What would doctors do without the ability to look inside the body for potential problems? Imaging technologies not only require unnecessary surgery, but also help medical professionals diagnose and treat diseases without delay. Not surprisingly, radiology is one of the fastest growing areas of medicine. In this brief article we will discuss the most common methods of radiology used in hospitals today.
CT: Better known as CAT scanning, this invaluable diagnostic tool can be used to search for possible problems in virtually any part of the body. It not only provides extremely accurate and detailed images of bones, but also shows soft tissues and blood vessels. Often used for patients after serious accidents, CAT scans can help identify internal injuries as soon as possible.
MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an incredibly accurate method of detecting a disease that is most often used after other scans are short. It can provide extensive information about the main organs, bones, joints and soft tissues. In many cases, surgeons prescribe an MRI to help them plan their surgical procedures in advance.
PET / CT scan: As with the above procedures, PET / CT scan is an image test that helps doctors look for potential problems. But unlike others, it allows them to look for problems at the cellular level. Most often, this procedure is necessary to study the health of vital organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Mammography: a popular X-ray technique that creates an image of the breast, mammography saved the lives of countless women.
Ultrasound: Although they are most often needed to monitor the development of unborn children, ultrasounds are much more versatile than many believe. Because this procedure is much cheaper than other scans, medical professionals can use it to study many different parts of the body, including the liver, testicles, chest, lymph nodes, gallbladder and thyroid.
X-ray: Original imaging technology, X-rays are used to check for broken bones. Quite accurate and relatively inexpensive, X-rays remain the most popular radiological procedure around.
Nuclear medicine: although the idea of injecting small amounts of radioactive material into the body cannot be an appealing, it gives doctors the opportunity to collect a lot of information about your disease. An experienced radiologist can use nuclear medicine to get an accurate picture of the structure and function of bones, organs, tissues, and even entire systems in the body.
SPECT / CT: For a more complete examination, physicians can order this procedure, which combines the anatomical visualization of computed tomography with the functional visualization of nuclear medicine. Often used to look for tumors, the SPECT / CT procedure is surprisingly accurate.
All the above radiology procedures are commonly used in hospitals throughout the country and around the world.
