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Radiology Fundamentals & Chest/Abdominal Imaging

72 cards · 🇺🇸 English

Imaging modalities plus chest and abdominal imaging findings.

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Radiology

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1Radiology
The medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose diseases and guide treatment within the bodies of humans and other animals
2How are radiographic images produced?
By transmitting X-rays through a patient; an image is formed based on which rays pass through (detected) versus those absorbed or scattered (not detected)
3What imaging modalities does modern radiology include?
Radiography (X-rays), computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
4Difference between imaging modalities that use ionizing radiation versus those that don't
CT, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine use ionizing radiation; ultrasonography and MRI do not use ionizing electromagnetic radiation
5Interventional radiology
The performance of usually minimally invasive medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies such as X-rays, CT, ultrasound, or MRI
6Radiographer (or radiologic technologist)
A specialized healthcare professional who performs radiographic procedures and radiation therapy for diagnosis and treatment of diseases
7What conditions is plain radiography still helpful in diagnosing?
Arthritis, pneumonia, bone tumors, fractures, congenital skeletal anomalies, and certain types of kidney stones
8Two applications of low energy projectional radiography
Mammography (evaluation of breast cancer) and DXA (evaluation of osteoporosis)
9Fluoroscopy
A special application of X-ray imaging where a fluorescent screen and image intensifier tube is connected to a closed-circuit television system, allowing real-time imaging of structures in motion
10Two radiocontrast agents commonly used in radiology
Barium sulfate (BaSO4) given orally or rectally for GI tract evaluation, and iodine in multiple forms given by various routes
11Computed tomography (CT)
An imaging technique that uses X-rays in conjunction with computing algorithms, where an X-ray tube and detector rotate around a patient to produce computer-generated cross-sectional images (tomograms)
12In which plane is CT acquired, and how are other views produced?
CT is acquired in the axial plane, with coronal and sagittal images produced by computer reconstruction
13Advantages of CT over plain radiography
CT can detect more subtle variations in attenuation of X-rays (higher contrast resolution), though radiographs provide higher spatial resolution
14What urgent and emergent conditions is CT the test of choice for diagnosing?
Cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, appendicitis, diverticulitis, and obstructing kidney stones
15How does spiral multidetector CT work?
It uses 16, 64, 254 or more detectors during continuous motion of the patient through the radiation beam to obtain fine detail images in a short exam time
16Medical ultrasonography
An imaging technique that uses ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) to visualize soft tissue structures in the body in real time, without using ionizing radiation
17What factors can limit ultrasound image quality?
The skill of the ultrasonographer, patient's body size (subcutaneous fat absorbs sound waves), inability to image through air pockets or bone
18Why is ultrasound preferred in obstetrical imaging?
Because it does not employ ionizing radiation, making it safer for evaluating pregnancy progression and detecting fetal anomalies without concern about radiation damage
19Color-flow Doppler ultrasound used for
Measuring severity of peripheral vascular disease and dynamic evaluation of the heart, heart valves, and major vessels (e.g., detecting carotid artery stenosis or deep vein thrombosis)
20What procedures can ultrasound guide?
Biopsies and drainages such as thoracentesis, and non-invasive assessment for internal bleeding and organ damage in trauma patients
21How does MRI produce images?
By using strong magnetic fields to align atomic nuclei (usually hydrogen protons) within body tissues, then using radio signals to disturb their axis of rotation and observing the radio frequency signal generated as nuclei return to baseline
22Major advantage of MRI over other imaging modalities
MRI provides the best soft tissue contrast of all imaging modalities and can produce images in axial, coronal, sagittal and multiple oblique planes with equal ease
23Main disadvantages of MRI
Patient must hold still for long periods in a noisy, cramped space; claustrophobia affects up to 5% of patients; examinations can be time-consuming
24What conditions contraindicate MRI use?
Pacemakers, cochlear implants, some indwelling medication pumps, certain cerebral aneurysm clips, metal fragments in eyes, and some metallic hardware due to powerful magnetic fields
25What body systems does MRI have great benefit in imaging?
The brain, spine, and musculoskeletal system
26Nuclear medicine imaging
Imaging that involves administering radiopharmaceuticals consisting of substances with affinity for certain body tissues labeled with radioactive tracers
27Most commonly used nuclear medicine tracers
Technetium-99m, iodine-123, iodine-131, gallium-67, indium-111, thallium-201, and fludeoxyglucose (18F) (18F-FDG)
28What organs are commonly evaluated with nuclear medicine?
Heart, lungs, thyroid, liver, brain, gallbladder, and bones
29Principal nuclear medicine imaging devices
The gamma camera and the PET scanner, which detect radiation emitted by tracers in the body
30SPECT
Single-photon emission computed tomography - computer processing that displays nuclear medicine information as axial, coronal and sagittal images