Sunday, October 25, 2009

Visual Content in Medicine (Informatics & Healthcare)

CAT Scan








Viewing images of CAT scans



Visual images and radio frequencies are not only used in television and radio ( well radio uses the same kinds of frequencies used in signals for microwaves, cellular phones etc..... of course they all are of different levels of frequency on the spectrum).

But....image assisted treatments such as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Axiated Tomography, or Positron Emissions Tomography in varied ways, are useful in medical research and treatment making them useful in highlighting abnormalities, and assisting practitioners in finding cancer, or diseases. Medical imaging captures images and make them useful in medical research or treatment.

There are differences though.

The CT scanner uses x-rays. X-rays are a type of ionizing radiation that is used to acquire its images which are dense and rigid forms of anatomy (like bones). These tissues are composed of elements of higher atomic numbers than the tissue that is surrounding them. It takes 3-dimensional scans (unlike x-rays which are two dimensional). It takes individual slices of the brain and take the individual parts (using software) merge or reassemble them again to generate a 3D image of the brain.

The MRI scan uses a non-ionizing radio frequencies signals to acquire its images. It use is also best for indicating issues within tissue that is non-calcified (dense) such as organs, tissues, fluids, orgains, cells, and body fluids.

The PET is a lower resolution than the MRI or CT however, it produces a 3D image of functional processes or metabolic activities designed to analyze metabolic function in the body.

Source: Dr. David Lubliner, NJIT

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