RADIATION USE IN MEDICAL
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Ultrasound
It is a technique that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of parts of the body. It
works by a transducer sending a beam of sound waves into the body and those waves are reflected
to the boundary between tissues in the path of the beam. (Neuman and Kollorz,2018) A small device
called an ultrasound probe is used which gives off high frequency sound waves. (Moran and
Thomson, 2021) they cannot be heard but when they bounce off parts of the body, echoes are
produced that is picked up by the probe and is turned I to a moving image. Ultrasound is used to see
the internal parts of the body to check if somethings wrong for example ultrasound is commonly
used to check the foetus in a women's abdomen. It is also used for diagnosing the causes of pain,
swelling and infection of the patient’s internal organs such as the heart, thyroid, eyes, brain, and
breasts. In the image below, it shows how an ultrasound works.
, MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging)
It is a non-invasive medical technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create
detailed images of internal structures in the body, including organs, bones, and muscles. It uses
powerful magnets to make a strong magnetic field to force protons in the patient’s body to align
with the field. When radiofrequency current is pulsed through the patient, the protons are
stimulated spun out of equilibrium, straining against the pull of the magnetic field. MRI is used to
detect tumours and neurological diseases. White and grey matter and blood can be easily identified.
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be visualised in detail. It is commonly used in neurology and
neurosurgery. It is used to get images of soft tissues that does not show up on x-rays scans as MRI
does not use radiation.
X-rays (ionising)
It is a form of electromagnetic radiation and is a medical imaging that uses invisible electromagnetic
energy beams to creates images of bones and soft tissues such as organs. An x-ray is produced when
a negatively charged electrode is heated by electricity and electrons are released producing energy.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Ultrasound
It is a technique that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of parts of the body. It
works by a transducer sending a beam of sound waves into the body and those waves are reflected
to the boundary between tissues in the path of the beam. (Neuman and Kollorz,2018) A small device
called an ultrasound probe is used which gives off high frequency sound waves. (Moran and
Thomson, 2021) they cannot be heard but when they bounce off parts of the body, echoes are
produced that is picked up by the probe and is turned I to a moving image. Ultrasound is used to see
the internal parts of the body to check if somethings wrong for example ultrasound is commonly
used to check the foetus in a women's abdomen. It is also used for diagnosing the causes of pain,
swelling and infection of the patient’s internal organs such as the heart, thyroid, eyes, brain, and
breasts. In the image below, it shows how an ultrasound works.
, MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging)
It is a non-invasive medical technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create
detailed images of internal structures in the body, including organs, bones, and muscles. It uses
powerful magnets to make a strong magnetic field to force protons in the patient’s body to align
with the field. When radiofrequency current is pulsed through the patient, the protons are
stimulated spun out of equilibrium, straining against the pull of the magnetic field. MRI is used to
detect tumours and neurological diseases. White and grey matter and blood can be easily identified.
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be visualised in detail. It is commonly used in neurology and
neurosurgery. It is used to get images of soft tissues that does not show up on x-rays scans as MRI
does not use radiation.
X-rays (ionising)
It is a form of electromagnetic radiation and is a medical imaging that uses invisible electromagnetic
energy beams to creates images of bones and soft tissues such as organs. An x-ray is produced when
a negatively charged electrode is heated by electricity and electrons are released producing energy.
