Radiologic & Imaging Sciences Worksheet Review

Flashcards covering radiologic technology principles, key history, credentialing, professional distinctions, and various imaging modalities and energies.

Which three types of radiation have a significant impact on medicine, and how are they used?

X-rays (used in radiography and CT to produce images of internal body structures), Gamma rays (used in nuclear medicine imaging and in radiation treatment), and Radio waves (used in MRI to create images of internal body structures).

How does the medical use of radiation differ between cancer treatment and diagnosis?

Treatment uses high-energy X-rays in radiation therapy to treat cancer, whereas diagnosis uses X-rays in radiography to create images of internal structures to help physicians identify diseases or injuries.

Who discovered X-rays and on what exact date were they discovered?

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays on November 8, 1895.

What was the significance of the discovery of X-rays in medicine?

It made it possible for physicians to see inside the human body without surgery, became an important diagnostic tool for diseases and injuries, and later expanded to radiation therapy.

What did the famous X-ray of Röntgen's wife's hand (Figure 1.4) demonstrate?

It demonstrated that X-rays could pass through soft tissue and reveal underlying bones.

What is radiologic technology?

The technical science involving X-rays or radioactive substances for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

What is the difference between a radiologic technologist and a radiologist?

A radiologic technologist is a qualified professional who produces images or performs procedures using X-rays or radioactive substances, while a radiologist is a physician who interprets radiographic images to help diagnose disease.

Which credentialing organization supports 15 credentials, and which two credentials are no longer being issued?

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT); Quality Management (QM) and Cardiovascular Interventional Radiography (CV) are no longer being issued.

What educational degree and requirements are needed for the ARRT primary pathway?

An associate's degree or higher and completion of an ARRT-approved educational program.

What examination can graduates of an ARRT-recognized radiography program take, and what credential initials do they use after their name?

They may take the ARRT national examination in radiography, and registered radiographers use the initials R.T.(R)(ARRT), meaning registered technologist (radiography).

Are cardiac catheterization, angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement considered separate imaging modalities?

No, they are procedures associated with interventional imaging rather than separate imaging modalities.

What is the typical use and energy type used in radiography (X-ray)?

It images internal structures, including bones, chest, and abdomen, using X-rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in computed tomography (CT)?

It produces sectional images of body structures using computer processing, utilizing X-rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in mammography?

It examines breast tissue and helps detect breast disease, utilizing X-rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in cardiac and vascular interventional imaging?

It visualizes the heart and blood vessels, often using contrast media, utilizing X-rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in bone densitometry (DEXA/DXA)?

It measures bone mineral density to detect osteoporosis, utilizing dual-energy X-rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in nuclear medicine?

It images organs and physiological functions using radiopharmaceuticals, utilizing gamma rays emitted by radioactive substances.

What is the typical use and energy type used in positron emission tomography (PET)?

It produces sectional images showing physiological function of organs and systems, utilizing radiation emitted by positron-emitting radioactive substances.

What is the typical use and energy type used in radiation therapy?

It treats cancer and other diseases using prescribed radiation, utilizing high-energy X-rays or gamma rays.

What is the typical use and energy type used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?

It images internal anatomy using magnetic fields and radio waves.

What is the typical use and energy type used in diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound)?

It visualizes body structures using high-frequency sound waves (reflected sound waves).

What do electrocardiography (ECG) and electroencephalography (EEG) record, and what type of energy is involved?

ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, while EEG records the electrical activity of the brain; both involve electrical activity.

What is the typical use and energy type used in thermography?

It creates images of body-emitted heat and can demonstrate changes in circulation, utilizing heat energy.