Introduction
To be able to know the evolution of radiology, it is important to know the background and history of radiology. Radiology has been an advanced technology in the field of medicine that has been known for years to help medical professors in detecting and identifying such cases of disease. In a simple thought, radiology is the way of producing electromagnetic energy from machines such as X-rays or any other examples to have an image or illustration of the human body that would give the physicians the ideas of what abnormalities are inside the patient’s body. X-ray is used in radiology and it is called roentgenology, which originated from its administrator Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
In the Physical Institute of Wuerzburg University, they were the first spectator of the discovery of x-radiation last 8th of November 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen and then attached the name in the discovery as “X-Radiation”. The one who takes in charge in the diagnostic radiology is called a radiologist.
The evolution of radiology comprises of the innovations that it have for the past years as ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT) nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging are becoming more present in the medical profession which is used to detect diseases in the human body. In that sense, it is obvious that the use of radiology is an effective way of detecting such cases. One procedure or tool used for radiology is the use of radiographs and Roentgenographs which are used in the evaluation of structures in the bones and soft tissues.
In this process, an X-Ray releases radiation that tends to go by the lesser dense substance such as fat, muscle and other tissues but is immersed or sprinkled in a much denser material such as bones, tumors and severe pneumonia. To cite an example, a well-known Film-Screen Radiography has transferred radiation through a patient then strikes a cassette having the screen fluorescent phosphorous and as a result, the x-ray films were exposed.
In this manner, the areas of the film that were exposed to higher counts and amounts of radiation will become visible as black and gray, but the areas that were open to the elements to a lesser radiation will be seen as in lighter color or white. This Film-Screen Radiography is just like the Computed Radiography and Digital Radiography that both hits x-rays through patients but the first one is known to its distinguishing way of being unusual to a sensitized plate and the outcome is then transformed, and apparently digitized into a computer image by a different machine (Knoll, 2000).
The second one put-ups an image straightforwardly as when the time the x-rays hit an x-ray sensor plate. But in the modern era of radiology in U.S, a film-screen has been left out by the innovations of the digital imaging. Anyhow, a plain radiography was the sole imaging way that is available since the first 50 years of Radiology in the field of Science and Technology and actually it is the initial observation that was patterned to examine the lungs, heart and skeletons for its accessibility, convenience and speed.
Discussion
Radiology uses different machines in detecting and analyzing diseases. It is said that it analyzes the images produced by the imaging tools used in the procedures. In the sense of medical imaging, radiology can be subdivided generally into Therapeutic radiology and Diagnostic radiology and it consists of subfields that will be tackled accordingly in this discussion. When we say diagnostic radiology, it is the way of giving meaning and analyzing the images captured in the human body to be able to give support to the detection or observation of the disease.
This method is segregated in different ways as to the anatomic positioning sense and in the way of its techniques; pediatric radiology, chest radiology, abdominal & pelvic radiology were the techniques that are infrequently tagged as Body Imaging. Another subfield is the Interventional radiology that makes use of imaging to direct therapeutic and angiographic processes. This term is also known as the Vascular & Interventional radiology. Neuroradiology is also a prominent subfield of radiology that focuses in the central nervous system, for example in the brain and spinal cord, osseous spine and its neural contents, peripheral nervous system, and imaging for the head and neck.
On the other hand, the musculoskeletal radiology is the one that specializes for the examinations of bones, joints, and other imaging for the muscular parts of the body. The nuclear medicine also a subfield of radiology, which makes use of radioisotopes in the recognition of lesions, and disease procedures that eventually, give essential information for the physicians or radiologists to be able to read the results accurately and give interpretations to it.
While in the therapeutic radiology, it uses radiation or it may also be coined as radiation therapy for the treatment of illnesses or diseases just like for example cancer. Thus, it has something to do with the cure of a disease but of course it does not guarantee that it would totally save the life of the patient (Thurn, 1986).
Before having an interpretation for the results of the radiology diagnostics, the patients should undergo some specific procedures to be able to provide informations accurately to be the radiologists. The first one is by the radiography which was discussed in the first section of this paper. Another way or tool to be used is the Fluoroscopy and angiography which are exceptional applications of imaging for an x-ray wherein the fluorescent monitor or the intensifier tube for images is related or attached to a closed-circuit system of television. It tolerates a realistic visualization of the moving structures or improved with a radiocontrast driving force.
In fact, the radiocontrast agents are managed and more often than not it is consumed or infused into the body of the patient either orally or rectally. This is to mark out the anatomy and role of the blood vessels such as the genitourinary system or the gastrointestinal tract. Two radio contrasts are then utilized in this process accordingly and one agent can be Barium in order to conduct the assessment for the gastrointestinal tract.
This radiocontrast agent firmly helps to spread the radiation from x-ray and in combination with the realistic images; it consents to the visualization of different procedures, peristalsis for an instance, which is in the digestive tract. Furthermore, in a more definite situation, air is also a suitable agent to be used for the gastrointestinal system. In this case, the contrast agent soothes the X-ray radiation in a lesser amount than the surrounding tissues (Yu, 1999).
Another way of imaging used in radiology is the Computed Tomography or better known as CT. It uses x-rays with the computing algorithms to illustrate the body. An X-ray generating tube in CT, which will be in contrast to X-ray detectors that will be placed in ring-shaped machinery go around a patient producing a computer-generated image or the tomogram. However, CT is obtained in the axial plane while coronal and sagittal imagery can be provided by computer renovation.
Radiocontrast agents are also frequently used with CT for the improved description of anatomy. Some extreme contrast can allow 3D reconstructions of arteries and veins. Even though radiographs give higher spatial resolution, the CT can distinguish more delicate distinctions in reduction of X-rays. Compared to radiographs, CT pictures the patient to more ionizing radiation than in a radiograph. With the use of computers, these images can be adjusted into 3D images of carotid, cerebral and coronary arteries. Also, faster scanning time in modern apparatus has resulted to successful operations (Kevles, 1996).
In the imaging process of Medical ultrasonography, the procedures in this examination make use of a high-frequency sound wave which is the ultrasound, to picture the structures of soft tissues inside the body for a realistic time. There is no ionizing radiation included in it but the quality of images attained using this ultrasound is highly reliant on the abilities of the person who conducts the exam, which is called the ultrasonographer. It means that, the ultrasonographer should be professional enough and should commit no mistakes in conducting the tests. However, Ultrasound is also restricted by its lack of ability to produce images through air or bone.
The application of ultrasound in medicinal imaging has innovated more often than not within the last 30 years. The very first images for ultrasound were not moving and two dimensional or 2D only, but with the latest ultrasonography 3D adjustments can be practical in a more realistic time and apparently becomes 4D (Kasai et al., 2005).
For the reason that ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, which is not the same as radiography, CT scans, and nuclear medicine imaging methods, it is commonly accepted as a safer tool though. This modality acts as an important way and relevant to the functions in obstetrical imaging. Fetal anatomic progress can be systematically assessed permitting early identification of a lot of fetal abnormalities.
The abnormalities can be judged over time, which is very essential in patients with persistent disease or some gestation-induced sickness, and also in several gestations. Moreover, the Color-Flow Doppler Ultrasound examines the relentlessness of peripheral vascular disease and is then utilized by Cardiology for active estimation of the heart, heart valves and major vessels. In the stenosis of the carotid arteries, it can mean cerebral impacts and unluckily it may result in stroke.
The DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis in the legs can be initiated through ultrasound earlier than it gets out and move to the lungs that may result to pulmonary embolism, which can be deadly if this will be left uncured. Ultrasound is functional for the image-guided interference such as biopsies and drainages for an instance thoracentesis. It is also for the cure of kidney stones or renal lithiasis through lithotripsy.
Diminutive handy ultrasound machines now substitute peritoneal lavage in the triage of trauma sufferers by unswervingly assessing for the attendance of hemorrhage in the peritoneum and the reliability of the major viscera together with the liver, spleen and kidneys. Wide-ranging hemoperitoneum or the bleeding inside the cavity of the body or maybe the damage to the most important organs may require growing surgical investigation and restoration process.
In the imaging produced by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI, this one uses tough magnetic fields to bring into line a spinning atomic nucleus that is typically a hydrogen proton which is surrounded by body tissues and then uses a radio signal to alarm the axis of going around the nuclei and watches the occurrence of the radio signal that is being produced, as the nuclei return to their baseline states plus the point all neighboring areas.
Small antennae, called coils, which are placed near the area of interest, bring together the radio signals (Saufl, 2002). One advantage of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging is its capability to bring into being the images in axial, coronal, sagittal and several slanted planes with identical alleviation. MRI scans provide the best soft tissue distinction of all the imaging means. With innovations in scanning, speed and spatial motions, and improvements in computer 3D algorithms and hardware, the MRI has been converted into an indispensable tool in musculoskeletal radiology and neuroradiology.
But on the other hand, one shortcoming of MRI is that the patient has to seize for a long duration of time in a loud, restricted space at the same time of the imaging is conducted. Recent upgrades in magnet plan as well as firmer magnetic fields shorten the time for examinations, wider, shorter magnet weary and more open magnet designs, have carried out some assistance for the claustrophobic patients. However, in magnets of equivalent field power, there is often an exchange among the quality of the image and released designs. MRI has huge advantage in picturing out the brain, spine, and the musculoskeletal system (Saufl, 2002).
Teleradiology
The teleradiology is an evolution in radiology which uses more innovative processes. It is the way of conducting radiographic pictures from a specific place to another for further explanations and understanding by a radiologist. It is often used to tolerate express findings on emergency room, ICU and other developing assessments after hours of typical procedures. This method is very convenient because the radiologist does not have to be with the patient in the examination process, thus they can work separately.
And unlike the MRI Radiologist, Neuroradiologist, Pediatric Radiologist, or Musculoskeletal Radiologist , the teleradiologist for the professional specialists will be available anytime and can perform their responsibilities accordingly as they do not have to exert efforts in traveling. Teleradiology can also be used to have discussions with a specialist or subspecialist about a complicated or puzzling case.
Moreover, in teleradiology, the computer system at the receiving end will have to display in its screen or monitor high-quality illustrations, that are intended for a clearer and trusted clinical principle. It is also more convenient to have a printer for your computers to have a hard copy of the images because sometimes, the physicians who interpret the results just have to be practical and send the interpretations through an e-mail or maybe by fax (Cheney, et al., 1999).
Conclusion
Radiology has been evolved over the years in the medical practice. A lot of innovations have been figured out but the traditional methods are somehow still on scene. The developments of the techniques are primarily the focus of the emergence such that into the teleradiology. The ideas that the future inventions have, actually depend on the present machines and methods that the medicine are using in this era.
It is then depicted that the evolution is upgrading the systems of radiology in the sense of making pictures or images of the target object or patient have inside to accurately detect several kinds of diseases and making possible things such as examinations which do not require the patient and the radiologist to be together. Radiology should be taken as a modality that will emerge accordingly until the future.
The people should expect to have more innovations on this field of science, which will give a great impact on the lives of each living individual. Although the use of the machines mentioned in this paper could be harmful to the conditions of the human body because of the risks of radiation, it may somehow give people the chance to be aware of the diseases that will take their life. It is possible to have a better view of a more safe technique of radiology in the near future because the things are now becoming more open to ideas that would benefit a lot of people.
Thus, the application of radiology is generally a positive way to have in the world of medicine to achieve a lot easier way of developing and inspiring more inventions to be out. This could also help to open the probabilities of having more time in researching and experimenting about the incurable diseases that many people suffer (Carayon et al., 2004).
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