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Radiology Examination, This You Need to Know

Radiological examination is an examination using imaging technology to diagnose and treat a disease. Radiological examination is useful to help doctors see the condition of the inside of the body. There are a number of media used in radiological examinations, including irradiation, magnetic fields, sound waves, and radioactive substances. Several types of radiological examinations are commonly used:
  • X-ray photos.
  • Fluoroscopy.
  • Ultrasound.
  • Computed Tomography / Computerized Axial Tomography (CT / CAT) Scan.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan.
  • Nuclear Examination, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.

Radiology Examination Indications

Radiological examination is carried out to determine the condition of the patient's body, and to determine the cause of the disease suffered by the patient. The doctor can also find out how the patient's body responds to the treatment method that is being undertaken, and check whether there are other diseases in the patient. Some of the conditions that can be identified through a radiological examination include:
  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart disease
  • Lung disease
  • Stroke
  • Infection
  • Blood vessel disorders
  • Joint and bone disorders
  • Disorders of the digestive tract
  • Disorders of the thyroid gland
  • Lymph node disorders
  • Kidney and urinary tract disease
Radiological examination can also help the doctor in installing a catheter or inserting a small surgical instrument into the patient's body, also known as interventional radiology. In addition to helping doctors diagnose a disease, interventional radiology is also used in medicine. Some examples of interventional radiology include:
  • Vascular catheterization, as well as angioplasty and vascular ring installation.
  • Intake of breast tissue (biopsy) with the help of ultrasound.
  • Needle biopsy of the lungs or thyroid gland.
  • Stop bleeding by clogging arteries (embolization).
  • Tumor embolization to kill cancer.
  • Chemotherapy through arteries.

Radiological Examination Warning

  • Pregnant women are advised not to undergo X-ray examination, CT scan, and PET scan. Radiation on examination can have a negative impact on the fetus. The doctor will advise on undergoing a safe examination for the fetus.
  • The impact of the magnetic field on an MRI machine is not yet known to the fetus. Pregnant patients are advised to consult first before deciding to undergo an examination. The doctor will suggest other methods of examination instead of MRI.
  • On some radiological examinations, the patient may be given contrast fluid to help produce a clearer picture of the internal organs. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to contrast fluid.
  • Tell your doctor if there are problems with the liver or kidneys. The doctor will limit the amount of contrast that is injected before the examination.
  • MRI examination is done using a very strong magnet, so the presence of metal implants in the body will endanger the patient. Tell your doctor if there are implants or assistive devices installed in the body, such as artificial joints or pacemakers. Also, tell your doctor if there are tattoos on the body, because some types of dark ink may contain metal.
  • Tell your doctor if you are afraid of small spaces (claustrophobia). The doctor will give a sedative before the examination is done.
  • Tell the doctor what medication is being used. Some types of drugs, such as medications for diabetes, should not be taken before the examination, because it can affect the results of the examination.

Radiology Examination Preparation

It is important to follow the doctor's advice so that patients get optimal results from the tests carried out. Depending on the type of examination, preparations that may be recommended before the procedure are carried out include:
  • Fasting. For example, if the doctor plans to use contrast fluid, the patient will be asked to fast for 4-6 hours before undergoing the examination. Patients who will undergo abdominal ultrasound will also be asked to fast for 8-12 hours. Undigested food can make the resulting image less clear.
  • Take certain medications. X-ray examination on the condition of fractures, can cause pain and discomfort, especially if the patient is asked to hold the position when shooting. The doctor will give painkillers before the examination.
  • Drink a lot and hold back not to urinate. For pelvic ultrasound examination, the patient will be asked to drink a lot until the bladder is full.
  • Remove the accessories that attach to the body. Patients will be asked to remove all metal accessories worn before entering the examination room, such as jewelry, watches, glasses, and dentures.
  • Wear special clothes. After entering the room, patients will be asked to wear special clothes that have been provided.

Radiological Examination Procedure

As mentioned, there are various types of radiological examinations. The following will explain each radiological examination.

    X-ray examination

    X-ray examination is performed to display the patient's body parts in 2-dimensional images using a machine that emits X-ray radiation.

    Fluoroscopy examination

    Fluoroscopy is an examination that uses X-rays to display images of the inside of the body. Different from the usual X-ray examination that displays images, fluoroscopy displays the patient's body parts in a video-like format. Fluoroscopy can be done for diagnostic purposes, or to assist doctors in carrying out various procedures, such as cardiac catheterization. The length of fluoroscopy depends on the part of the body being examined.

    Ultrasound examination (USG)

    Ultrasound examination is carried out using high-frequency sound waves, which are directed to the part of the body to be examined. The sound waves will bounce when it hits a solid object, such as an organ in the body or bone. Then, the reflection of the sound waves will be captured by the instrument (probe) that is attached to the surface of the patient's body, and processed by the computer into 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional images. Ultrasound examination generally lasts for 20-40 minutes.

    CT scan

    CT scan aims to show the inside of the patient's body more clearly from various angles. CT scan is carried out using an X-ray transmitter equipped with a special computer system, so that it can display images of organs in detail. The resulting image can be combined into 3-dimensional images. CT scan generally lasts for 20 minutes to one hour. After the CT scan is complete, the doctor will explain the results of the examination to the patient.

    MRI examination

    MRI examination is one method to see the condition of the inside of the body. In contrast to other examinations, MRI is performed using a machine that is equipped with a strong magnetic field that can produce images of the inside of a patient's body. MRI examination can take up to an hour or more.

    Nuclear medicine examination

    Nuclear medical examination uses a scanning machine equipped with a gamma camera. This gamma camera functions to capture gamma rays produced by radioactive fluid (tracer), which is injected into the patient before the examination is carried out. The rays captured by the gamma camera will be processed by the computer into 3-dimensional images. Then, the doctor will analyze the image and make a diagnosis. The shooting process generally takes less than an hour. However, if needed, the inspection can last longer, even requiring more than one visit.

Post Radiology Examination

Patients can return to activity after the examination is completed. But for patients with claustrophobia who are given sedatives before the examination, it is advisable to invite someone to take them home. For those undergoing interventional radiological measures, such as blood vessel catheterization, it takes time to recover the arm or leg that the catheter enters, so patients will be advised to undergo treatment in the hospital for several days. The radiologist will analyze the results of the patient's examination. If a disease is found, the doctor will advise the patient to immediately undergo treatment, depending on the disease found. The results of the examination can be known on the same day, or a few days later. The doctor may ask the patient to undergo additional tests, such as blood tests or other radiological examinations, to get a more precise diagnosis. For patients undergoing PET scan examination, it is required to drink a lot to remove the tracer through urine. Tracer will be removed from the body within 3 hours after examination. Patients undergoing contrast tests are also advised to drink a lot.

Side Effects of Radiology Examination

Radiological examinations are safe to do and rarely cause side effects. However, patients must know some of the side effects that might occur, including:
  • Contrasting fluids given in radiation examinations can cause nausea, vomiting, itching, dizziness, and sensations of metallic taste in the mouth. In patients with kidney disorders, the use of contrast fluid can cause acute kidney failure.
  • Although rare, contrast fluid can also cause blood pressure to drop dramatically, anaphylactic shock, and heart attack.
  • A one-time CT scan tends to be safe for patients. However, the risk of cancer due to radiation can be increased if CT scans are undergone repeatedly, especially in pediatric patients who undergo CT scans of the chest or abdomen.
  • Sores can occur due to forgetting to remove jewelry before an MRI examination.
  • Strong magnetic field MRI can damage body aids, for example pacemakers.

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