W h a t is
rRadiology
a d i o gisraamedical
phy…
specialty that employs
the use of imaging to
both diagnose and treat
disease visualized within
the human body.
Radiologists use an
array of imaging
technologies.
It may use x-ray
machines or
other such radiation
devices.
Or It also uses
techniques that do not
involve radiation, such as
MRI and ultrasound.
types…
Radiology can refer to two sub-fields,
diagnostic radiology and therapeutic
radiology.
Diagnostic radiology is concerned with
the use of various imaging modalities to
aid in the diagnosis of disease.
Therapeutic radiology—or, as it is now
called, radiation oncology uses radiation
to treat diseases such as cancer using a
form of treatment called radiation
therapy.
Commonly used techniques for diagnostic
radiology includes
Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Ultrasound
X-rays
Nuclear imaging techniques
CT-
SCA
CT s c a n
Computed tomography (CT) is a type of
imaging.
It uses special x-ray equipment to
make cross- sectional pictures of your
body.
Doctors use CT scans to look for
Broken bones
Cancers
Blood clots
Signs of heart disease
Internal bleeding
CT
• Pros:
– Available everywhere, consistent quality, best
option for whole-body evaluation
– Fast
• Cons:
– Less sensitive for small liver metastases than MRI
– Radiation (10-15 mSv)
Chest CT – Lung
Metastases
PET-CT
PET - CT
• Pros
– Unique: Images metabolic activity
– May give information about efficacy of treatment
• Cons
– Not universally available
– Expensive
– Not sensitive for small metastases
– Takes about 2 hours
– Radiation (30 mSv)
X-RAYS
X-r a y s
X-rays are basically electromagnetic
radiations which are used to create images
of inside your body.
The images show the parts of your body in
different shades of black and white due to
different level of absorption of x-rays by
different tissues
Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the less, so
bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues
absorb more, and look gray.
Air absorbs the most, so lungs look black.
The most familiar use of x-rays is checking
for broken bones
However, x-rays are also used in other ways.
For example, chest x-rays can spot
pneumonia.
Mammograms use x-rays to look for breast
cancer.
MAMMOGRAPHY
TWO VIEWS:-
CRANIOCAUDAL VIEW ( CC )
MEDIOLATERAL OBLIQUE VIEW ( MLO )
MR
I
MRI scans
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses
a large magnet and radio waves to look
at organs and structures inside your
body.
Health care professionals use MRI scans to
diagnose a variety of conditions, from torn
ligaments to tumors.
MRIs are very useful for examining the
brain and spinal cord.
MRI
• Pros:
– Most sensitive for liver mets.
– No radiation. No known harmful effects
• Cons:
– Does not cover entire body
– Can’t use in SOME people with pacers, anxiety, etc.
– Variability in how studies are done.
– Slow, noisy, easily affected by motion, etc.
MRI is better than CT (another
example)
C
MR
T
Nuclear medicine
Nuclear scans use radioactive
substances to see structures and
functions inside your body.
They use a special camera that detects
radioactivity.
Nuclear scans can help doctors diagnose
many conditions, including cancers, injuries,
and infections.
They can also show how organs like your
heart and lungs are working.
The heart, lungs, thyroid, liver, gallbladder,
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a type of imaging. It uses high-
frequency sound waves to look at organs and
structures inside the body.
Health care professionals use it to view
the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver,
and other organs.
During pregnancy, doctors use ultrasound to
view the fetus. Unlike x-rays, ultrasound does
not expose you to radiation.
Ultrasound
• Pros:
– Relatively inexpensive.
– No radiation.
– Can be very sensitive for small lesions
• Cons:
– Variable quality, depending on site and on patient.
– Not useful for whole-body surveillance.
Biopsy
Contrast Risks
• CT contrast and MR contrast are
completely unrelated materials
• Risk of reaction to CT contrast is very
low (0.15%)
• Risk of reaction to MR contrast is extremely
low (0.04%)
• Most reactions are minor
CONTRAST
REACTIONS
Contrast and Renal Insufficiency CT: “Contrast
nephropathy”
FDA Drug Safety
Communication:
FDA warns that gadolinium-based
contrast agents (GBCAs) are retained
in the body; requires new
class warnings
Gadolinium Contrast
for
• Per FDA: MRI
Gadolinium retention has not been directly
linked to adverse health effects in patients with
normal kidney function, and we have
concluded that the benefit of all approved
GBCAs continues to outweigh any potential
risks.
• Linear vs. macrocyclic
• Eovist is one of the lower linear
“accumulators” (lower dose administered,
excreted by kidneys and liver, more stable
than other linear agents)
Thank
y o u !!!
