Computed Tomography (CT)

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... View Article

Arthrogram

What is an arthrogram? An arthrogram is an X-ray image or picture of the inside of a joint (e.g. shoulder, knee, wrist, ankle) after a contrast medium (sometimes referred to as a contrast agent or “dye”) is injected into the joint. An arthrogram provides a clear image of the soft tissue in the joint (e.g.... View Article

Contrast Medium: Using Gadolinium or Iodine in Patients with Kidney Problems

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 to examine the images and... View Article

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring

What is a coronary artery calcium scoring? A coronary artery calcium score is a measurement of the amount of calcium in the walls of the arteries that supply the heart muscle. It is measured by taking a special computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart. The scan shows the amount of hardening of the artery... View Article

CT Colonography

What is a CT colonography? (Also known as CT colonoscopy, virtual colonography or virtual colonoscopy). A computed tomography colonography (CTC), is a CT scan to look at the colon, or large bowel. A CT scan is a specialised X-ray test during which the patient lies on a moving table/bed as it passes through a circular... View Article

CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)

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 disease... View Article

Dual Energy CT Scan

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... View Article

Image Guided Cervical Nerve Root Sleeve Corticosteroid Injection

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... View Article

Image Guided Liver Biopsy

What is an image guided liver biopsy? Image guided liver biopsy is a procedure where liver cells are obtained by a needle inserted directly into the liver through the abdominal wall, in the stomach area, and examined. The reason for requesting this test is that your referring doctor seeks an assessment of the liver tissue... View Article

Image Guided Lumbar Epidural Corticosteroid Injection

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)... View Article

Image guided lumbar nerve root sleeve injection

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... View Article

Iodine-containing contrast medium

What is Iodine-containing contrast medium? Iodine-containing contrast medium (ICCM), sometimes called contrast or contrast medium, is a chemical substance used in medical X-ray imaging. When injected into the body, ICCM shows what is happening inside the hollow parts of the body (like blood vessels, the stomach, bowel or even the fluid around the spinal cord)... View Article

Radiofrequency Ablation

What is radiofrequency ablation? Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure carried out to remove diseased tissue or a tumour (a lump) from the body. It is one type of what is called tumour ablation (or removal). Tumour ablation is where a needle is placed directly into a tumour so that a chemical (usually alcohol or acetic... View Article

SPECT-CT Scan

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. Authors: Dr Geoffrey Soo*                     Dr... View Article

Traumatic Vascular Injury – Head & Neck

What is traumatic vascular injury to the head & neck? Traumatic vascular injuries can be either: A blunt injury to the chest, neck or head, which can result in damage to the blood vessels supplying the brain and can be caused by: forceful compression or pressure from a seat belt during a motor vehicle accident;... View Article