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Proce

dure

Xrays

Description

A beam of x-rays is
directed through the
patient. Bone and
different tissue types
allow the x-rays to
pass through to
varying degrees. An
image is formed on a
photographic plate as
a series of shadows.
Bones absorb more xrays than soft tissues.
On radiograms, bones
show up at white
against a darker
background.
CT
A series of x-ray beams
scan is directed through the
patient from various
angles in a plane.
Computers take the
information and build-

Advantages

Disadvantages

Why use it

- Relatively simple to
use
- Cheapest imaging
technique
- Lots of simple x-ray
machines available
- Shows structure but
not the function of
the organ being
scanned

Shows all structures in


Bones
2D (ie ribs over lungs)
making it more difficult
to diagnose eg. Lung
conditions
- Poor resolution
compared to other
techniques
- Ionising radiation used
and so exposure must be
accurately controlled
- Patient may have to fast
before the x-ray or take
special contrast
substances such as a
barium meal

- Resolution much
better than
conventional x-rays
- Creates a crosssectional image of
the viewed organ
- 3D images can be

- Shows structure but not - Good for


the function of the organ
diagnosing
- Ionising radiation used
tumours and
and so exposure must be
other spaceaccurately controlled
filling lesions
- More expensive than
- Preferred for
conventional x-ray

up a picture of a slice
generated
of the particular organ. This can be displayed
on a TV screen or on a
photographic plate.

PET

MRI

Radiopharmaceutical is
injected/ingested/inhal
ed. Radioisotope emits
positrons, which
annihilate with
electrons in the patient
and emit gamma rays
which are detected by
a camera.
The patient is placed in
a strong magnetic
field, which tends to
align some of the
atomic magnets in
the molecules. Pulses
of radio frequency (RF)
electromagnetic waves

evaluating
stroke

- Provides an image of - Ionising radiation is used - Good for


- Expensive to use ( a
the activity of the
diagnosing
cyclotron must be
particular organ, not
stroke and
nearby to provide the
just its structure.
other
short-lived radioisotope)
neurological
diseases

- No ionising radiation - Requires a long time for


- Provides the clearest
a scan (~40min)
pictures of the
compared to around
organs such as the
5min for a CT scan
brain (MRI hardly
(raising operating costs)
detects bones)
- People with pacemakers
- Can be used to scan
or metal prostheses
the chest, abdomen
cannot be scanned

- Technique of
choice for
imaging the
brain and
CNS

bombard the patient at


and joints
- Most expensive imaging
- Functional MRI (fMRI)
Larmor frequencies
technique and
can provide both
affecting precession.
machinery
functional and
- Some people experience
RF energy is absorbed
anatomical views of
claustrophobia
then emitted. A
the brain.
computer decodes this
data and an image (2D
or 3D) is produced.

Ultr Key wordsasou 3.5MHz- 10MHz


nd
Ultrasound waves
Piezoelectric
transducer
Acoustic impedance
Resolution
Array
A-mode, B-mode

- Non-invasive, low
discomfort, no
ionising radiation
- safest
- Higher frequency
ultrasound produces
images with better
resolution, but has
poorer penetration
through tissues
- Relatively cheap and

- Cannot be used on
bones
- Cannot be used to see
structures surrounded by
bone or air eg. In lungs,
brain
- Harder to interpret than
an x-ray image
- Difficult to produce clear
images in obese patients

- Soft tissues
and organs
- Foetal
development
- Doppler
(flow
movement)
- Bone density
- 2D, 3D, 4D

End
ocsc
opy

quick
Endoscopes are
- clear colour
thousands of coherent
images of inside
bundles of optical
the patient with
fibres that allow the
only a small
doctor to see inside a
incision. This
patient. Making the
greatly decreases
orientation of the fibres
the recovery
is the same throughout
time.
the length of the
- Minimally
endoscope.
invasive
- Real time images
in true colour.

- Only allows the surface


of tissues to be
examined
- Better when linked with
ultrasound
- Risk of tearing tissues
- May require patient
sedation

- Diagnose
tumours,
ulcers,
damaged
cartilage and
ligaments,
view lungs,
ears,
reproductive
organs
- biopsy

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