The main methods of patient work-up

X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of electromagnetic radiation.

The detection of X-rays is based on various methods. The most commonly known methods are photographic plates, photographic film in cassettes, and rare earth screens. Regardless of what is "catching" the image, they are all categorized as "Image Receptors" (IR).X-rays may also be used to detect pathology such as gallstones or kidney stones which are often (but not always) visible. The use of X-rays as a treatment is known as radiation therapy and is largely used for the management (including palliation) of cancer; it requires higher radiation energies than for imaging alone, as X-ray imaging is useful in the diagnoses of common oral problems, such as cavities.

The CT scanner is typically a large, box-like machine with a hole, or short tunnel, in the center. You will lie on a narrow examination table that slides into and out of this tunnel. Rotating around you, the x-ray tube and electronic x-ray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a gantry. The computer workstation that processes the imaging information is located in a separate control room, where the technologist operates the scanner and monitors your examination. In many ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. X-rays are a form of radiation—like light or radio waves—that can be directed at the body. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. Modern CT scanners are so fast that they can scan through large sections of the body in just a few seconds, and even faster in small children. Such speed is beneficial for all patients but especially children, the elderly and critically ill. The CT examination is usually completed within 30 minutes. The portion requiring intravenous contrast injection usually lasts only 10 to 30 seconds.

Ultrasoundexamination uses high-frequency sound waves to view organs and structures inside the body. The waves are generated and received by a hand-held device called a transducer. The reflected waves are processed by a computer which produces detailed images for display on a monitor. Ultrasound is safe as it does not employ ionizing radiation like X-rays. It is a cheap, quick and non-invasive investigation – with no surgical procedure – for a wide range of referrals, although results can be unsatisfactory in obese (overweight) patients.An ultrasound is commonly used to produce a sonogram or picture of a baby in the uterus. The image may be used to determine the size of the baby, reveal multiple babies, identify some abnormalities and diseases, and is necessary for amniocentesis. Other conditions that can be detected using an ultrasound include early fetal death, an impending miscarriage, and placenta position. This procedure is used after a woman is 16 weeks pregnant.

An endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows physicians to identify and evaluate the function of vital organs as well as locate the presence of any type of abnormalities. The procedure is conducted using a device known as an endoscope. Under certain conditions, an endoscopy will sometimes make use of a similar device that is called a borescope.

An endoscope usually is composed of a tube that is either flexible or rigid, depending on the type of endoscopic procedure to be performed. The device includes a light source to illuminate the interior area that the physician wishes to observe, as well as a lens to help focus the view and to take photographs is necessary. The presence of the tube also makes it possible to utilize various types of medical instruments to gently move organs to one side or to harvest a tissue sample of some kind.The main purpose of an endoscopy is to allow the physician to observe what is happening within the body. The procedure can help the physician to identify signs that an organ is not functioning as it should, is enlarged, or in some other manner is not as it should be. At the same time, an endoscopy can be used to visually evaluate any type of abnormal growths present in or around an organ, such as a tumor.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is safer than X-rays because it does not use radiation. It provides more information than Computer Tomography about some head, neck and spinal disorders because the images are more detailed and have more contrast, meaning the differences between dark and light areas are stronger. Unlike Computer Tomography (CT), the images can be taken on any plan – any surface of the body seen from an angle. It is now used for imaging – taking images of – the brain and heart, and in oncology. Perhaps the most well-known use of magnetic resonance imaging is in the diagnosis of injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons or cartilage, such as knee injuries or pulled muscles. MRIs are frequently used to detect cancers that would otherwise be difficult to diagnose, such as mesothelioma. The ability to detect abnormalities, such as cancers at their early stages, has put magnetic resonance imaging at the forefront of the battle against many diseases. MRIs also can be used to look for a wide range of other conditions, including brain injuries, damage to organs in the abdomen and spinal injuries.