Types of Imaging

Imaging is an important tool for doctors to be able to make the correct diagnosis of an injury or an illness. It lets the doctor see a picture of what is going on inside the body. Depending on the nature of the problem for which you are seeking treatment, the doctor will choose from one of several methods of imaging when writing the order.

ct scan imaging

X-ray

X-rays are conducted by using radiation to pass through the body. During the process different body tissues absorb the X-rays at different rates. The ones that pass through are captured on a film that is placed behind or under the body on the opposite side from the machine. Doctors then use the image produced to determine what is wrong. Common uses of this type of imagining include checking for fractures, joint conditions like arthritis, and chest X-rays to detect pneumonia.

Ultrasound

Ultrasounds are done with the use of high frequency sound waves that bounce off tissue at different rates. The data is then fed into a computer that converts it into an image. Ultrasounds are frequently used during pregnancy to see how well the baby is developing. They can also be used to view the pumping action of the heart and the condition of the vessels surrounding the heart. Ultrasound technology can be used for most soft tissues in the body.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used when images that are more detailed than the ones that show up on X-rays are needed. MRI machines use a combination of radio waves and magnetic fields to produce images. A more advanced form of the procedure is known as an open MRI. It is done in a more open setting, whereas the traditional method had the patient inside a large tube. This could cause anxiety for some patients with difficulty tolerating enclosed spaces. An open MRI puts patients more at ease.

CT Scans

Computerized tomography (CT) scans combine computer and X-ray technology to obtain images of the body. These scans can detect both bone and soft tissue. They provide doctors with a virtual visual slice through the body. Some of the newer ones like the 16-slice CT scan can provide much more detail than was previously available.

If you are looking for a facility that does medical imaging in NJ, facilities like Middletown Medical Imagining have the equipment to conduct the test that the doctor ordered.

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