Saturday 6 May 2017

Common types of Radiology Scans & Tests

Radiology is represented as the branch of medical science that deals with radiant energy in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This field is further divided into two main areas - diagnostic and interventional Radiology. A physician specializing in Radiology is known as a radiologist.
Radiation is used in nuclear medicine and Radiology. In nuclear medication, radioactive materials known as radioisotopes, or radiopharmaceuticals, are introduced into the body. In Radiology, X-rays enter the body from outside. The rapid development has changed the way the healthcare industry is administered, coupled with the amazing recent progression within imaging, has necessitated a review of the way in which Radiology should be regarded.

There are different types of Radiology services and their application depending upon the cause of illness. Following are the types of Radiology;

Ø  X-Ray or Radiography – X-ray uses a very small dosage of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the body internal structures. Radiography is one of the oldest and extensively used techniques for non-destructive testing. Radiography is often used to help diagnose fractured bones, look for injury or infection and to locate foreign objects in soft tissue.

Ø  Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – MRI is a safe and pain-free test that applies a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's organs and structures inside the body. An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the: brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, breasts, heart and blood vessels, internal organs, such as the liver, womb or prostate gland.

Ø  Computerized Tomography (CT ) – CT is also known as “CAT” scan is a special x-ray equipment to obtain a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computerized processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside your body. A Computerized Tomography (CT) scan provides more detailed images and information than a plain X-ray. It is mainly used to quickly examine internal injuries caused due to car accidents or other types of trauma.

Ø  Ultrasound – It is used to produce images of soft tissue structures, such as the kidneys, bladder, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and other organs and parts of the body. Ultrasound can be also used to measure the flow of blood in the arteries in order to detect blockages. Ultrasound testing is highly safe and easy to perform.

Ø  Vascular Studies – it is a test that checks the blood flow in your arteries and veins. These tests are noninvasive as they do not use any needles.  Doppler ultrasound and Color Doppler are are the special types of ultrasound technology.

·               Doppler ultrasound test allows you to see blood flow through arteries and veins. The amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat and how large a vessel opens. A Doppler ultrasound can also find abnormal blood, causing blockages. 

·               Color Doppler is the improved form of Doppler ultrasound, it uses different colors to show the direction of blood flow.

Ø  Echocardiograms – An echocardiogram is a sound wave to produce images of your heart. It allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. It is basically used to identify heart disease.

Ø  Bone Densitometry – Bone Densitometry is an X-Ray that quickly measures the bone mineral content and density. It is primarily used to diagnose osteopenia or osteoporosis and to determine fracture risk. The testing procedure measures the bone density of the bones of the spine, lower arm, pelvis, and thigh.


Ø  Mammography – Mammography uses special X-ray images to detect abnormal growths or changes in the breast tissue, which leads to cause breast cancer. It can check for breast cancers, noncancerous or benign tumors, and cysts before they can be felt. Mammograms play an important role in early breast cancer detection and help decrease breast cancer deaths.

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