Radiology, A Lot More than an X-ray for a Broken Bone!

By Pio Hocate, MD

The next time your knee is out of joint or your insides are acting up, you may be referred for a radiology exam. These exams are usually ordered by a patient’s physician, completed by a specially trained technician and then read by a radiologist who specializes in evaluating these exams. The availability of these tests, described below, has changed the way medical issues are diagnosed and how the proper course of treatment is determined for many patients.

X-rays (or radiographs) are the images we are most familiar with and are used to evaluate bones, the structures of the chest, or sinuses.

Ultrasound is excellent for evaluating the pelvis and upper abdomen, thyroid, and breast abnormalities. It is the exam of choice in obstetrics.

Mammography is used solely to detect and diagnose breast disease. Digital mammography is the latest technology available; the image is more clear and the test takes less time.

Computed Tomography (CT or CAT scans) provide cross-sectional images of the body created by rotating the x-ray beam around the patient. CT provides detailed images of the chest as well as diagnoses abnormalities of the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, lymph nodes, uterus and ovaries. It is also used in initial brain evaluations and to evaluate aneurysms of the arteries.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides the most complete and detailed evaluation of the brain, spinal cord and soft tissues (ligaments, tendons and cartilage in and around the joints) and can also help evaluate the abdomen, pelvis and blood vessels if ultrasound and CT are inconclusive.

Nuclear Medicine is a highly sensitive exam used to evaluate function in the thyroid gland, heart, gall bladder and kidneys and tells whether something is wrong, but not the precise diagnosis. PET (positron emission tomography) scanning is a special exam used primarily in the detection and staging of cancer.

Now, when you are referred for a radiology exam—as 60% of all Americans are each year—be comforted by the fact that they help your physician to more accurately determine what your specific problem is and how to best treat it! For more information, visit www.radiologyinfo.org or ask your doctor.