Radiology

Types of imaging:

Plain film*

Ultrasound

CT*

Fluoroscopy*

MRI

Nuclear medicine imaging*

*use ionising radiation and therefore have an associated risk of causing cancer

Risk of cancer for diagnostic imaging is small. However, important to evaluate the risks and benefits when deciding on imaging. Paediatric patients are more sensitive to the effects of ionising radiation therefore we usually try to use non-ionising imaging where possible or lower dose studies as the risk is dose dependent.

Contrast media:

Pharmaceuticals that are used to temporarily change the way body tissues appear on scans.

They can be injected (intravenously or intra-arterially), taken orally or administered by enema (rectally).

The main types that you will see administered in Radiology are :

Iodine based Contrast Media - used in CT & Interventional/Fluoroscopy

Gadolinium based Contrast Media - used in MRI

Barium Sulphate – used for GI Tract studies such as Barium Swallows