Section · 8 imaging

Imaging

Imaging studies: how each modality works, what it shows well and badly, radiation and preparation. Educational, not a guide to which scan an individual should have.

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X-ray CT scan MRI scan Ultrasound

C

CT scan

A rotating X-ray tube and computer build cross-sectional slices of the body in seconds, showing bone, organs, blood vessels and bleeding in fine detail; the…

Moderate doseBrainLungs

D

DXA scan (bone density)

A quick, very low-dose X-ray measurement of bone mineral density at the hip and spine, reported as a T-score, that diagnoses osteoporosis and estimates…

Low doseVertebral columnBony pelvis

F

Fluoroscopy and angiography

Continuous, low-dose X-ray imaging shown as a live moving picture, used to watch swallowing, guide catheters and joint injections and follow contrast through…

Moderate doseCoronary vesselsAorta

M

Mammography

A low-dose X-ray of the compressed breast that can detect cancers years before they can be felt, used for screening programmes and for investigating breast…

Low doseRib cageShoulder girdle

MRI scan

Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not radiation, to produce detailed pictures of soft tissue: the brain, spinal cord, joints,…

No radiationBrainCerebellum

P

PET-CT scan

Positron emission tomography tracks a mildly radioactive sugar or tracer to show where cells are most active, usually combined with CT to stage cancer and…

Moderate doseLungsBrain

U

Ultrasound

High-frequency sound waves bounced off tissue give real-time, radiation-free images, used for pregnancy, the abdomen, the heart (echocardiography), blood…

No radiationLiverGallbladder & bile ducts

X

X-ray

The oldest and most widely available imaging test: a brief beam of X-rays casts a shadow picture of bone, air and soft tissue, ideal for fractures, chest…

Low doseLungsHeart

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