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Medical Imaging | All About Medical Scans: CT, MRI, PET and SPECT

Your doc has asked that you go for a medicalstructural information-about the heart, for
scan to take a closer look at what's ailinginstance. Together, they can provide the most
you-likely one of these tests: a CAT scan, adetailed picture of what may be going on
SPECT scan, a PET scan, an ultrasound, aninside  of  you.
MRI-or some combination of these. So how
will it help you? Here's an overview of whatNonradioactive  scans
each medical imaging device does and what
information  it  captures:The two most common are ultrasound and MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging). Ultrasound uses
CT  scans  (aka  CAT  scans)sound waves to take pictures inside the body.
MRI can acquire images both in 2-D and in
A computed tomography scanner is an X-ray3-D; it can look at the beating of the heart
device. As a large doughnutlike ring movesin real time, as ultrasound can; and it is
over and spins around the body, the beams areable to tell tissues apart in ways other
sent through the body from one side and thetechnologies  can't.
emerging radiation is detected and forms
images on the other. "When patients goMind-Reading:  EEG  Reports
through a CAT scanner," says Scott Daniel
Flamm, M.D., head of cardiovascular imagingAn electroencephalogram (EEG) can detect
at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, "itproblems in the brain's electrical system
takes a series of 3-D pictures or axialthat may indicate the presence of a tumor,
slices very quickly. It's much like getting ahead injury or diseases, such as epilepsy and
chest X-ray-just a whole lot faster and moremigraine. In the test, up to 25 electrodes
sophisticated."are placed on the patient's scalp; they
record changing patterns of electrical
SPECT  scansactivity and convert the electrical signals
into a series of spiky lines drawn on a
In a single-photon emission computerizedmoving piece of graph paper. The doctor can
tomography (SPECT) scan, a camera photographsthen read the print-out to see if there are
the travels of a radioactive tracer that isany  abnormalities.
injected into the body. Dr. Flamm explains:
"How it moves in different areas of the bodyDuring an EEG, patients often have to stay
can highlight possible problems, such asmotionless, because any movement may alter
inadequate  blood  supply."the results. Sometimes a patient is asked to
breathe deeply and rapidly or to look at a
PET  scansbright  flickering  light.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scannersThe procedure is very safe. If it happens to
use a different kind of radioactive tracertrigger a seizure, the person performing the
and are considered a more powerful imagingEEG is trained to ensure the patient's
tool. Both SPECT and PET scans usuallysafety.
produce no side effects, but PET scans are
considered better because they are moreIt's useful to know how medical imaging tools
sensitive to some metabolic activities, suchwork. After viewing your scan results, a
as the amount of glucose or oxygen used indoctor obtains precise information that could
different parts of the brain. A SPECT scanhelp make a diagnosis or guide treatment. And
focuses  more  on  blood  flow.that's what really matters: getting the care
you  need.
Combo  scans
Writer:  John  McIntosh
SPECT and PET scanners can be combined with
CAT scanners (at which point they're called©REMEDY,  Summer  2007
SPECT-CT scanners or PET-CT scanners). SPECT
and PET scans give some physiological andGet a FREE 2-year subscription to REMEDY, one
functional information that the CAT scanof MediZine, LLC's award-winning health
doesn't, while CAT scans provide moremagazines. Sign up today!



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