Ch. 1 - Diagnostic Tests Pt. 1 Flashcards
The three most common contrast agents
Barium, iodine, and gadolinium-based contrast agents
Contrast media can be used with what tests?
Plain X-Rays, CT, and MRI studies
The five most common radionuclides include:
Radioactive iodine, technetium, thallium, gallium, and indium
Nuclear studies are useful in the imaging of what?
Bone imaging, and for determination of thyroid and hepatobiliary function
What can a variety of radionuclides be used to assess, due to their ability to image aspects of cardiac physiology, such as perfusion and ejection fraction?
Coronary artery disease
What procedure utilizes high-frequency sound waves to image soft tissue and produce an image?
Ultrasonography, and the image it produces is known as an ultrasound
Name up to five advantages of U.S. (Ultrasonography) over MRI and CT scanning
Its ability to differentiate solid from fluid-filled structures, lower cost, portability, accessibility, and no exposure to ionizing radiation
What are three limitations to ultrasonography?
The skill level of the ultrasonographer, lower quality of image resolution compared to other modalities, and “noise” produced when US waves hit gas and bone
What method of ultrasonography is useful in the evaluation of venous insufficiency, blood clots, arterial occlusion, or stenosis, and also for identifying valvular disorders and congenital defects?
Doppler ultrasonography
What scan is particularly useful for intracranial (i.e., brain), neck, abdominal, pelvic, and lung images, as well as for detection of pulmonary embolism, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, or acute hemorrhage?
CT scan - it can also be used to define the size, precise location, and extent of a tumor’s involvement with surrounding tissues
When is a patient unable to undergo a scan via MRI Machine due to the powerful magnet used?
Individuals with implanted metal, such as pacemakers, pins and plates, implanted defibrillators, cochlear implants, and those with artificial joints
When is MRI preferred to CT scanning?
When soft tissue resolution is needed. It is also particularly useful in imaging the spinal cord or spinal column, brain abnormalities, internal joint derangements, and trauma
What scans are used to evaluate pulmonary nodules to determine if they are metabolically active, and to evaluate lung cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma?
PET scans. Because its scan measures abnormal cellular activity, it is also a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and hibernating myocardium
PET scans can be used in conjunction with what other scan(s)/images to correlate structural abnormalities with function information?
CT or MRI images
Name six limitations of PET scanning
Cost, accessibility, the nature of the radionuclide agent, elevated serum glucose or insulin levels can adversely affect the results, limited sensitivity for defining tumors smaller than 10 mm, and the high degree of expertise required for proper interpretation
What imaging study is used to visualize the major blood vessels in the body, including those of the heart, carotids, brain, kidneys, lungs, and legs?
(Traditional) Angiography. When performed to image veins, it is a venogram. If arteries are visualized, it is an arteriogram. Note - traditional angiography is considered the gold standard for vessel imaging and is the study of choice when intervention is necessary
After injected, the contrast material creates an image of the inside of the vessel or lumen. This allows identification of what? (Multiple answers).
Obstruction (i.e., stenosis), aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis
What benefits do computer tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography provide when compared to traditional angiography?
They are less invasive, have less risk, and produce reasonably accurate images of arteries and veins
What has moved from being solely a diagnostic modality to having major surgical applications?
Endoscopy
Endoscopes are designed for specific purposes. What are examples of these purposes? (Multiple answers)
Colonoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, laparoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, colposcopy, proctoscopy/sigmoidoscopy, thoracoscopy, or arthroscopy
When the brain is involved, what tests are invaluable?
CT and/or MRI imaging
What imaging modality is particularly useful to define post-traumatic skull or facial fractures, and for identification of osseous changes, as seen in multiple myeloma and Paget’s disease?
X-Ray
What specialized test involves the insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing?
Spinal tap (Lumbar puncture). This can be useful for diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage, infection/inflammation, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome
What specialized test evaluates syncope?
A tilt table test
