I know a lot about this topic, it is one if my life interests. Even though I know like it a lot and despite my knowledge, I want to research them even further.
Questions:
1. What is an X-Ray and what is it used for?
2. What is an CT and what is it used for?
3. What is an MRI and what is it used for?
4. What is an Pet Scan and what is it used for?
5. What is an EEG and what is it used for?
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_computed_tomography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography
Things I learned:
• X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic energy that is used to have a clear view of the strong masses of the human body (bones generally) to detect fractures and/or abnormal activities in organs like the lungs.
• Large/long/repetitive exposures to X-radiation is dangerous for the human body because the radiation that the X-rays emit can generate abnormalities. Usually when you have an X-ray the scan takes at least 10 second to get out one image (shot time).
• Pregnant women are not allowed to take any medical test involving electromagnetic energy (such as X-rays) because it can damage the fetus permanently. To scan the baby during pre-natal care, doctors use an ultrasound because the wavelength of sound cannot damage the fetus.
• A CT scan (computerized tomography) is a scan that doctors use to see a clear view of the organs of the body. The CT machine also uses electromagnetic energy, but they are sent in a different way than the ones in a normal X-ray.
• The CT scan shows the human body cut into "slices" or cross sections to see the different parts of the body in numerous slides. This way they can detect tumors and other abnormal masses growing in any part of the body. Radio contrast agents can modify the contrast of the image to the doctors choice.
• You can order different types of CT's. There are general CT's in which you can see the entire body with or without cross-sections. There are head CT's in which you can only see the brain (no cross sections). And sometimes you can have an abdominal CT or an extremity CT.
• An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another radiology exam to see the inner structures of the human body. The important difference is that the MRI uses magnetic energy that gives the image a lot more detail than the CT.
• There is a type of MRI that are called NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) that are used with nuclear energy to be able to visualize the nuclei of the cells inside the body. You can also visualize molecules inside the body.
• When a fetus is diagnosed with an abnormality using an ultrasound, obstetricians use a fetal MRI. This is a normal MRI you perform on a fetus inside the uterus of a woman. You obviously reduce the amount of energy used since the fetus is small. This way you can have the clearest image of what the problem is.
• A PET scan (positron emission tomography) is another type of imaging used in medicine. It is a nuclear energy machine that uses a small percentage of gamma rays that indirectly emits radionuclide. This lets you see 3D images of the inner structures of the body.
• This is a test mostly used to detect cancer metastasis (when cancer spreads from it's original place of development to other places in the body). A color coded image use used to detect metastasis or other structures of your choice.
• Just like X-rays; PET scans should be performed on a regular basis because the gamma rays used in the test can damage the body permanently if the body is exposed to them lots of times. Gamma rasy are one of the waves (rays) that have the most concentrated wavelengths.
• An EEG test (electroencephalography) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. The test measures voltage resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons. The main diagnosis made using this type of test are cases of epilepsy.
• It is used by putting many little probe receptors in the scalp of a person. From there, you connect them to wires to be able to release the energy that is going to let you know the electrical activity of the neurons.
• This test is also used to be able to confirm the diagnosis of encephalopathy and delirium which are diseases of the brain that are all related to the electrical charges that the neurons have inside the brain, just like epilepsy.
Summary: I believe this type of advanced technology applies to my life because I want to be a surgeon when I grow up so I am going to need to be familiarized with these machines for the well-being of my future patients. I guess it applies to everybody's life because these machines allow doctors to diagnose diseases that are treated every day.
Questions:
• What are the other medical imaging machines (the ones that are not mentioned in this post) compare to the ones that are mentioned in this post?
• How is anybody able to put electromagnetic energy inside a machine and control it?
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