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INTRODUCTION TO RADIOLOGY
I. DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY - Small intestinal series (SIS)
X -rays are useful: o To evaluate the small
• In diagnosis of diseases bowel segments
involving bones, lungs, gut, - BARIUM ENEMA (BE)
kidneys & gall bladder o To evaluate the colonic
• In CT- scan , Mammography segments
- IVP
• In detecting the congenital,
o Intravenous contrast for
inflammatory, traumatic,
degenerative & neoplastic functional & structural
disease assessment of kidneys.
PLAIN STUDY - Hysterosalpingogram studies
o To evaluate uterus &
• Certain diseases need only plain
tubes of infertile women
X-rays for diagnosis e.g. in bone, - Angiogram study
lungs, intestines, kidneys & gall o To evaluate the lumen of
bladder stones.
blood vessels
RADIO-OPAQUE/DENSE
II. ULTRASOUND
• Infiltrate / inflammatory process Advantages
• Mass / tumor
• No radiation risk.
• Fluid
• Non-invasive.
• Lithiasis
• Inexpensive
• Foreign body e.g. coin
• Painless.
RADIOLUCENT • Don't require contrast material
• Pneumoperitoneum • Sedation is not required.
• Pneumothorax
• Pneumomediastinum SOLID NODULE VS CYST
• Pneumopericardium SOLID NODULE
• tumor • Well defined
• Ovoid shape
Fluoroscopy Contrast examination • With uniform internal echoes
Contrast (barium / iodine ) CYST
• Contrast is given orally / IV • Well defined
/other routes depending upon • Round or oval shape
region ( part ) under
• Anechoic
investigation.
- Upper gastrointestinal series • Enhance through transmission
(UGIS)
o To evaluate the Limitations of the UTZ
esophagus, stomach, • Large body habitus, obese
duodenal bulb and the patients limit image quaility as
prox small bowel the overlying adipose tissue.
segments • Have trouble penetrating bone
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• Performs very poorly when there

is a gas
• It is operator-dependent.
• There is no scout image as there
is with CT and MR. Once an
image is acquired there is no
exact way to tell which part of
the body was imaged.
III. MAMMOGRAPHY
• plays a central role in early
detection of breast cancer
because it can show cancer signs
in the breast even years before a
patient or physician would be
able feel a breast cancer lump.
• Screening mammography can
assist in the detection of disease
even if a woman has no
complaints or symptoms
BENEFITS
• Use for early detection of breast
cancers
• Ability to detect small tumors /
non-palpable nodules and
microcalcifications, first
indication of breast cancer
LIMITATIONS
• the appearance of an image may
be compromised if there is
powder on the breasts or
undergone breast surgery.
• need to compare the image to
views from previous
examinations
• declines significantly with
increasing breast density with
dense breasts.
• Breast implants can also impede
accurate mammogram readings
IV. CT Scan
• technique that uses X-rays to
take many multiple "cross-
section" images of the body,
which are then assembled into a
three-dimensional image by a
computer. It is painless non
-invasive radiological
investigation.
Uses of CT Scan
• Detection, measurement,
localization, extent of lesions and
its relationship to other organs
• Characterization of borders,
composition and content
• Used for staging tumor
• Locating internal bleeding and
organ damage in trauma patients
• Detecting and staging tumors of
various body parts
• Detecting sources of infection
and deep abscesses.
• Detecting urinary stone disease
without x-ray dye
• Performing non-invasive blood
vessel imaging (CT angiography
DISADVANTAGES
• Requires placement of an
intravenous line for IV contrast.
• Exposes patient to radiation.
• Contrast toxicity or allergy
• Most young children require
sedation to undergo a CAT scan.
Attenuation value
Hyperdense
• + 1000 calcium -------
• >250 compact bone
• 30-230 spongy bone
• 70-90 bld coagulated
• 50-60 whole bld
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• Even very slight movement of

the part being scanned can cause
very distorted images that will
Isodense have to be repeated.
• 20-70 soft tissue
• > 18 Exudate-
• < 18 Transudate
Hypodense
• 0 Water
• -50 to -75 Fat
• -1000 Air

V. MRI
- technique that uses a magnetic
field and radio waves to take
multiple 'cross-section' images of
the body, which are then
assembled into a three-
dimensional image by a
computer
• Uses radiofrequency waves
• no ionization radiation is used
• gives multiplanar display ( axial,
coronal, sagittal and transverse)

What are advantages of MRI Scan

over CT Scan
• No radiation.
• No bony or air artifact.
• Multi-section imaging.
• High intrinsic contrast.
• Specificity & extension of
disease is more accurate.
• Few diseases can diagnosis early.
Limitations
• Can not be used by people with
pacemakers or other metallic
implants.
• More expensive than the price
for CT.
• Not very useful for bones