With Professor Shikha Gupta from the University of South Alabama
Ms. Gupta visited, she was a very enjoyable speaker and started off her presentation with several images like silverware in the intestines, a knife in the skull, and even conjoined twins.
A radiologist is a medical doctor that specializes in diagnosing injuries and diseases using medical imaging procedures such as x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine positron emission tomography, and ultrasounds.
They complete at least 13 years of training, including medical school, a five year residence, and most often, an additional one or two year fellowship of very specialized training, such as pediatric radiology, musculoskeletal imaging, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, etc.
The topics covered was plain radiology, Fluoroscopy, computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine.
Plain Radiography
Film-screen radiography: X-ray tube generates a beam of x-rays which pass through the patient and are the filtered through a device called an x-ray filter, to reduce scatter and noise. These strike an undeveloped film, which is held tightly to a screen of light-emitting phosphors in a light-tight cassette.
Digital radiography: x-rays strike a plate of sensors that converts the signals generated into digital information, which is transmitted and converted into an image displayed on a computer screen.
Flouroscopy
Patients will often drink Barium and the device allows you to watch the whole process of swallowing in real time.
Computed Tomography
The first commercially viable CT scanner was invented by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield at EMI Central Research Labs, Great Britain in 1972. CT imaging uses X-rays in conjunction with computing algorithms to image the body. In CT, an X-ray tube opposite an X-ray detector (or detectors) in a ring-shaped apparatus rotate around a patient, producing a computer-generated cross-sectional image (tomogram). CT is acquired in the axial plane, with coronal and sagittal images produced by computer reconstruction.
Ultrasound
Ultrasonography uses ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) to visualize soft tissue structures in the body in real time. No ionising radiation is involved, but the quality of the images obtained using ultrasound is highly dependent on the skill of the person (ultrasonographer) performing the exam and patient body habitus.Ultrasound is also limited by its inability to image through air (lungs, bowel loops) or bone.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses strong magnetic fields to align atomic nuclei (usually hydrogen protons) within body tissues, then uses a radio signal to disturb the axis of rotation of these nuclei and observes the radio frequency signal generated as the nuclei return to their baseline states.The radio signals are collected by small antennae, called coils, placed near the area of interest. An advantage of MRI is its ability to produce images in multiple oblique planes with equal ease. MRI scans give the best soft tissue contrast of all the imaging modalities and has become an important tool in musculoskeletal radiology and neuroradiology.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine imaging involves the administration of radiophramceuticals with affinity for certain body tissues labeled with radioactive tracer. The most commonly used tracers are technetium-99m, iodine-123, iodine-131, and fludeoxyglucose (18F) (18F-FDG). While anatomical detail is limited in these studies, nuclear medicine is useful in displaying physiological function The excretory function of the kidneys, iodine-concentrating ability of the thyroid, blood flow to heart muscle, etc. can be measured.
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