Diagnostic imaging has evolved over the past few decades to become one of the most relied-upon diagnostic tools in healthcare. Doctors and technicians use diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, and more to diagnose a variety of conditions for patients. Imaging plays an important role in discovering medical problems that would otherwise be hidden from view.
What Is Diagnostic Imaging?
Diagnostic imaging is the use of diagnostic techniques to create an image that can be used to identify or characterize tissues, organs, diseases, or other medical conditions. Imaging gives physicians information about patients without exposing them to more radiation than necessary.
When Is Diagnostic Imaging Necessary?
Diagnostic Imaging is used in two main instances: when there are symptoms that suggest a patient has a disease or medical condition and when it's performed proactively to screen for conditions before any symptoms appear. As diagnostic imaging increases in availability and effectiveness, it's been used for a wider range of tests. The diagnostic imaging you require will depend on the symptoms you present with and the availability of diagnostic imaging equipment in your area.
Which Tools Are Available?
There are several diagnostic imaging tools available in the health care profession, including the following.
1. Chest x-rays. Chest x-rays make up around a quarter of all diagnostic imaging exams. They're easy to use because they can give quick results and can detect a wide range of medical problems, such as pneumonia, aneurysms, and lung cancer.
2. Ultrasounds. Ultrasound diagnostic imaging uses sound waves to create a picture of the organs within your body. This type of diagnostic imaging is very slow and takes three times longer than a CT scan, but it's painless and accurate and can be used to take moving images of your body in real-time.
3. CT scans. CT scans make up around a fifth of diagnostic imaging exams and are useful for looking for any problem in the head, chest, or abdomen. They use x-rays and computer technology to create detailed 3D pictures.
4. MRIs. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic imaging makes up around a third of diagnostic imaging exams. This diagnostic imaging gives quick results and diagnoses problems in the brain, spine, muscles, and joints.
5. Mammograms. Mammograms are used for diagnosing breast cancer in women over the age of 50. They're not as good as breast ultrasound diagnostic imaging at detecting tumors in younger women, but they're better than a clinical breast examination performed by your general practitioner.
The use of diagnostic imaging has grown exponentially in the past few years. to learn more, contact companies like Nashville Healthcare Center.
