Abstract
One of the 20th century's greatest achievements was the development of several imaging methods. These methods facilitate diagnoses and sometimes eliminate the need for surgical exploration. Generally, clinicians and patients consider their benefit worth the minimal risk they pose. Currently, imaging is the fastest growing area of health expense. Each imaging method alone or with contrast media has a unique niche. X-rays, or plain radiographs, can show fracture or simple organ blockage. Computed tomography provides a three-dimensional view with clearer, sharper contrast between the body's structures and tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging can depict musculoskeletal aberrations, tumors, infection, or tissue pathology. Positron-emission tomography quantifies metabolic activity. Consultant pharmacists should be able to differentiate among these scans and understand the benefits and uses of each.
References
Nov 1, 1996·Southern Medical Journal·J P RenstonA F DiMarco
Jul 6, 2000·Circulation·R A O'RourkeM J Wolk
Jul 18, 2000·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·R A O'RourkeW L Winters
May 30, 2002·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Frank G Shellock, John V Crues
Oct 25, 2002·American Journal of Epidemiology·Diane E BildRussell P Tracy
May 16, 2003·Archives of Environmental Health·Aharon FinestoneCharles Milgrom
Oct 15, 2003·Circulation·Raymond Y Kwong, E Kent Yucel
Dec 25, 2003·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Gerald AntochStefan G Ruehm
Mar 20, 2004·Radiology·Christoph I LeeHoward P Forman
Apr 24, 2004·Biomedical Engineering Online·Domenico Formica, Sergio Silvestri
Aug 25, 2004·Lancet Neurology·Agneta Nordberg
Oct 30, 2004·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Gerald AntochLutz S Freudenberg
Jul 19, 2005·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Matthew J BudoffUNKNOWN Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions
Jul 28, 2005·Circulation·Matthew J BudoffUNKNOWN Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Sep 20, 2005·Radiology·Claudia D FurtadoGiovanna Casola