Final Prep - Alternate Imaging Modalities Flashcards
(56 cards)
The MRI image is obtained through the absorption and emission of energy of the __________ of the electromagnetic spectrum
radio frequency
Earth’s magnetic field is measrued as:
1G (Gauss) or 0.0001 T (Tesla)
Since the human body is mostly water (2 hydrogen atoms per molecule) the nuclei of the hydrogen atoms spin about a central axis within their own magnetic field. When placed in an MRI, what happens to the protons?
They line up in the direction of the scanner’s axis and then the MRI machine applies a RF pulse specific to hydrogen
Once the MRI applies the RF pulse, what happens to the gradient magnets?
They are rapidly turned on and off, altering the magnetic field. This pulse causes the protons to absorb the energy and spin in a different direction, creating resonance
When the RF pulse is turned off, what happens to the hydrogen protons?
They slowly return to natural alignment and release stored energy. This energy comes in the form of heat or radio frequency.
Define CAT scan
Computed Axial Tomography
CAT Scans work by:
using computer-generated x-ray measurements from different angles to produce tomographic images of the scanned object
During a CAT scan, a thin x-ray beam rotates around the area of the body, creating a _______ of internal structures
3D image
In its simplest form, CT imaging consists of what?
Finely collimated x-ray beam and a single detector, both moving together in a translate-rotate mode
Water is assigned an arbitrary HU value of:
0
Since water is “neutral” or 0 on an HU scale, tissue DENSER than water will have a ______ value and tissue LESS DENSE than water will have ______ values
positive, negative
Nuclear scintigraphy is the science of diagnosis by means of:
Radioisotopes
Nuclear scintigraphy is very effective in:
Isolating pathology and function of organs or tissue
______ imaging is often used in equine patients where other methods are difficult due to size
Nuclear scintigraphy
What are 4 disadvantages to using Nuclear Scintigraphy?
- Poor image resolution, provided minimal detail
- Radiation dose is high
- images are not usually disease specific
- Dificult to localize exact anatomical site of source of emission
Define PET scan
Positron emission tomography
Define SPECT scan
single positron emission tomography
PET scans work by:
Using nuclear medicine imaging to produce a 2D or 3D picture of functional/metabolic processes in the body
What areas are PET scans efficient for viewing?
Oncology, neurology, cardiology, pharmacology and muscular-skeletal imaging
What is a major disadvantage of PET scans
2-3 times the price of a CT
When scanning soft tissue, which test will produce higher detail? An MRI or a CT Scan
MRI
When scanning bony structures, which test will produce higher detail? MRI or CT?
CT
Which test causes more unecessary irradiatioin? MRI or CT
CT
From Mild to Marked, what level of radiation is produced by MRI? CT?
MRI - none
CT - moderate