Introduction to Radiology

Prepared by:
Dr. Saddam Al-zofi
B.Sc. Radiologic Technology (SUST) 2015
M.Sc. Medical Diagnostic imaging (UMST) 2017
PhD. Medical Diagnostic imaging (KU) 2021
 History
 X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1923) who was a
Professor at Wuerzburg University in Germany.

 Working with a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory.

Radiology
It is the science that concern in studying radiation, application of
radiation and its effects.

Radiation
Electromagnetic wave either ionizing or none ionizing with
different energy, frequency and wave length.
Sources of ionizing radiation
Natural background radiation
 Artificial sources of radiation
Medical sources:

Radiation has many uses in medicine. The most well known use is X-ray
machines, which use radiation to find broken bones and diagnose
disease.
 Types of radiation
Non-ionizing radiation
 People use and are exposed to non-ionizing radiation sources every day.
 This form of radiation does not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or
molecules.
 Microwave, telephones, television stations, radio wave.
Ionizing radiation

 The radiation that can produce ions is called ionizing radiation.

▪ Alpha radiation
▪ Beta radiation
▪ Gamma radiation
▪ X-rays
▪ Neutron radiation
 Medical Imaging Department

Diagnostic imaging is made up of a range of imaging modalities.

The followings are short descriptions of modalities:

 Conventional Radiography
 Uses x rays to produce 2D static image, of the human body. To show Size,
shape, density and location of structures can be evaluated.

General x-ray unit

Mobile x-ray unit General x-ray unit
 X-ray images

Chest x-ray PA

Lumber x-ray AP-LAT

Chest x-ray lateral

 Fluoroscopy
 Uses x rays to produce 2D

Real time images (video), of

the human body using contrast

media to visualize soft tissue

structures .

 Size, shape, density and Fluoroscopic unit

location of structures can be

evaluated.
 Fluoroscopic Images

Barium swallow for esophagus

Barium enema for enlarge intestine Plain abdominal x-ray-AP

Barium meal for stomach

 Dental Xray
Specially designed to image tooth and jaw using x-ray

Panorama

CBCT –Cone Beam CT

Preapical film for tooth CBCT –Machine

 Mammography
Specially designed to image breast using x-ray

Mammography Machine
 Bone densitometry(DEXA)
Use x-ray to measure density of the bone to diagnose osteoporosis

DEXA Report
DEXA
 C-arm
Used in the operation room… orthopedic, Cardiac catherization …..
 Advantages of conventional Disadvantages of conventional
radiography radiography

◼ Less expensive ◼ Radiation hazard

◼ Portable ◼ Poor soft tissue contrast

◼ Available ◼ Overlaying densities

◼ Easy and fast

◼ Effective in diagnosis bone

fractures
 Computed Tomography (CT)
 Use x rays to produce the
images, transmitted through
patient

 image the body is cross sections

(slices), multiple detectors are
used.

 size, shape, density, location and

no superimposition of structures

 requires computer manipulation

of images
 Types of CT Images

Axial CT image of the brain

Bone window vs soft tissue window

Sagittal CT images of lumber spine

Soft tissue window vs Bone window
 Types of CT Images

Axial CT image of the chest

Axial, coronal,Sagittal and oblique CT

images of abdomen Soft tissue
window
 3D CT Images

3D CT image of the heart and

coronary arteries

3D CT image of abdominal
angiography
3D CT image of the skull
Advantages of CT Disadvantages of CT

◼ Comprehensiveness ◼ Much more radiation

◼ Speed ◼ More expensive than x-ray and

ultrasound
◼ Fewer Restrictions than MRI
◼ Dense bone (petrous ridge for
◼ No overlapping densities
example) and metal cause
◼ Multiplanar imaging (coronal
severe artifacts
,axial and sagittal)
◼ Less than MRI in soft tissue
◼ 3D imaging imaging.
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI
 Uses strong magnetic fields and
radiofrequency waves to image
structures

 There is no ionizing radiation –

only radiofrequency waves

 Cross sectional images are

obtained (just like CT).
 Types of MRI Images

Axial MRI Brain images Sagittal MRI knee images

T2 = Fluid Bright T2 = Fluid Bright Sagittal MRI L.S images
T1 = Fluid Black
T2 = Fluid Bright

Sagittal MRI Spine

images
T1 = Fluid Black
T2 = Fluid Bright

Coronal and Sagittal MRI Brain

images
T1 = Fluid Black
 Types of MRI Images

Coronal and Sagittal MRI cardiac

images

MRI Brain Angiography

MRI safety
 Advantages of Disadvantages of
MRI MRI
◼ No overlapping artifact ◼ Very expensive
◼ Excellent resolution ◼ Patients cannot have a
◼ Very good at detecting fluid pacemaker or ferromagnetic
◼ Excellent for imaging the brain, material
spine and joints ◼ Slower to acquire images
◼ No radiation ◼ (approximately 45 minutes)
◼ Multiple imaging tests within the
◼ Claustrophobia
same study (T1, T2, …)
 Ultrasound
 Uses sound waves to produce an
image, transmitted from
transducer through patient

 Sending out and listening for

echoes

 good for evaluating soft tissue

structures in the abdomen and
also the heart (Echo
cardiography)
 Ultrasound Images

2D and 3D images of the fetus

Doppler Ultrasound
 Advantages of Disadvantages of
Ultrasound Ultrasound
◼ Less expensive

◼ No radiation hazard ◼ Fast and non invasive procedure

◼ Portable ◼ Does not work well in large or

obese patients
◼ Instantaneous (real time)
◼ Resolution less than CT and MRI
◼ Excellent for cysts and fluid
◼ Air or bowel gas prevents
visualization of structures.
 Nuclear Medicine
 Radiopharmaceutical Agents
Injected to the patent , then
Gamma rays emitted from
patient used to produce image,

 Detects abnormal function,

metabolic activity or abnormal
amount of uptake

 Nuc. med is poor with regards to

anatomical information
Nuclear medicine Images
 Advantages of Disadvantages of
nuclear medicine Nuclear medicine

◼ Detect tissues function

◼ Scan all similar tissues in one

exam

◼ Computer analysis of the results

Thank you