Plain Radiograph/X-ray
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... View ArticleAngiography
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... View ArticleArthrogram
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 ArticleBone Mineral Density Scan (Bone Densitometry or DXA Scan)
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... View ArticleChildren’s (Paediatric) Barium Meal
What is a children’s (paediatric) barium meal? A paediatric barium meal is a study to examine a child’s stomach and small intestine (or bowel). It is sometimes carried out with a barium ‘swallow’, to show the oesophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach), or with a barium ‘follow through’, to show the small... View ArticleChildren’s (Paediatric) Micturating Cysto-urethrogram
What is a micturating cysto-urethrogram? A micturating cysto-urethrogram (or MCU) is a study using X-rays that shows the bladder and urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the body) while passing urine (see children’s X-ray examination). The test is performed to find out if the urine goes from the bladder... View ArticleChildren’s (Paediatric) X-ray Examination
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.... View ArticleImage 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 ArticleImage 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 ArticleMyelogram
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... View ArticleNephrostomy
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... View ArticlePleural Aspiration
What is a pleural aspiration? A pleural aspiration is a procedure where a small needle or tube is inserted into the space between the lung and chest wall to remove fluid that has accumulated around the lung. This space is called the pleural space. Pleural aspiration is usually carried out to determine why there is... View ArticleUrethrogram
What is a urethrogram? A urethrogram is an examination of the urethra by X-ray imaging, almost always carried out on males. This information sheet relates to the procedure being carried out on a male. The urethra is the tube that runs from the bladder through the prostate and penis. A urethrogram is usually carried out... View ArticleVenous Access
What is venous access? In radiology, venous access generally refers to central venous access, which is the insertion of a specially made thin, flexible tube, known as a catheter, into a central vein. The central veins are the large veins within the chest and abdomen. With a catheter in place, treatments such as chemotherapy or... View ArticleVertebroplasty
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... View ArticlePage last modified on 16/3/2018.
