stream of xrays and is enhanced by contrast media e.g. barium (absorbs xrays)
What are the two examples of plain film imaging?
Xray
Fluoroscopy
What are the two examples of cross-sectional imaging?
CT
MRI
What are the uses of fluoroscopy?
- Contrast GI studies
- Study of joints
- Therapeutic joint injections
- Screening in theatre
What are the advantages of fluoroscopy?
- Cheap
2. Allows for dynamic studies
What are the disadvantages of fluoroscopy?
- Radiation
2. Clinical exposure must be minimised
What is computed tomography (CT)?
Rotating gantry (with X-ray tube on one side, detectors on the other side)
What are the uses of CT scans?
Diagnosis (cancer/stroke), guide for tests/treatments (cancer treatment)
What are the advantages of CT scans?
- Quick
2. Good spatial resolution
What are the disadvantages of CT scans?
- Radiation
- Can be overused
- Requires breath holding
What is an MRI scan and how does it work?
Has a narrow gantry and uses a magnetic field to align hydrogen atoms in the body, some point one way, the other in the other way (not 50/50), the unmatched atoms absorb energy when radiofrequency pulse applied, it spins and when pulse is turned off, spins back and emits energy which is detected