What’s Imaging Got to Do with It?

了解成像如何支持医疗保健的所有学科，以及您的医生订购了测试

A generation or so ago, if you had a health concern, your doctor likely made a diagnosis with the information gleaned from a physical exam and your medical history.

与计算机terized tomography (CT), introduced in the 1970s, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which appeared in the 1980s, changed all that.

“Imaging is integral. It really is in the center of everything,” says Rihan Khan, MD, chief of neuroradiology at Banner – University Medical Center. “There’s not a service in the hospital it doesn’t affect, from surgery to OB/GYN to pediatrics to all of the medical subspecialties.”

The Right Scan for the Job

Although there’s some overlap in what appears on CT and MRI scans, certain situations can make one or the other a better choice.

CT

这些扫描使用计算机来融合多个X射线图像。CT扫描是快速的，使其在创伤案件中的进程。CT扫描也显示出很大的骨细节，使它们有利于识别骨折。当给出对比度染料时，它可以增强许多病变的检测。尽管扫描有少量辐射，但是当正确执行并适当使用时，CT被认为是非常安全的考试。

MRI

MRI uses a large magnet to temporarily align molecules in the body and uses radio waves instead of X-rays to create images. MRI is very safe, and there’s no radiation exposure. MRI is superior at imaging soft tissues, and although these tests take longer than CT scans, they’re getting faster all the time. Contrast may be given to enhance the detection of lesions, which is a different type of contrast than that used for CT scans.

Open MRI

This version of an MRI doesn’t enclose patients in a tube, so it can be a good choice for people who are claustrophobic and for people who are too big to fit in a closed MRI scanner. However, Dr. Khan prefers the closed scanner whenever possible because it generally provides better image quality.

If your doctor orders a CT or MRI scan, you’ll likely be able to schedule an appointment within a week, either at the hospital or an outpatient imaging center. An MRI scan may take 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the area being scanned, and a CT scan typically takes just seconds.

Along with CT and MRI, other imaging is useful in viewing certain areas of the body.

X射线

This tried-and-true study is great for identifying abnormalities such as fractures, arthritis, lung masses, signs of trauma and bowel obstruction.

超声

This technology, which uses sound waves to produce images, is good for imaging the liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, thyroid, lymph nodes, uterus, ovaries and testicles, and may be most well-known for its images of unborn babies.

PET CT

This study, combining positron emission tomography (PET) with CT, can help track the spread of cancer throughout the body by monitoring the metabolic activity of both normal and cancerous tissue.

DXA

这种形式的X射线技术，双能X射线吸收度（DXA）用于测量骨密度，以帮助确定骨骼健康。

Better Images

New technological developments are bringing higher image quality, better resolution and more detail to scans. Banner – University Medical Center has invested in new ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET CT equipment in recent years to bring top-quality, cutting-edge scanners to its patients.