ere are some details and further information on the various types of image scanning that I have received since my accident, to identify all ongoing problems. The scans were undertaken at a number of hospital establishments throughout England & Wales, including:- Gateshead Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Newcastle Freeman Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Royal Glamorgan Hospital Llantrisant, and Swansea Morriston Hospital.

Radiography (X-ray) - Bone

What is it?
Radiography, known to most people as x-ray, is the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. For nearly a century, diagnostic images have been created by passing small, highly controlled amounts of radiation through the human body, capturing the resulting shadows and reflections on a photographic plate.

X-ray imaging is the fastest and easiest way for a physician to view and assess broken bones, cracked skulls and injured backbones. At least two films are taken of a bone, and often three films if the problem is around a joint (knee, elbow, or wrist). X-rays also play a key role in orthopedic surgery and the treatment of sports injuries. X-ray is useful in detecting more advanced forms of cancer in bones. Very early cancer findings require other methods.

Radiologists have developed alternative imaging methods that do not rely on radiation, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, because x-ray was the first imaging modality, many people (and medical imaging professionals) continue to use the term "radiology" to include all types of imaging. Strictly speaking, though, radiology refers to the use of x-rays.

Some Common Uses?
Probably the most common use of bone radiographs is to assist the physician in identifying and treating fractures. X-ray images of the skull, spine, joints, and extremities are performed every minute of every day in hospital emergency rooms, sports medicine centers, orthopedic clinics, and physician offices. Images of the injury can show even very fine hairline fractures or chips, while images produced after treatment ensure that a fracture has been properly aligned and stabilized for healing. Bone x-rays are an essential tool in orthopedic surgery, such as spinal repair, joint replacements, or fracture reductions.

X-ray images can be used to diagnose and monitor the progression of degenerative diseases such as arthritis. They also play an important role in the detection and diagnosis of cancer, although usually computed tomography (CT) or MRI is better at defining the extent and the nature of a suspected cancer. On regular x-rays severe osteoporosis is visible, but bone density determination detects early loss of bone density. Bone density determination is usually done on special equipment.

Ultrasound - Abdomen

What is it?
Ultrasound (US) imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, is a method of obtaining images of internal organs by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body. The reflected soundwaves' echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time, visual image. No ionizing radiation (x-ray) is involved in ultrasound imaging. An abdominal ultrasound image is a useful way of examining internal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder. Because US images are captured in real time, they can show movement of internal tissues and organs and enable physicians to see blood flow. This can help to diagnose a variety of conditions and to assess damage caused by illness.

Some Common Uses?
Ultrasound imaging is used extensively for evaluating the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and blood vessels of the abdomen. Because it provides real time images, it can also be used to:

	Guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which a needle is used to sample cells from an organ for laboratory testing.
	Help a physician determine the source of many abdominal pains, such as stones in the gall bladder or kidney, or an inflamed appendix.
	Help identify the cause for enlargement of an abdominal organ.

Doppler ultrasound is a special type of ultrasound study that examines major blood vessels. These images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

	Blockages to blood flow, such as clots.
	Build-up of plaque inside the vessel.
	Congenital malformation.

With knowledge about the speed and volume of blood flow gained from an ultrasound image, the physician can often determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure such as angioplasty.

Computed Tomography (CT) - Body

What is it?
CT (computed tomography), sometimes called CAT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angles around the body, and then uses computer processing of the information to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs.

CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue—lung, bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels—with great clarity. Using specialized equipment and expertise to create and interpret CT scans of the body, radiologists can more easily diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma, and musculoskeletal disorders. CT of the body is a patient-friendly exam that involves little radiation exposure.

Some Common Uses?
Because it provides detailed, cross-sectional views of all types of tissue, CT is one of the best tools for studying the chest and abdomen. It is often the preferred method for diagnosing many different cancers, including lung, liver, and pancreatic cancer, since the image allows a physician to confirm the presence of a tumor and to measure its size, precise location, and the extent of the tumor's involvement with other nearby tissue. CT examinations are often used to plan and properly administer radiation treatments for tumors, to guide biopsies and other minimally invasive procedures, and to plan surgery and determine surgical resectability. CT can clearly show even very small bones, as well as surrounding tissues such as muscle and blood vessels. This makes it invaluable in diagnosing and treating spinal problems and injuries to the hands, feet, and other skeletal structures. CT images can also be used to measure bone mineral density for the detection of osteoporosis. In cases of trauma, CT can quickly identify injuries to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or other internal organs. Many dedicated shock-trauma centers have a CT scanner in the emergency room. CT can also play a significant role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular diseases that can lead to stroke, kidney failure, or even death.

Computed Tomography (CT) - Head

What is it?
Computed tomography (CT), sometimes called CAT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to obtain many images from different angles, and then join them together to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs. CT scanning provides more detailed information on head injuries, brain tumors, and other brain diseases than do regular radiographs (plain x-ray films). It also can show bone, soft tissues, and blood vessels in the same images. CT of the head and brain is a patient-friendly exam that involves radiation exposure.

Some Common Uses?
CT of the head can assist in:

	Locating skull fractures and brain damage in patients with head injuries.
	Detecting a blood clot or bleeding within the brain shortly after a patient exhibits symptoms of a stroke.
	Determining the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in patients with facial trauma, and planning surgical reconstruction.
	Detecting and localizing bleeding in a patient with sudden severe headache who may have a ruptured or leaking aneurysm.
	Detecting some brain tumours.
	Diagnosing diseases of the temporal bone on the side of the skull, which may cause hearing problems.
	Illuminating enlarged brain cavities (ventricles) in patients with hydrocephalus.
	Determining whether inflammation or other changes are present in the paranasal sinuses.
	Planning radiation therapy for cancer of the brain or other tissues.
	Guiding the passage of a needle used to obtain a tissue sample (biopsy) from the brain.
	Non-invasively assessing for aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations through a technique called CT angiography.
	Detecting diseases or malformations of the skull.
	Three-dimensional imaging of the skull and brain structures.

MR Imaging (MRI) - Body

What is it?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays to provide remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. The technique has proven very valuable for the diagnosis of a broad range of pathologic conditions in all parts of the body, including cancer, heart and vascular disease, stroke, and joint and musculoskeletal disorders. MRI requires specialized equipment and expertise and allows evaluation of some body structures that may not be as visible with other imaging methods.

Some Common Uses?
Because MRI can give such clear pictures of soft-tissue structures near and around bones, it is the most sensitive exam for spinal and joint problems. MRI is widely used to diagnose sports-related injuries, especially those affecting the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, and wrist. The images allow the physician to see even very small tears and injuries to ligaments and muscles.

In addition, MRI of the heart, aorta, coronary arteries, and blood vessels is a fast, noninvasive tool for diagnosing coronary artery disease and heart problems. Physicians can examine the size and thickness of the chambers of the heart, and determine the extent of damage caused by a heart attack or progressive heart disease.

Organs of the chest and abdomen—including the lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, and abdominal vessels—can also be examined in high detail with MRI, enabling the diagnosis and evaluation of tumors and functional disorders. MRI is growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional x-ray mammography in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Because no radiation exposure is involved, MRI is often the preferred diagnostic tool for examination of the male and female reproductive systems, pelvis and hips, and the bladder.

MR Imaging (MRI) - Head

What is it?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays to provide remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. This technique has proved very helpful to radiologists in diagnosing tumors of the brain as well as disorders of the eyes and the inner ear. It requires specialized equipment and expertise and allows evaluation of some body structures that may not be as visible with other imaging methods.