Medical Imaging is a diagnostic field within medicine that leads to the creation of visual representation and scans of the inside of the body. Often required for clinical analysis and diagnosis, it allows doctors and physicians to assess the functions of internal organs and tissues and to find signs of disorder or damage.
Medical Imaging holds many technologies under its umbrella. This encompasses the following modalities : X-Ray,CT,MRI,US,Nuclear Medicine(including SPECT/CT) & PET CT.
American Hospital Dubai's Medical Imaging department possesses the most advanced machinery and state of the art equipment.
A technology that results in unique information about the inside of the body, which usually cannot be identified using other medical imaging tools, nuclear medicine is a type of imaging that injects limited bursts of radioactive materials, known as radiotracers, into the patient’s bloodstream. The radiotracers may also be inhaled or swallowed, depending on the patient’s medical condition and their history. The radiotracers then roam within the area under examination and feed energy in the form of gamma rays into a special camera and computer, forming images and scans of the internal body.
One of the many benefits of nuclear medicine is that it enables physicians to detect and identify diseases and disorders at their earliest stages. In this way, it provides patients with a better chance at complete recovery.
Shaped like a small tunnel wide enough to fit one adult body, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a physical examination that utilizes a magnetic field and radio wave energy to form pictures of organs and physiology beneath the human skin and bones. At times more conclusive that other imaging processes, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, MRIs deliver diverse information about the structural formation of the human anatomy, often allowing physicians to identify anomalies and irregularities that cannot be assessed with other machinery. The MRI test requires the human body to be placed inside a wide tube or tunnel for the procedure. The system saves digital images and scans on the AHD database for closer inspection. The scans can also be printed when needed. Shaped like a small tunnel wide enough to fit one adult body, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a physical examination that utilizes a magnetic field and radio wave energy to form pictures of organs and physiology beneath the human skin and bones. At times more conclusive that other imaging processes, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, MRIs deliver diverse information about the structural formation of the human anatomy, often allowing physicians to identify anomalies and irregularities that cannot be assessed with other machinery. The MRI test requires the human body to be placed inside a wide tube or tunnel for the procedure. The system saves digital images and scans on the American Hospital database for closer inspection. The scans can also be printed when needed.
Computed/Computerized Tomography (commonly known as a CT scan) or Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT Scan) is an imaging procedure that requires special X-ray equipment and tools to provide scans and photographs of the internal body structure. CT Scans are commonly required for cancer patients in order to identify their individual type of cancer and assess its damage so that doctors can develop a solid treatment plan. CT is also required to diagnose blood diseases and circulatory conditions like atherosclerosis, as well as blood vessel aneurysms, blood clots, spinal disorders, kidney and bladder stone infections, abscesses, inflammatory diseases, overall injuries to the head and internal organs, and bone fractures and fissures. CT is a viable, safe option for both younger patients and adults, however the procedure requires the individual to lie still on a table as it navigates its way at the center of a large X-ray loop.
Short for ‘single photon emission computerized tomography’, a SPECT scan is a form of medical imaging that enables physicians and doctors to assess and analyse the functionality of various internal organs. As part of the spectrum of nuclear imaging tests, it utilizes a radioactive substance and specialized cameras to develop accurate 3D renderings of the organs beneath our skin. An Advanced SPECT scan is different from regular imaging tests in that it can present physicians with a chance to assess the function of organs as opposed to just their shapes, for example, the flow of blood to a patient’s heart or the level of brain activity.
A technology that results in unique information about the inside of the body, which usually cannot be identified using other medical imaging tools, nuclear medicine is a type of imaging that injects limited bursts of radioactive materials, known as radiotracers, into the patient’s bloodstream. The radiotracers can also be inhaled or swallowed, depending on the patient’s medical condition and their history. The radiotracers then roam within the area under examination and feed energy in the form of gamma rays into a special camera and computer, forming images and scans of the internal body. One of the many benefits of nuclear medicine is that it enables physicians to detect and identify diseases and disorders at their earliest stages. In this way, it provides patients with a better chance at complete recovery.
Short for ‘positron emission tomography/computed tomography’, a PET/CT is a combination of two different types of scanning methods: positron emission tomography (or PET) and X-ray computed tomography (or CT). The integration of these two technologies enables physicians to collect different data from each device in a single session, developing sequential images that lead to a single, more complete and infinitely more accurate resulting image.
The ultrasound, or sonogram as it is sometimes referred to, is a type of medical imaging that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to perform closer inspections of the human organs and internal physiology. Commonly used to examine vital organs such as the heart, blood vessels, kidneys and liver, ultrasound scans are also often used to examine the fetus in the case of a pregnancy. They require a special gel to be administered on the area that needs to be scanned, after which a hand-manipulated transducer is applied to the same area to assess below-skin activity. One of the benefits of ultrasounds is that they do not expose patients to radiation.
Used to detect the earliest signs of breast cancer, which can be most effectively treated, a mammography is a breast-imaging technology that requires low doses of radiation.
Commonly known as an X-ray scan, general radiography is a technology used to create internal images that help doctors to diagnose and detect anomalies in the bones and lungs of patients, among other organ irregularities. This tool requires among the lowest levels of radiation.
A sub-specialty of radiology, interventional radiology uses imaging equipment to enable physicians to diagnose internal irregularities and select subsequent treatment options. Angiography, on the other hand, offers doctors the opportunity to perform closer inspections of internal blood vessels. The procedure requires a small catheter to be placed into the blood vessel through which X-ray dye is injected to enable doctors to examine the trajectory and detect any irregularities.
A fluoroscopy is a type of medical imaging system that provides continuous X-ray images on a monitor. It requires an X-ray beam to be passed through the body to offer a detailed internal view.
When a radiopharmaceutical is given intravenously or orally, physicians are able to utilize the radiation emitted from the patient’s body to assess internal problems. The nuclear medicine images are obtained by nuclear detectors (SPECT/CT or PET/CT). This differs from an X-ray or CT scan, in which the image is formed by external radiation passing through the body. SPECT or PET scan fusion imaging with low-dose CT scan is able to display the metabolism and anatomical structure of a tumor or organs simultaneously in a set of images. This is one of the most effective and modern imaging techniques for diagnosis, differentiation and for determining whether and to what degree and direction a tumor has spread within the body. It is used effectively in not only oncology, but also the diagnosis of infection sites, neurological diseases, such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, and even coronary heart disease in some cases.
Nuclear medicine uses specific radiopharmaceuticals to treat both benign and malignant diseases. These include hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, neuroblastoma and neuroendocrine tumors, amongst others. Nuclear medicine imaging is also valuable in the planning of radiation therapy.
The accurate assessment of a patient’s response to treatment can be performed through nuclear medicine by imaging the tumor site and the whole body.
