Radiographers Advantages And Disadvantages

Chapter 1- Introduction

The importance of Advances in technology is of the utmost importance, not only to improve quality in imaging systems in the radiology department but to improve quality of life. As radiographers working in a constantly busy environment we sometimes tend to forget we are tending to patients that are extremely sick or even the basic concept of us administering radiation to patients in order to achieve a certain image.

Throughout the years, advances have been made possible where there are such great advantages for everyone involved: patients, Radiographers, Radiologists, referring physicians, etc.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” –Arthur C. Clarke

I found that this quote was very appropriate

Magnets within the MRI scan have advanced as in November 2004 there was technological breakthrough, building a 1.5T magnet that was 25 cm long and had a large bore of 70 cms. Some disadvantages included: large geometric distortions that limited the field of view along the magnet bore which needed major software image distortion corrections. Success of this allowed for greater advances such as “wide bore”, introduced 2009–2011 (Faridah, 2008)

Figure 1

An Optima 450w wide bore 1.5T MRI scanner, manufactured by GE Healthcare. Image courtesy of GE Healthcare.

This larger bore is important as it helps the radiographer make MRI scans for inpatients much easier as most of these patients come in for a scan with some sort of connection (catheters, IV lines, PICC lines, vital signs monitoring sensors, drug infusion pumps, anesthesia equipment, etc.) as most of these patients are very sickly. With this being said, it is understandable that most of these patients are usually unconscious or uncooperative which means close monitoring and easy access is needed in case of emergency. With regards to outpatients – a larger bore results in more comfort in the patient, especially those that are claustrophobic. Secondly that a larger bore can accommodate

Firstly, digital mammography, this is where the screen or film system is replaced with a detector that converts the incoming x-ray photons into an electrical signal that is digitized and stored onto an online archiving system (PACS) this allows us to store and send images much in a much quicker and easier manner whilst reducing the risk of loosing images.

One of the primary goals with regards to mammography is to achieve a high level of contrast between the lesion and surrounding breast tissue with digital radiography, we are able to manipulate the images’ contrast and density to allow for optimal imaging and diagnosis, this allows us to minimize exposure to the patient but because image quality is related to dose, compromise is necessary and this unfortunately causes an increase in radiation absorption to the patients surrounding tissue as low energy x-rays are used to create a high quality image and are easily attenuated. The second advancement in mammography is Computer-Aided Detection (CAD.) This is a computer program that helps Radiologists in detecting any abnormalities within the breast tissue on a mammogram. With the CAD the program “highlights” any area or lesion that may be considered abnormal with regards to density, mass or calcifications that could be a presence of cancer – this allows the radiologist to review the area and decide whether or not that area actually is abnormal or