Radiology: Difference between revisions

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[[image:pedo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured here sitting opposite a school playground, Raj is very happy with his Xray specs.]]
===What is Radiology?===
===What is Radiology?===
'''Radiology is the art of using technology to look through people.''' It can be very useful for checking for the presence of disease, especially stuff that causes physical changes. So a large [[tumour]] is easy to to find, whereas a viral infection is a lot harder
'''Radiology is the art of using technology to look through people.''' It can be very useful for checking for the presence of disease, especially stuff that causes physical changes. So a large [[tumour]] is easy to to find, whereas a viral infection is a lot harder


===What can I do?===
===What can I do?===
There are a huge range of types of imaging:
[[image:pedo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured here sitting opposite a school playground, Raj is very happy with his Xray specs.]]There are a huge range of types of imaging:
*'''[[Xray]]''' - also known as a [[radiograph]], this is the commonest type of imaging. Can be accompanied with radioactive dyes.
*'''[[Xray]]''' - also known as a [[radiograph]], this is the commonest type of imaging. Can be accompanied with radioactive dyes.
*'''[[Ultrasound]]''' - safe and very good for liquids, so commonly used in [[urology]], [[cardiology]] and [[obstetrics]].
*'''[[Ultrasound]]''' - safe and very good for liquids, so commonly used in [[urology]], [[cardiology]] and [[obstetrics]].

Revision as of 10:24, 18 December 2010

What is Radiology?

Radiology is the art of using technology to look through people. It can be very useful for checking for the presence of disease, especially stuff that causes physical changes. So a large tumour is easy to to find, whereas a viral infection is a lot harder

What can I do?

Pictured here sitting opposite a school playground, Raj is very happy with his Xray specs.

There are a huge range of types of imaging:

  • Xray - also known as a radiograph, this is the commonest type of imaging. Can be accompanied with radioactive dyes.
  • Ultrasound - safe and very good for liquids, so commonly used in urology, cardiology and obstetrics.
  • CT scan - Basically a megaxray. Multiple angles, and much higher accuracy. Much higher radiation too...
  • MRI - An alternative to CTs that is much better at looking at soft tissues. Also radiation free! Also shockingly expensive...

What do I need to know?

Learn how to present an xray. Make sure you can present a chest xray confidently, even if you don't know what's happening. Wouldn't hurt to be able to describe a broken leg or hip either!