Medical Imaging

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe Top Contributors - Rachael Lowe, Lucinda hampton, Donald John Auson, Melissa Coetsee, Admin, Kim Jackson, Naomi O'Reilly, Adam Vallely Farrell and Karen Wilson

Overview[edit | edit source]

Cardiac MRI flow

Medical imaging is home to all diagnostic and therapeutic investigations/interventions conducted in a typical radiology department. It encompasses different imaging modalities and processes to image the human body for diagnostic, treatment and follow up purposes and plays an important role in initiatives to improve public health for all population groups[1]. It includes:

  • X-rays (including eg plain xrays, DEXA scans, fluoroscopy)

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

  • Ultrasound (US)
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Nuclear medicine: is the practice of utilising microscopic amounts of radioactive substances to diagnose, monitor and treat disease.[2]
  • PET (positron emission tomography) scan: an imaging test that involves the intravenous injection of a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical, waiting to allow for systemic distribution, and then scanning for detection and quantification of patterns of radiopharmaceutical accumulation in the body. Usesd diagnose a variety of diseases (for example tumours, heart disease, brain disorders), provides a picture of the body working.[3]
  • SPECT (Single photon emission computed tomography) similar to PET, is a nuclear medicine imaging techniques which provide metabolic and functional information unlike CT and MRI.[4]
  • Hybrid modalities[5]See later in page

Necessity of Medical Imaging[edit | edit source]

CT spinal cord

Medical imaging is crucial in a variety of medical setting and at all major levels of health care. In public health and preventive medicine as well as in both curative and palliative care, effective decisions depend on correct diagnoses. Though medical/clinical judgment may be sufficient prior to treatment of many conditions, the use of diagnostic imaging services is paramount in confirming, correctly assessing and documenting courses of many diseases as well as in assessing responses to treatment

Imaging is a useful resource for many conditions and is an invaluable tool for physical therapists when used appropriately. It is important to know when imaging is appropriate, as unnecessary imaging will squander financial resources and increase potential for premature surgery.

Hybrid Imaging[edit | edit source]

PET-MRI

Hybrid Imaging is the fusion of two (or more) imaging modalities to form a new technique. By combining the innate advantages of the fused imaging technologies synergistically, usually a new and more powerful modality comes into being

Existing hybrid imaging modalities comprise

  • PET-CT
  • SPECT-CT
  • MRI-PET
  • MRI-SPECT
  • ultrasound and MRI
  • ultrasound and CT
  • MRI and CT

The general benefits of hybrid imaging include

  • increased diagnostic accuracy
  • a further step towards individualized medicine
  • precise monitoring of interventional procedures
  • reduced radiation exposure, e.g. dynamic US after obtaining CT map

Photoacoustic Imaging (PA)[edit | edit source]

Schematic illustration of PA imaging

Also known as Optoacoustic Imaging, is an upcoming biomedical imaging modality availing the benefits of optical resolution and acoustic depth of penetration. Optoacoustic imaging has demonstrated promising potential in a wide range of preclinical and clinical applications.[6]

Clinical applications of optoacoustic imaging include: Musculoskeletal Imaging; Gastrointestinal Imaging; Breast imaging; Dermatologic Imaging eg Skin cancer; Vascular Imaging; Carotid Vessel Imaging.[6]

Recent studies showed the potential use of optoacoustic imaging in the assessment, diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in patients with inflammatory arthritis[7] as well limb and muscle ischemia.[8]

Health Care Team[edit | edit source]

Imaging for medical purposes involves a team which includes the service of radiologists, radiographers (X-ray technologists), sonographers (ultrasound technologists), medical physicists, nurses, biomedical engineers, and other support staff working together to optimize the wellbeing of patients, one at a time. Appropriate use of medical imaging requires a multidisciplinary approach.[1]

Diagnostic Imaging for Body Regions[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 WHO Diagnostic Imaging Available from: https://www.who.int/diagnostic_imaging/en/(accessed 7.4.2021)
  2. ↑ Radiopedia Nuclear medicine Available:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/nuclear-medicine (accessed 8.10.20220
  3. ↑ Radiopedia PET Available: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/positron-emission-tomography(accessed 8.10.2022)
  4. ↑ Radiopedia SPECT vs PET Available:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/spect-vs-pet (accessed 8.10.2022)
  5. ↑ Radiopedia Modalities Available from:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/modality?lang=us (accessed 7.4.2021)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Amalina Binte Ebrahim Attia, Ghayathri Balasundaram, Mohesh Moothanchery, U.S. Dinish, Renzhe Bi, Vasilis Ntziachristos, Malini Olivo, A review of clinical photoacoustic imaging: Current and future trends, Photoacoustics, Volume 16, 2019, 100144, ISSN 2213-5979, obtained from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213597919300679 doi: 10.1016/j.pacs.2019.100144
  7. ↑ Jo J, Tian C, Xu G, et al. Photoacoustic tomography for human musculoskeletal imaging and inflammatory arthritis detection. Photoacoustics. 2018;12:82–89. Published 2018 Jul 27 obtained from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306364/ doi:10.1016/j.pacs.2018.07.004
  8. ↑ Chen L, Ma H, Liu H, et al. Quantitative photoacoustic imaging for early detection of muscle ischemia injury. Am J Transl Res. 2017;9(5):2255–2265. Published 2017 May 15 obtained from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5446508/
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