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FAQ

About Terms and Procedures:

Angiography – 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.

Bone Scan – a study of the skeleton. A radioactive substance is injected and the scan (taken a short time later) reads the distribution of the radioactivity.

CT – a special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2-dimensional cross-sectional image called “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 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.

EEG – 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.

EMG – 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 carpal tunnel syndrome, alcoholic neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, sciatic nerve disease and a variety of peripheral nerve disorders.

MRI – 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 abdomen. These scans may also be useful for detecting some cancers, or for following their progress.

Myelogram – 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.

Nuclear Medicine – the branch of medicine pertaining to diagnostic, therapeutic and investigative use of radioactive chemical elements.

Radiology – the branch of medicine dealing with radioactive substances and their use in diaganosis and treatment.

Ultrasound – 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.

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.

HOW TO KNOW WHICH PROCEDURE TO CHOOSE:

MRI

HEAD:

  • Chronic traumatic hemorragehematoma
  • Primary brain tumors
  • Metastatic brain tumors
  • Brain infections
  • Degenerative brain processes
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Stroke
  • Dementia
  • Congenital anomalies
  • Hydrocephalus
  • AIDS
  • Seizures
  • Headaches

SPINE:

  • Disk herniation and bulge without associated extensive degenerative spurring
  • Primary tumor
  • Metastatic tumor
  • Degenerative spinal cord

MUSCULOSKELETAL:

  • Injury to large joints
  • Shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle
  • Injury to small joints
  • Hand, wrist, foot and TMJ
  • Avascular necrosis of bone
  • Soft tissue masses
  • Bone tumor staging

ENT (HEAD AND NECK):

  • Soft tissue disease
  • Hematoma, tumor, infection
  • Diseases of the pharynx and larynx
  • Disease of the Oro- and Hypopharynx
  • Cervical lymph node enlargement

CHEST:

  • Mediastinum

CT

HEAD:

  • Acute traumatic hemorragehematoma
  • Trauma to bone-skull, face, etc.
  • Calcified lesions
  • Disease of the face
  • Meningitis

SPINE:

  • Disk herniation and bulge with associated extensive degenerative spurring
  • Chronic degenerative disk disease
  • Degenerative osteorthitis
  • Fracture or other cause of bone destruction

MUSCULOSKELETAL:

  • Special conditions

ENT (HEAD AND NECK):

  • Bone destruction
  • Injury, tumor, infection
  • Sinus
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx

CHEST:

  • Lungs