Medical Diagnostics Test

A diagnostic tool that uses radiation waves 9x-rays) to see structures inside the body.

Radiation waves

X-rays work based on the density of structures in the body.

Bones and teeth are the most dense structures in our body, and therefore, x-rays cannot pass through them. This leaves them to be white in the final image.

Every tissue and organ in the body has a slightly different density, but they are all less dense than bone and teeth. Things like muscles and organs will show as varying shades of grey.

Air is the least dense substance in our bodies (like in our lungs), and therefore, x-rays pass through them quite easily, leaving them black on the final image.

Trauma imaging Dental imaging Disease confirmation Monitoring healing processes

• fast and easy (especially useful in emergencies) • little patient preparation • painless -accurate images are produced -widely accessible as they are relatively inexpensive.

-Excessive exposure to radiation can rearrange DNA and cause cancer -not recommended for pregnant women -movement blurs the image -little information about soft tissues.

CT scans are a diagnostic tool that combines a series of x-ray images taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images.

Computed Tomography

Patient lies on a moveable table and is then moved into the gantry. A beam of x-rays is created and the rotating frame spins the x-ray source around the patient.

A gantry is a circular rotating frame with an x-ray source on one side and a detector on the other that allows the x-ray to pass through the individual. It spins, creating images from any angle.

CT scans create individual slices of the desired section of the body that can then be viewed on their own or together to create a 3-D image or the “loaf.”

Because CT scans use x-ray technology, the result will be the same in the final images. Bones will appear white as they are most dense, tissues and organs will appear grey, and air will appear black.

• Bone fractures • Diagnose cancer, track it’s progress, and guide treatment plans. • See the depth of cancer or other trauma. • Detect heart disease • Detect lung issues • Identify and track brain conditions like bleeds, clots, tumours, etc. • If multiple breaks are suspected around the body, it is much faster to put the individual in a CT scanners than to take dozens of x-rays individually.

Provides highly detailed images High speed and only take a few minutes to complete.

Radiation risk is much higher than for a conventional x-ray. Must avoid if pregnant.

A diagnostic tool that uses a powerful magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to provide detailed images of the body.

1) Radio waves thousands of times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field are sent through the body. 2) The hydrogen atoms’ nuclei (containing their protons) change position/orientation. 3) They nuclei then move back to their original position and send out radio waves of their own. 4) A scanner picks up the radio waves they send out and a computer turns them into an image.

The colour of bones and tissues will completely opposite to x-rays and CT scans. Bones will be black, and things like fat, muscles, and organs will appear white.

Because it is dependent on the water concentration in each individual part. Bones have less water, and therefore, less hydrogen. Whereas something like your eyes are 95% water and will produce a greater signal.

• Diagnose cause of headaches, dizziness, and seizures • assess chronic back pain • Diagnose joint problems, ligament tears, and muscle injuries • Detect heart conditions or damage from previous heart attacks • assess blood flow or blockages • evaluate organs • detect tumours, cysts, or infections.

• no damaging radiation • noninvasive • painless • high resolution images • safer for pregnant women