Innovations and transformation in radiology never cease, be they in diagnostic methods or technology. Be it fluoroscopy, practice of ventriculography, advanced neuroradiology, or normal chest X – Ray through metal shields to modern cathlab procedure, PET scan, and DEXA – Scan, radiology and imaging have also advanced over the years. In the long term, radiology along with all other medical disciplines will move massively into the molecular age and use all its available technologies.
The main function of a medical imaging unit is to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and the treatment of diseases. In the recent past, there has been a dramatic advancement in imaging and digitalised information technology including digital archiving. Depending on the type and size of the healthcare facility, the medical imaging unit may provide extra diagnostic investigation through technologies available in today’s generation such as picture archiving communication system (PACS), diagnostic screening (fluoroscopy), ultrasonography, mammography, computerised tomography or interventional radiographic procedures.
| Dr Raviraj Gujarati | Dr Vinubhai Shah |
Today we will talk about the various imaging techniques and technologies available to the public.
X-ray: In X-ray, processing of the film begins from developing tank in the dark room. In day light, processing is done with the help of self contained film developing units. Cassettes are loaded into the unit from the X-ray room and passed through the processor unit to finally emerge developed from the opposite side. In digital radiology imaging, X-rays are read directly from the X-ray machine through computer monitors. The images can be read from any networked computer.
Mammography: In mammography, low level radiation is utilised to identify tumour calcification, cysts and/or lumps in the breast tissue.
Nuclear medicine room: Nuclear medicine’s diagnostic procedures involve introducing low strength, short lived; radiation emitting isotopes into human body. The emissions are captured by a camera and translated into images.
Computerised tomography (CT) scanning: In conventional X-rays, the transmitted X-rays are recorded on a sheet film, whereas in CT scanning the transmission is picked up by a detector and the information is reconstructed by the computer in a video screen. CT examinations involve cross sectional imaging of the body.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI displays individual electromagnetic properties of the atoms within tissues.
Angiography: The latest advancement in cardiac X-ray is angiography. The angiography unit may be located within the medical imaging unit or as a separate unit, to provide facilities for diagnostic X-ray investigation of the heart and blood vessels. Interventional radiology is already in a state of flux, employing all the presently available imaging modalities for guidance, combining them for greater precision, and applying them with multiple treatment technologies (e.g. thermal, radiofrequency, and laser ablation tools).
Teleradiology: Teleradiology has the ability to send images through ‘information superhighway.’ It uses information-networking capabilities to transmit images from one place to another. However, it is more difficult than sending a written document because the digitised, computer radiology image contains so much more information than the printed word. Interpretation of medical images via teleradiology is an area that has gained a lot of significance in recent times. It allows diagnostic imaging centres working in a remote location, to leverage advances in the field of medical software and transfer patient medical images to radiologists for image interpretations and consultation. Hospitals are also increasingly looking at teleradiology as a solution to the problem of in-house manpower shortage as the annual rate of growth in number of radiologists is around 1.5 per cent to two per cent whereas the annual rate of growth in the number of radiology images that need to be interpreted is around six per cent to 12 per cent. Teleradiology has resulted in improved patient care and better utilisation of resources and is currently the most common form of telemedicine.
Conclusion
To conclude, our Gen X is the new generation of imaging techniques that are the future of healthcare. With better facilities and growing imaging technologies, the future of radiology is more than promising. It will greatly depend, however, on our ability to give proper education and training to upcoming young radiologists and ensure that they are at par with the changing times and trends in this sector.