What is Radiology?

Radiology is the branch of medicine dealing with radiation and radioactive substances and their use in diagnosis and treatment.  [..top..]

What is MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?

MRI is a special technique used to create images of internal structures of the body, particularly the soft tissues. MRI uses the influence of a large magnet to polarize hydrogen atoms in the tissues and then monitors the summation of the spinning energies within living cells. MRI images are very clear and are particularly good for diagnosing problems of the brain and spinal cord, joints and pelvis. These scans may also be useful for detecting some cancers, or for following their progress.  [..top..]

What is CT (Computed Tomography)?

CT is a special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2-dimensional cross-sectional image called a "slice" or "cut". This can reveal many soft tissue structures not shown by conventional radiography. Cuts may be 5 or 10 mm or more apart. Scans may also be "dynamic", in which the movement of a special type of dye injected into the body is tracked The CT machine rotates 180° around the patient's body, sending out a pencil-thin X-ray beam at 160 different points. Crystals positioned at points opposite the beam pick up and record the absorption rates of the varying thicknesses of tissue and bone. These data are then relayed to a computer that turns the information into a picture on a screen. Using the same dosage of radiation as that of the conventional X-ray machine, an entire slice of the body is made visible with about 100 times more clarity.  [..top..]

What is Myelogram?

A myelogram is a diagnostic procedure where a radiopaque contrast dye is injected into the spinal canal. X-rays are then performed which reveal the anatomy of the spinal canal. Myelograms can be used to diagnose disk disease, spinal stenosis and tumors of the spinal canal. MRI and CT scanning have largely displaced the use of this more invasive test.   [..top..]

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear Medicine is the branch of medicine pertaining to diagnostic, therapeutic and investigative use of radioactive chemical elements.  [..top..]

What is Bone Scan?

A bone scan is a Nuclear Medicine study of the skeleton. A radioactive substance is injected and the scan (taken a short time later) reads the distribution of the radioactivity within the bone.   [..top..]

What is Angiography?

Angiography is a radiographic technique where a radiopaque contrast material is injected into a blood vessel for the purpose of identifying its anatomy on X-ray. This technique is used to create images of arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, aorta, neck (carotids), chest, limbs and pulmonary circuit.  [..top..]

What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a type of imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves, as opposed to X-rays. It is thought to be useful in diagnosis, but not particularly accurate in the assessment of tumor response. For the latter, CT or MR imaging are more accurate.   [..top..]

What is X-Ray

An X-ray is a type of irradiation used for imaging purposes that uses energy beams of very short wave lengths that can penetrate most substances except heavy metals. This is the most common form of imaging technique, used in clinical practice everywhere in the world.   [..top..]

What is EEG (Electroencephalogram)?

An EEG is a diagnostic test which measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves) using highly sensitive recording equipment attached to the scalp by fine electrodes. It is commonly employed in the evaluation of neurological diseases.   [..top..]

What is EMG (Electromyography)?

EMG is a test which measures muscle response to nerve stimulation. It is used to evaluate muscle weakness, and to determine if the weakness is related to the muscles themselves or to a problem with the nerves that supply the muscles. Abnormal results may be seen in such diseases as disc herniation and bulge, carpal tunnel syndrome, alcoholic neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome and a variety of peripheral nerve disorders.   [..top..]