Transcript Medical Imaging Technologies

Medical Imaging
Technologies
Medical imaging produces images
of organs and tissues within the
body for use in diagnosis and
treatment
X-Ray
Most common form of medical imaging
 X-Ray is high energy radiation that can penetrate
skin and tissues, but not bone or metal
 X-rays are absorbed by dense structures which
will appear whiter than less dense structures
around it
 X-Ray machines produce a radiograph for the
radiologist to read

X-Ray: Benefits and
Drawbacks




Radiographs can be used
to check for cancer,
cardiovascular and
respiratory problems,and
for cavities in your teeth
X-Ray imaging is quick,
virtually painless and noninvasive
X-Ray can cause changes
and mutations to DNA
X-Ray -> Fluoroscopy





Uses continuous beams of
X-Rays to produce images
that show the movement
of organs
Patient may need to ingest
a contrast liquid such as
barium
Used to study digestive
and circulatory function
The image of a blood
vessel is called an
angiogram
X-Ray -> Radiotherapy

X-Rays can be used
to treat cancer
 X-rays damage the
DNA of the cancer
cells to kill these
cells or prevent
them from
multiplying

X-Ray -> Comptued
Tomography (CT)




X-Ray equipment is used to
form a 3D image from a
series of images taken at
different angles of the body
Often used to diagnose
cancer, abnormalities of the
skeleton and vascular
disease
CT can image bone, soft
tissue and blood vessels at
the same time
This test is quick, painless
and provides detailed
information
Ultrasound

Uses high frequency
sound waves to
produce images of body
tissue and organs
 Sound waves enter the
body and are reflected
back (like an echo)
 A kind of ultrasound
called an
echocardiogram can be
used to diagnose an
abnormality in the heart
or blood vessels
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI

Uses powerful magnets
and radio waves to
produce detailed
images of the body
 The magnets interact
with the hydrogen
atoms (found in H2O)
 Useful for imaging the
structure and function of
the brain, heart, liver,
soft tissue and inside
bones.
Nuclear Medicine






Used to diagnose cancer,
investigate blood circulation and
evaluate disorders in organs
Radioisotopes are used to
provide images of how tissues
and organs function
Radioisotopes emit radiation
The radioisotope is attached to a
chemical that is absorbed by
certain tissues or organs
A special camera detects the
radiation and creates an image
Radioisotopes can also be used
to treat disease
Nuclear Medicine -> Positron
Emission Tomography (PET)

The radioisotope
used in a PET scan
emits particles
called positrons
 PET can be used to
detect cancer in
tissue, to detect
heart disease and
some brain
disorders
Biophotonics



Uses interactions of
light with cells and
tissue to diagnose and
treat abnormalities
Doctors can use
endoscopes to examine
the digestive tract and
collect tissue samples
Endoscopic surgeries
are much less invasive