medical imaging in Wayne, NJ

Types of medical imaging and relevant career options

by zack rosebrugh

Doctors and primary health care providers often order a particular type of medical imaging test to a patient for a better diagnosis of the patient’s conditions. Imaging is ordered in the occurrence of particular symptoms of illness or an injury. Sometimes, medical imaging in Wayne, NJ is done regularly for the early diagnosis of a disease even before the symptoms have surfaced up, such as in the case of breast cancer detection.

Several types of imaging technologies are used in various areas of medicine.

Types of technologies used in medical imaging

  • Computed Tomography (CT)

Popularly known as CT scan, or another version of it being CAT scan (Computerized Axial Tomography), uses X-ray radiation to capture the internal images of a human body. When the X-rays pass through the body, images are created by special detectors capturing the reflected X-rays. Tomography scans take several images of a patient’s body and provide information about tissues, bones and blood vessels.

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)

MRI uses superconducting magnetic and radio waves to create the images. The MRI equipment consists of large magnets that create a strong magnetic wave. The magnetic field and radio waves help in generating the images of organs and tissues inside a body. PRI scans help physicians to detect any heart or brain-related ailments and detect tumors in the liver, breast, kidney, pancreas, ovaries and other organs.

  • Vascular Interventional Radiography

This technology allows physicians to treat various conditions minimally invasive procedures such as angioplasty, thrombolysis and stenting. It uses multiple imaging techniques like computed tomography, X-rays and ultrasounds.

  • Sonography

Also known as ultrasound imaging, it uses sound waves to capture the images inside the patient’s body. In this process, a gel is applied on the desired portion of the body and a transducer is placed on it. Sound waves are then sent through the transducer. The waves that are reflected back into the transducer create visible images.

Career options for medical imaging

 Each imaging trait requires a special imaging technologist to operate the equipment and evaluate the results. The career options that the technologists can specialize in are – computed tomographer, magnetic resonance imaging technologist, vascular interventional radiographer and sonographer.