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
As with MRI, Computed Tomography can also be used to scan the body from head to toe. The procedures performed in CT can be either invasive or non-invasive and are used to visualize both soft tissues and bone. CT is utilized for both biopsies and drainage studies. This modality uses algorithms to produce scans of the various body parts, which need to be changed when imaging soft tissues versus bone tissue. A CT scan can also produce 360 degree images with just one scan.
Computed tomography (CT) degree programs teach students how to use X-rays, technology and software to gather anatomic information from patients. CAT machines take pictures of a sectional plane of the body and present it as a 3D l image.
There are different methods for assessment of radiotracer uptake by normal and pathologic tissues, such as visual inspection, the standardized uptake value (SUV) and the glucose metabolic rate. Visual inspection in analysis of PET-CT results is used by comparing PET and CT data, as well as viewing fused PET-CT images. SUVs are used for semi-quantification of FDG uptake. Another method of quantification of dynamic PET results is the more complex glucose metabolic rate calculation (Kapoor et al, 2004).
In both X-rays and CT scans, a form of radiation is emitted and travels through the body, and a detector receives the unabsorbed rays and transmits them to a computer. The physics behind PET scanning is quite different. Basically, a person is injected with a radioactive substance. This substance begins the process of
There are always going to be advantages and disadvantages in anything that is developed in the area of technology. MRI is no different.
The PET scanning is particularly useful in detecting cancer because most cancer cells use more glucose than normal tissues. In lung cancer, pet scans are sometimes used to observe for cancer in particular areas such as the lymph nodes, in the chest or to demonstrate the spreading activity of cancer cells to other areas the body. This would help the doctor to take a further decision about the treatment of a
If you’ve never heard of a PET-CT scanner, you’re not alone. PET-CT scanners are integrated scanning devices that combine images from a positron emission tomography (PET) scan with a computed tomography (CT) scan. When the scans are performed at the same time and with the same machine, they produce detailed pictures of tissues and organs that also reveal any abnormal activity. With a PET-CT scan, doctors can identify cancers and determine their stage.
Positron emission tomography is used for research and medical diagnosis of soft tissue in humans and animals. It uses radioactive drug tracers that are swallowed, injected, or inhaled into the body, to produce radioactive emissions that are then detected with a computer tomographer (Mayo Clinic 2013). This computer tomographer creates an image much like a camera makes an image on film, when exposed to light (Denniston 2014). The scans are then used to produce three dimensional images that provide information on a targeted body system. When interpreting the images, diseased areas of an organ, are identified by dense regions of the radioactive drug tracer. Some of the area's of the body commonly scanned are blood, bone, brain,
If your doctor ever refers you for a PET scan, you will be introduced to a fairly new medical imaging technique. Since this emerging modality is so new, a lot of the general public is not aware of what a PET scan exactly is. This essay will help explain the concept of this modality and the characteristics of it that allow doctors to diagnose and manage the proper care for some of today's most devastating medical conditions known to man.
It was hoped that a PET will provide better results than CT scan. Studies on PET reported a high sensitivity of 67 to 100%, with a specificity of 70 to 100% and an accuracy of 80 to 100% for the imaging of lymph nodes. Unfortunately, nonspecific inflammatory reactions in lymph nodes.can accumulate FDG as well . The false positive results with PET have
PET may provide complementary information to conventional staging as it is highly sensitive in detecting nodal and extra-nodal involvement by most histological subtypes of lymphoma prior to and following treatment. In lymphoma staging, PET/CT tends to upstage rather than downstage tumors (Okada et al., 2010).
PET scan stands for positron emission tomography and is a type of nuclear imaging technique. The PET scan also measures the metabolic activities of the brain. It allows the doctors to check if there are diseases in the body. This scan uses radioactive tracers and radionuclide. The tracer is injected into the vain in our arm and is absorbed by the surrounding tissues which are picked by the scanner. The body will react to the tracer so that it can indicate the condition of the tissues. The PET scan can also measure blood flow, oxygen use, drug activity, glucose metabolism and tissue pH in the body. PET scans are commonly used to detect if the person has cancer, heart problems or brain disorders. Radionuclides which are used in the PET scan are
The following are some examples that are detected by this diagnostic tool: cancer, brain disorders, heart problems and problems in the central nervous system (Healthline, 2015). One of the brain disorders that PET can detect is Alzheimer’s disease. The patient would be advised not to eat or drink anything for 4-6 hours prior to the exam. The patient is injected with a dye called a radioisotope to demonstrate the function of a body part to rule out a diagnosis. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most common radioisotope used in PET. After the patient is injected, the radioisotope is absorbed by the tissues and organs (Dolson, L., 2001). When PET is used as a diagnostic tool for cancer, the clinician is then able to see how the malignant tumor is developing or if it has moved to other areas. It also allows the clinician to see how the malignancy is reacting to chemotherapy. PET scans show problems at the cellular level, therefore giving your clinician the best possible view of complex systemic diseases (Healthline, 2015). The tracers are normally out of the patient’s system within two days after a PET scan, but the patient should drink plenty of fluids afterward to help speed up the process of expelling the tracer.
Based on the score sheet developed by the researcher (Appendix 3), the result were demonstrated in figure 4.9., all PET/CT departments participant in the survey their concern were to provide the patient with sufficient information about PET/CT procedure in first place with an average (mean = 56%), followed by clarifying patient basic details
The CT scan is a tool. It is a tool for doctors to use to help people all over the world. It sometimes is key to find and illness a patient poses. Many people do not know what a CT scan is. Even more, people do not know what “CT” stands for. For those who do not know “CT” stands for, ¨Computed Tomography¨. There are way more frequent question people ask, such as, how does a CT scan help diagnose illnesses? In what ways do radiation doses affect the human body from a CT? How do a CT scan and an MRI differ? How has the CT scan evolved over time? These are all questions that are the most frequently asked. What these people are trying to say to the confused is simple. Basically, the CT scan is helping our doctors figure out the mysteries of the human body.