Filters: "Spine"
Results : 39
What is angiography? Angiography is the X-ray imaging of blood vessels using contrast agents injected into the bloodstream through a thin plastic tube (catheter) that is placed directly in the blood vessel. The images taken are called angiograms. Angiography provides information about blood vessel abnormalities, such as narrowing, blockage, inflammation, abnormal widening and bleeding, using a liquid contrast agent (known...
What is nuclear medicine? Nuclear medicine is a medical speciality that involves giving a patient a small amount of radioactive medication, called a radiopharmaceutical. This makes the body slightly radioactive for a short time. A special nuclear medicine camera detects the radiation, which is emitted (released) from the body, and takes images or pictures of how the inside of the...
Interventional radiology is a medical specialisation that involves performing a range of imaging procedures to obtain images of the inside of the body. The interventional radiologist carefully interprets these images to diagnose injury and disease, and to perform a range of interventional medical procedures. Interventional radiologist use imaging techniques…
Health consumers informationWhat is contrast medium? Contrast media (sometimes called contrast agents or dye) are chemical substances used in medical X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), angiography, and occasionally ultrasound imaging. Contrast media enhance and improve the quality of images (or pictures), so that the radiologist (a specialist doctor trained…
What is an octreotide scan? Nuclear medicine uses radioactive materials to diagnose or treat diseases. An octreotide scan is one that uses radioactive material to detect certain types of cancers arising from the neuro-endocrine systems (this means cancers that relate to the interaction between the nervous system and hormones from the endocrine system – glands that…
What is a plain radiograph/X-ray? Radiography is the imaging of body structures, or parts of the body, using X-rays. X-rays are a form of radiation (X-radiation) similar to visible light, radio waves and microwaves. X-radiation is special because it has a very high energy level that allows the X-ray beam to penetrate through the body and create an image or picture. Plain…
What is an X-ray examination? Radiography is the imaging of body structures using X-rays. X-rays are a form of radiation similar to visible light, radio waves, and microwaves. X-radiation is special because it has a very high energy level that allows the X-ray beam to penetrate through the body and create an image or picture. The image is created due to the X-ray beam being…
What is embolisation of head, neck and spinal tumours? Head, neck and spinal tumours (or growths) can occur on the coverings of the brain called meninges as well as anywhere in the head or neck region. These tumours can also occur in the back bone (spinal column). Structures inside the spinal column such as nerves can also give rise to tumours. Often these tumours contain…
What is a vertebroplasty? Vertebroplasty is a medical term which refers to the injection of a plastic cement, called polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), into a vertebral body or small bones that make up the spinal column. Vertebrae in the spine are typically thick bone enclosing a hole for the spinal cord. They can become damaged through becoming weak with osteoporosis,…
What is a Spinal Cord Embolisation (AVM/DAVF)? The spinal cord is an extension of the brain that is situated inside the spinal column (or backbone), which connects the nerves from the brain to the rest of the body. This enables the brain to control movements of limbs and internal organs, such as the urinary bladder or bowel, and also to receive sensory information such as…
What is an image guided lumbar epidural corticosteroid injection? The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a ‘disc’ that allows the spine to be flexible. The epidural space separates the bony spinal canal (the space in the vertebrae through which the fluid filled sac containing the spinal cord passes) from the fluid-filled tube or sac.…
What is a lumbar nerve root sleeve injection? The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a ‘disc’ that allows the spine to be flexible. In between adjacent vertebrae, there is an opening on each side called a ‘foramen’, through which a nerve exits on its way to the buttock or leg. The nerve is...
What is a myelogram? The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. At the front of the spine is solid bone, and at the back there is a bony canal, or channel called the spinal canal. The spinal canal contains a fluid-filled tube extending from the base of the skull to the tailbone. This is called the thecal sac...
What is an image guided facet joint corticosteroid injection? The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. At the front of the spine is solid bone, and at the back there is a bony canal, or channel. The solid bone is separated from the next bone by a disc. One vertebra is connected to the next vertebra at the back in the bony canal by pairs of facet joints on the right and left sides…
What is a a cervical nerve root sleeve injection? The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a ‘disc’ that allows the spine to be flexible. The nerves that provide sensation and power to the upper limbs are called cervical nerves. They exit the spine through openings between two adjacent vertebrae called the intervertebral foramina....
What is a dual energy CT scan? Standard computed tomography (CT) scanners use normal X-rays to make cross-sectional ‘slice-like’ pictures or images of the body. A dual energy CT scanner is fairly new technology that uses both the normal X-ray and also a second less powerful X-ray to make the images. This gives dual energy CT additional advantages over standard CT for…
What is a bone mineral density scan? A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA), or bone density scan, is a special type of X-ray that measures bone mineral density (BMD). It provides information about bone strength or fragility and the risk of fractures or broken bones. The higher the density, generally, the lower the risk of fracture. The spine and one...
Paediatric (or pediatric) radiology is a subspecialty of diagnostic radiology focused on children, from babies through to adolescents and young adults. Adolescents are referred to paediatric radiologists because developing bodies are more susceptible to the adverse effects of radiation than are adults of equivalent size. Paediatric radiologists have specialised…
Read moreNuclear medicine is a subspecialty of radiology which involves the use of radioactive medication (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat disease. These radioactive materials are usually injected into a vein, but are sometimes swallowed or inhaled. A gamma camera tracks the movement of the radiopharmaceuticals from outside the body by detecting the gamma radiation…
Read moreRANZCR® is not aware that any person intends to act or rely upon the opinions, advices or information contained in this publication or of the manner in which it might be possible to do so. It issues no invitation to any person to act or rely upon such opinions, advices or information or any of them and it accepts no responsibility for any of them.
RANZCR® intends by this statement to exclude liability for any such opinions, advices or information. The content of this publication is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. It is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient and his/her doctor. Some of the tests and procedures included in this publication may not be available at all radiology providers.
RANZCR® recommends that any specific questions regarding any procedure be discussed with a person's family doctor or medical specialist. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, RANZCR®, its Board, officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use, or interpretation. Each person should rely on their own inquires before making decisions that touch their own interests.
