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Tomography Research Paper

Decent Essays
Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) or (CAT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound.

Computed tomography, commonly known as CT or CAT scan, is a painless, non-invasive diagnostic tool that uses a specialized form of X-ray coupled with computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (slices) of soft tissue, organs, bone and blood vessels in any area of your body.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive, diagnostic nuclear medicine technology that uses special radiological pharmaceuticals to create images that illustrate biological
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However, for some tissues, a MRI image is not as clear as that of a CT. It is more difficult to differentiate inflammation and scar tissue from tumors on a MRI image. Also, it generally cannot be used on anyone who has metal implants in their body. People who have a difficult time in close places sometimes have a hard time coping with the MRI. The MRI is also more expensive than the CT.

In the same way, the images in the PET scan are not as clear as with the CT scans and MRI, so sometimes localizing the exact place of the increased activity can be a problem 2) it takes more training to learn to read them well 3) since inflammation shows as "hot" on a PET scan, if there is a lot of inflammation present it can obscure other activity on the scan and 4) it tends to work better for higher grade tumors and metastasis, as well-differentiated tumors have less metabolic activity (they are usually growing more slowly).

To summarize, the current "wave of the future" is a new type of scan that combines the technologies of CT and PET. Superimposing the images of function on structure seems to give the best of both worlds - the anatomical detail of the CT and the ability to find small clumps of cancer cells of the
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