|
|||
| Exclusively for Patients | |||
| Frequently Asked Questions | |||
|
|
|||
 What
is Radiology ? |
|||
|
Radiology is the study of images of the human body. A Radiologist is a physician who has become a specialist in Radiology - a doctor who has taken additional training in the interpretation of medical images. Although Radiology initially starts with X-ray images later it extends to Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Angiograms, Radionuclide images studies etc. In general, "Radiology" refers to medical imaging techniques, employing advanced computers and other complex equipment, that allow doctors to see inside a patient's body without blood shed & pain. Although the word "Radiology" implies radiation, not all of the techniques actually use radiation. And although radiology is most commonly used for diagnosis, sometimes it's used therapeutically -- that is, for treatment. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What is the
difference between Radiology, Radio-diagnosis & Imagiology ? |
|||
| Radiology or Radio-Diagnosis or Imagiology are more or less synonyms . | |||
|
|
|||
| How Radiology is
useful for patients ? |
|||
|
Radiology
is playing a key role in the management of Disease / Patient by giving
information about nature, site, extent of the disease in addition to cause
and complications of the disease. By this information it is possible to
decide what treatment (medical or surgical) is necessary for that
disease. If surgical, whether patient is fit for surgery or not. It will
inform about time to do Surgery and plan for surgical approach. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What are the various
methods in Radiology? |
|||
|
There are different methods through which a
radiologist can diagnose the disease. These are as follows.
X-rays. Certain diseases need only one diagnostic method for establishing diseases. Majority of diseases need more than one investigation. Usually Radiologist & clinician will decide what methods are essential to bring out the disease information. Let us study about all these methods in detail. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
is an X-ray ? |
|||
| X-rays are part of high frequency electromagnetic radiation. Because of special properties like penetration through soft parts of body and reactions with photographic emulsion, X-rays are useful in diagnosis of disease from its discovery by William Roentgen in 1897. | |||
|
|
|||
| How
X -rays are useful in Diagnosis ? |
|||
| X-rays are useful in diagnosis of diseases involving bones, lungs, gut,
kidneys & gall bladder. X-rays are used in CT- scan , Image intensifier, Mammography . X- rays are useful in detecting the congenital, inflammatory, traumatic, degenerative & neo-plastic disease with variable sensitivity & specificity depending on region ( part ) affected. Plain
:: Contrast :: Contrasts studies
:: |
|||
|
|
|||
| Why
should I hold my breath while taking X-ray ? |
|||
| Patients are often asked to hold their breath; depending on the part being examined, this may be on inspiration or expiration. This is so the chest and abdominal organs will not be moving and "blurred" on the films. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
are the dangers or side affects of X-rays? |
|||
| X-ray radiation is dangerous if exposed to excessively. | |||
|
|
|||
| How
to over come the side effects of X-rays? |
|||
| Strictly
following the safety precautions in X-ray room.
Image intensifier is
X-ray based device with very low radiation to patient & to operator. |
|||
|
|
|||
| Has
any patient had an allergic reaction or side effects with Barium? |
|||
| Yes, but it is extremely rare. Only a small percentage of the population has experienced an allergic reaction to the barium or to the flavoring materials. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is the role of Image Intensifier in Radio-diagnosis ? |
|||
| To
reduce risk of radiation to both patient & operator. Image intensifier is an X-ray based device with very low radiation. Useful for real time, dynamic study of organ & systems. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
is Ultrasound ? |
|||
| High frequency (20 to 20,000 MHZ) sound waves are called Ultrasound. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is the mechanism involved in Ultrasound Scan ? |
|||
| Ultrasound waves are reflected back after passing through body. These reflected sound waves are analyzed by computer & displayed as image on monitor. Radiologist will interpret the image. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
are the advantages of Ultrasound Scan ? |
|||
| No
radiation risk. Noninvasive. No special preparation. Immediate report. Reproducible results. Painless. Sedation is not required. Inexpansive |
|||
|
|
|||
| For
what diseases Ultrasound Scan is useful ? |
|||
| It is useful
for liver, gall bladder, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, uterus,
ovarian, pancreatic diseases. To evaluate structures & functions of heart. High frequency probes are useful to investigate eyeball, thyroid, breast, scrotum, infant's brain, joint diseases. In pregnancy - ultrasound scan provides maximum information regarding fetus & its environment. |
|||
|
|
|||
| How
Ultrasound Scan is useful in Pregnancy ? |
|||
| In 1st.
three months (1st Trimester) Confirmation of pregnancy. Viability of pregnancy. To know the single / twin pregnancy. Type of abortion. To know the short cervix / incompetance. Congenital anomaly like absence of head (anencephaly). Maternal uterine & ovarian abnormalities. Ectopic pregnancy. 4th,5th,6th months (2nd Trimester) 7th,8th,9th months (3rd Trimester) |
|||
|
|
|||
| Are
there any side effects /radiation/dangers to mother or to baby with
Ultrasound Scan? |
|||
| No worth mentioning side effects / radiation so far. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is the role of Colour Doppler in Ultrasound ? |
|||
|
Now-a-days
Colour Doppler is playing a major role in ultrasound. With Colour Doppler
radiologist evaluates blood vessel lumen, blood flow velocities & flow
direction studies. |
|||
|
|
|||
| How
much time is required to complete the Ultrasound Scan? |
|||
|
The exam length varies depending on the part or region and disease. Most ultrasound exams are completed within an hour. |
|||
|
|
|||
| Why
full bladder is necessary for Ultrasound Scan? |
|||
|
When looking for problems related to the bladder you need the bladder full to view the bladder walls. In women, a full bladder flattens out the uterus and pushes the bowel out of the way so that the sound is easily transmitted. In men , full bladder is required to scan prostate. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What's
the purpose of the gel during the Ultrasound Scan ? |
|||
| The purpose of using gel is to aid in the transmission of sound between the transducer and the body part being examined. | |||
|
|
|||
| How
sex determination is possible with Ultrasound Scan ? |
|||
| After fourteen weeks, if the baby is in a position which will give us a window to see the lower body, then we will certainly try to identify the gender of the baby. Before fourteen weeks we probably will not be able to identify the gender. | |||
|
|
|||
| Fasting
is necessary for Ultrasound Scan? |
|||
| Yes .You may be asked not to eat before certain ultrasound exams so that our images of the abdomen will be clearer. We also need to see the gallbladder as part of the abdominal exam. If you have eaten, we cannot see it because it has emptied in order to help digest the food. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is CT Scan ? |
|||
| CT scan is short name for computed Omography. It is x-ray based equipment. "CT scan" is a technique that uses X-rays to take many multiple "cross-section" images of the body, which are then assembled into a three-dimensional image by a computer. It is painless non -invasive radiological investigation. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is mechanism in CT scan ? |
|||
| After passing through body , x-rays are captured by detectors , analysed by computer & displayed on screen as image. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
are indications for CTscan ? or In what diseases CT scan is useful? |
|||
| Headache. Head injury. Vertigo. Epilepsy. Paralysis. Stroke. Unconscious. Head size is inappropriate for age. Psychiatric problems. Few lung diseases. Pancreatic problems. Any fixed swelling over scalp. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
is purpose of intravenous contrast in CT Scan? |
|||
| To know
the nature of lesion like granuloma, tumour, vascular malformation, venous sinus thrombus in brain. To detect number of lesions. To know the extension of lesions. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
is purpose of oral contrast in CT Scan of abdomen? |
|||
| Plain
(without contrast) CT abdomen , bowel loops are difficult to differentiate
from adjacent normal or abnormal structures because of similar density. Oral contrast media (iodine solution) is hyper dense .so once contrast solution is taken before (according to protocol) ,all bowel loops are filled with hyper dense solution. So it is easy to differentiate bowel loops from adjacent normal or abnormal structures. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
is MRI? |
|||
| 'MRI', is a technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to take multiple 'cross-section' images of the body, which are then assembled into a three-dimensional image by a computer. | |||
|
|
|||
| In
what diseases /conditions MRI scan is useful? |
|||
| Headache Head injury Vertigo Epilepsy Paralysis Stroke Unconscious Head size is inappropriate for age Psychiatric problems Few lung diseases. Pancreatic problems Any fixed swelling over scalp. |
|||
|
|
|||
| What
are advantages of MRI Scan over CT Scan ? |
|||
| No
radiation. No bony or air artifact. Multi-section imaging. High intrinsic contrast. Specificity & extension of disease is more accurate. Few diseases can diagnosis early. |
|||
|
|
|||
| Patient
should not move in Magnetic Tunnel. why? |
|||
| Patient should not move when he hear the knocking sound. In between pictures, for most exams, you may reposition your arms, or scratch your nose. It is important that patient should not move the body part being imaged until the exam is complete. | |||
|
|
|||
| Is
it safe if Pregnant women under go MRI ? |
|||
| There is no known reason not to have an MRI during pregnancy. However, we generally try to avoid offering this exam if you're in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. We ask that your doctor speak with one of the MRI radiologists (the doctors who specialize in MRI) to discuss whether this is the best exam to help diagnose your medical symptoms. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is Radionucleid Scan ? |
|||
| Techniques for creating images that show the function of internal organs. Nuclear medicine does this by using a "gamma camera" to take pictures of small amounts of radioactive materials that have been introduced into the body. Total radiation dose is small. | |||
|
|
|||
| What
is Angiography ? |
|||
| 'Vascular / interventional techniques', Angiography allows doctors to see inside the body's blood vessels by introducing a very thin tube (catheter), injecting a contrast into the tube, and then taking X-rays. This is useful for finding various irregularities or blockages which can affect the heart and other organs. | |||
|
|
|||
|
IF
YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT , PLEASE ASK US ON OUR
E-MAIL OR WRITE IN THE GUEST BOOK. |
|||
|
DISCLAIMER This page is of an informative and archival nature. Generalized, as it is, may not be useful for decision making & to follow as protocol.. please contact / consult your physician / radiologist, in any case. |
|||
