Diagnostic Imaging
CT Scan
Computed Tomography scans (also known as CT or CAT scans) use special x-ray equipment to obtain information from different angles around the body. Computers are then used to process the information and create cross-sectional images that appear as "slices" of the body and organs.
MRI Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an advanced imaging method that produces images of the body without surgery or X-rays. MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to produce these images.
PET/CT
PET/CT combines the fine structural detail of CT with PET's ability to detect changes in cell function. This combination allows for earlier and more accurate detection of disease than either CT or PET alone. PET/CT can often detect small cancers before they are apparent on other types of exams because many cancers use glucose as their primary fuel. PET/CT images supplement the information obtained from conventional studies such as CT, MRI, and Ultrasound.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. The high-frequency sound waves are concentrated into a thin beam and directed into the body with a transducer, which is a small hand-held wand that the technologist uses to perform the examination. The sound waves reflect off internal structures, and the returning echoes are received by the transducer and then processed by a computer to produce real-time moving images. Ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate the abdominal and pelvic organs, breasts, thyroid gland, and testes, as well as blood flow in arteries and veins.
X-Ray
X-Ray imaging (radiography) is still the most commonly used technique in radiology. To make a radiograph, a part of the body is exposed to a very small quantity of X-Rays. The X-Rays pass through the tissues, striking a film or detector to create an image. X-Rays are safe when properly used by radiologists and technologists specially trained to minimize exposure. No radiation remains after the radiograph is obtained.
Virtual Colonoscopy
Computed Tomography scans (also known as CT or CAT scans) use special x-ray equipment to create cross-sectional images that appear as "slices" of the body and organs. When the colon is distended with gas, the resulting images can be viewed on a computer workstation, allowing the inner walls of the colon to be evaluated with 2-D and 3-D views. This gives a view of the colon similar to that seen during colonoscopy, which is a more invasive screening tool.
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