MRI
Scans
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and uses magnetics to
create images of the inside of the body, as opposed to using of X-rays. Having an MRI scan
is completely painless and involves the patient lying down and being placed into a large
cylinder (the MRI scanner). Sometimes, a special dye is injected into the patient before
the scan so that clearer pictures of blood flow may be achieved.
MRI can be used to scan any part of the body and can provide a
Consultant with a series of clear images, detailing the area of interest.
CT Scans
CT stands for Computerised Tomography (and is sometimes referred to
as CAT - Computerised Axial Tomography) and uses X-rays to take pictures from different
angles around the body. A computer then takes these images and produces image 'slices' or
cross-sections through the area of interest.
Again, having a CT scan is completely painless and involves the
patient lying down and being placed into the doughnut-shaped CT scanner.
Bone Scans
A bone scan is carried out to look for abnormalities in the bones.
The scan itself is painless, though an injection of a radioactive substance (radionuclide)
into the patient's bloodstream is required. The scan uses a special camera which detects
the radioactive substance which collects in the bones. Where there is a lot of activity in
the bones (i.e. areas where bone is breaking down or repairing itself), more of the
radioactive substance collects. The camera can pick out these areas, which are commonly
known as 'hotspots'.
The amount of radioactivity that is given to a
patient is tiny and is not the slightest bit dangerous to the patient or to anyone nearby.
The body normally clears out the radioactive substance within 24 hours.
SPECT Scans
This is a similar concept to a bone scan and uses an intravenous
injection and a camera scan. |
