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What is a transarterial chemoembolisation? Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is a targeted treatment that treats cancers (tumours) in the liver and other cancers that have spread to the liver (metastases). Other options to completely treat these cancers include surgery to remove the tumours, ablation of the cancer (directly damaging it with heat, freezing or electrifying, via a needle through the skin)...
What is Breast Tomosynthesis? Breast tomosynthesis (often referred to as 3D mammography) is a type of X-ray examination of the breast. It is a relatively new technology, and research about how to fully utilise it is still being carried out. It has already been shown to be beneficial in the detection of small breast cancers compared with conventional mammography, particularly…
Radiation oncology uses radiation (radiation therapy) to treat cancer and other non-malignant diseases. It is a safe and effective treatment for many cancers, with radiation therapy involved in the successful treatment of 40% of all patients cured of cancer worldwide. Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy can be applied to cancers anywhere in the body. It kills…
Health consumers informationWhat 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 radiation – am I exposed to background radiation each day even if I do not have an X-ray examination? Background radiation – Background radiation refers to the ionising radiation from high energy particles or rays that we are unavoidably exposed to in our daily lives, which gives each of us a small but continuous dose of ionising radiation; Part of background…
What is a joint injection? A common cause of a painful joint is synovitis (inflammation of the lining of the joint). It can be useful to inject corticosteroid and/or local anaesthetic medication directly into the joint or the soft tissue next to a joint (this is often called a bursa) to reduce the inflammation and provide pain relief. Reduction in pain may make physical therapy…
What is a breast core biopsy? A breast core biopsy is where a special needle (or probe) is inserted into the breast to take a small sample of breast tissue from an area of concern so that it can be sent to a laboratory for testing. It is done using local anaesthetic to numb the breast in the area that is being biopsied. An abnormality may have been identified on a scan or X-ray image…
What is a SPECT-CT scan? A SPECT-CT scan is a type of nuclear medicine scan where the images or pictures from two different types of scans are combined together. The combined scan can provide precise information about how different parts of the body are working and more clearly identify problems.…
What is computed tomography? Computed tomography (CT) is a way of using X-rays to take pictures or images in very fine slices through the part of the body that the doctor has asked to be investigated. One way to think of it is of taking slices through a loaf of bread. When CT scanners were first invented, they took one slice at a time and were quite slow when compared to today’s…
What is a Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)? The thyroid is a soft gland in the front of the neck, in front of the trachea, or ‘windpipe’. It has two lobes (rounded divisions or sections), each about the size of a small egg, joined by a thin bridge of tissue called the ‘isthmus’ of the thyroid. The thyroid gland is...
What is a breast fine needle aspiration? A breast fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a quick and simple procedure to perform, which removes some fluid or cells from a breast lesion or cyst (a lump, sore or swelling) with a fine needle similar to a blood sample needle. The sample of fluid or cells is smeared on a glass slide...
What is radiation? Background radiation is always present in our environment. It is inescapable and provides each of us with a continuous, small radiation dose. The sources of background radiation in our environment are cosmic rays from the universe, naturally occurring radioactive substances in the food and water we eat and drink, the air we breathe, in the ground,…
What 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 a parathyroid MIBI scan? A parathyroid MIBI scan is used in nuclear medicine to look at possible problems involving the parathyroid gland(s). The parathyroids are four small hormone glands lying close to or embedded in the back surface of the thyroid gland, in the front of the neck. The parathyroid scan uses sestamibi (or MIBI for short), which is a very safe liquid…
What is a nephrostomy? Urine is made in the kidneys. Humans have two kidneys, each of which passes urine to the bladder by a tube called the ureter. This tube can become blocked for a number of reasons (e.g. kidney stones or cancer). A blocked ureter can stop the kidney from working properly and can damage the kidney. Also, if the urine that is blocked becomes infected, it can…
What is a DMSA scan? DMSA, or dimercaptosuccinic acid, is a radioactive compound (radiopharmaceutical) that when injected into a vein allows images or pictures to be taken of the kidneys. DMSA enters the kidneys and is concentrated in functioning/normal kidney tissue, giving an indication as to how the kidneys are working. It does not provide information as to the internal…
What is a computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA)? Angiography is the X-ray imaging of blood vessels using contrast agents injected into the bloodstream (see Angiography). CTCA uses computed tomography (CT) scanning to take pictures or images (angiograms) of the coronary arteries of the beating heart. These arteries supply blood to the heart muscle, and…
A nuclear medicine thyroid scan uses a radioactive medication (radiopharmaceutical) to take pictures or images of the thyroid gland. The radiopharmaceutical is injected into a vein, usually in the arm, and enters the thyroid gland from the circulating blood. It is detected by a special gamma camera that takes images and provides information about the function and structure…
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