Medical imaging is a powerful tool for looking inside the body without surgery. Different technologies are used to visualize different types of tissue. Here’s a breakdown of the services we offer at Nu'Scan Radiology.
X-Ray
- What it is: The oldest and most common form of medical imaging. It uses a small, safe dose of ionizing radiation to create images of the body.
- Best for: Visualizing dense structures, especially bones. It's excellent for diagnosing fractures, joint dislocations, and pneumonia.
- The Experience: Very fast and painless. You'll be asked to stand or lie in a specific position for a few seconds.
Ultrasound (Sonography)
- What it is: Uses high-frequency sound waves (not radiation) to create real-time images of the body's internal structures.
- Best for: Visualizing soft tissues and organs, especially in the abdomen and pelvis. It's widely used in pregnancy to monitor fetal development and is also excellent for examining blood flow (Doppler ultrasound).
- The Experience: A technician applies a clear gel to your skin and moves a small probe (transducer) over the area. It is painless and safe.
CT Scan (Computed Tomography)
- What it is: A more advanced form of X-ray that takes multiple images from different angles and combines them with a computer to create detailed, cross-sectional "slices" of the body.
- Best for: Providing highly detailed images of bones, organs, and blood vessels. It is excellent for diagnosing complex fractures, internal injuries, tumors, and blood clots.
- The Experience: You lie on a table that slides into a large, doughnut-shaped machine. The process is quick, but you must lie very still. Sometimes a contrast dye is injected to make certain structures more visible.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- What it is: Uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to generate extremely detailed images. It does not use ionizing radiation.
- Best for: Unparalleled detail of soft tissues. It's the gold standard for examining the brain, spinal cord, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
- The Experience: Similar to a CT scan, you lie on a table that slides into a tube-like machine. MRI scans take longer than CT scans (often 30-60 minutes) and the machine produces loud knocking sounds, so you'll be given ear protection.
Your doctor will choose the best imaging modality based on your specific symptoms and medical history, ensuring the most accurate diagnosis possible.