X-Ray, Sonograms, and MRI Technology

Nicole Chiarella

CIT-1

X-Rays• A relatively high-energy

photon having a wavelength in the approximate range from 0.01 to 10 nanometers.

• A stream of such photons, used for their penetrating power in radiography, radiology, radiotherapy, and scientific research. Often used in the plural. Also called roentgen ray.

Sonograms

• The picture formed by the pattern of echoes from an ultra sound.

• Is the readily usable graph of the frequency bands (formants) produced by the sound spectrograph.

MRI

• The abbreviated term for magnetic resonance imaging. MRI uses a large circular magnet and radio waves to generate signals from atoms in the body. These signals are used to construct images of internal structures.

Pros and Cons of X-Rays

• Pros:• They let doctors peer inside a

patient without any surgery. • It's much easier and safer to

look at a broken bone using X-rays

• Cons:• The doctors and patients

started developing radiation sickness.

• X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation

• An X-ray hits an atom, it can knock electrons off the atom to create an ion, an electrically-charged atom.

• An ion's electrical charge can lead to unnatural chemical reactions inside cells.

X-Ray Radiation

Pros and Cons of Sonograms

• Pros:• Ultrasound examinations

are non-invasive • Ultrasound methods are

relatively inexpensive, quick and convenient

• No harmful effects have been detected

• Ultrasound is particularly suited to imaging soft tissues

• Cons:• The major disadvantage

is that the resolution of images is often limited.

• Ultrasound is reflected very strongly on passing from tissue to gas, or vice versa.

• Ultrasound also does not pass well through bone

Pros and Cons of MRIs

• Pros:• MRI provides information

that differs from other imaging modalities

• MR image acquisition does not use ionizing radiation.

• Patient acceptability is high.

• Cons:• The small bore of the

magnet, some patients experience claustrophobia.

• Patient throughput is slow compared with other imaging modalities.

• MRI units require careful sitting and shielding.

X-Ray Availability

X-Rays can be taken at a local hospital or at some pediatricians offices.

Sonogram Availability

• You can get a ultrasound of your stomach done when you are pregnant and would like to see how far along you are with your child.

• This can get done at a hospital or your baby doctor.

MRI Availability

• You must schedule an appointment to get an MRI.

• There are now stand up MRIs rather than laying down.

• They try and make it more enjoyable when getting an MRI by playing music or soothing sounds.

The Technology

• “It is commonly accepted that advances in technology have been one of the most important drivers of health care spending growth over the past several decades.

• We report on relationships between technology availability and spending at several levels, from spending on the particular technology in question to overall health care spending.”

MRIs

X-Ray Machine

Sonogram Machine

Resources

• http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/lce/cmri/mri-advantages-limitation.asp

• http://www.drgdiaz.com/qanda.shtml

• http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.w3.537v1/DC2