This assignment will endeavour to demonstrate the map of medicine as followed within the National Health Service for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). It shall discuss the current AAA screening programme being implemented across the United Kingdom to include the use of Ultrasound and Computed Tomography (CT) as imaging modalities in the demonstration of AAAs. Both the advantages and disadvantages of the modalities used during the diagnosis and treatment of AAA will be shown.
Irwin and Rippe (2007, p382) define an aneurysm as; “a segment of the aortic lumen whose diameter exceeds 1.5 times the normal diameter for that segment”, and that “The most commonly encountered aortic aneurysm morphology is fusiform.“ This can be caused by a mechanical weakening of the muscle fibres in the arterial wall with resultant degenerative changes. High pressure of blood flow can cause the arterial wall to protrude or ultimately rupture, (HealthGuidance, Abdominal Aneurysm, 2011).
Due to an increased and more dynamic use of Ultrasound technology, and the increased age of the population, the prevalence for AAAs is also rising rapidly, (Jones, L. 2003). Currently AAA are most frequently discovered as incidental findings during routine examinations, (American College of Physicians, 2004). Yet with an approximate figure of 6000 people dying each year within the UK alone as a direct result of AAA, a National Screening Programme is being rolled out with the intention of reducing the mortality rate, (NHS, Screening Programmes. 2011). Ultrasound will be the modality of choice as it has been shown to have a 98% accuracy in measurement and sensitivity, (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellenc...
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[26th January 2011]
Diagnostic medical sonography is a profession where sonographers direct high-frequency sound waves into a patient’s body through the use of specific equipment to diagnose or monitor a patient’s medical condition. As described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this examination is referred to as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram. The high-frequency sound waves emitted from the handheld device, called a transducer, bounce back creating an echo and therefore produce an image that can be viewed on the sonographers computer screen. This image provides the sonographer and physician with an internal image of the patient’s body that will be used in the diagnosis. The most familiar use of ultrasound is used in monitoring pregnancies and is provided by obstetric and gynecologic sonographers, who also provide imaging of the female reproductive system. Other types of sonography include; abdominal sonography, breast sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, neurosonography and cardiovascular sonography. Due to the vast nature of uses in sonography, most professionals study one field that they choose to specialize in. Diagnostic medical sonography is a rapidly growing field because of the increase in medical advances. The area of Cleveland, Ohio has continued to rise in the medical field with great strides, providing better career prospects with the availability of numerous employment positions.
As an ultrasound technician/sonographer I will have the ability to see dangerous defects within the human anatomy and begin a lifelong profession with many benefits. The Ultrasound was first invented in the early 1900’s and was surprisingly not used to produce photos of a fetus. In 1917 Paul Langen a marine life scientist used a form of ultrasound equipment in his attempt to detect submarines. After many failed attempts at using high frequency sound waves Dr. Ian Donald and his team in Glasgow, Scotland invented the first ultrasound machine in 1957. Dr. Donald even tested his machine on patients within a year of completing the invention, by the late 1950’s ultrasounds became routine in Glasgow hospitals.
The dream that I most desire in life is to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. I’ve always had an interest in the inner workings of the human body, but I also value life, and care for others, and my happiness is the happiness of others. Although this career has its bumps on the road just to see mothers face light up when they see the image of their unborn baby is such a breath taking experience. This all originated from going to one of my sisters’ ultrasound appointment that I ended up going to all my sisters’ ultrasound appointments. I believe becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer is something I can do because I have what it takes. Diagnostic medical sonographer is imaging modality that can work in conjunction with other imaging modalities
MRI is a unique machine that not only helps people, but also detects if something is wrong inside a patient’s body. MRI machines are getting more advanced each year and every year it saves lives. According to MedicineNet, “It provides valuable information on glands and organ within the abdomen, and accurate information about the structure of the joints, soft tissues, and bones of the body. Often, surgery can be deferred or more accurately directed after knowing the results of an MRI scan.” Doctors will be doing less guessing and more knowing when it comes to surgery.
Positron Emission Tomography is a scanning technique that allows us to measure in detail the functioning of distinct areas of the human brain while the patient is comfortable, conscious and alert. PET represents a type of functional imaging, unlike X-rays or CT scans, which show only structural details within the brain. The differences between these types of imaging don’t end there.
Being able to identify lumps, swelling, tissue damage, cysts, and the overwhelming news of the sex of a baby all have something in common, an ultrasound. Swelling of the spleen, kidney stones, blood clots, aneurysms, cancer and so much more can be identified through the works of an ultrasound’s imaging technique. Ultrasound involves many concepts, procedures, and careers. The amount of medical possibilities involved with ultrasounds is useful in major medical diagnostics. The field of ultrasounds and career opportunities are widely growing. As medical careers flourish, needs for technicians in many fields of medicine are increasing. Instead of a doctor choosing complex and risky surgery to find out problems within the body, they can now choose a safer path; the ultrasound path. Patient’s history and physical evaluation are building blocks to diagnostics but ultrasounds are much greater. They are powerful tools used to see beyond the skin into the depths of a person’s body. What ultrasounds are, what types there are, and what they are used for, and the education and careers available are the major themes found in research on the subject. Knowledge of ultrasound and its background may help one decide what career is best for them. Understanding the wide array of diagnostic tests and their uses are essential to figuring out what a career as a sonographer entails and the type of education that is needed. Because there are plenty of possibilities for specializing with different technologies, there is a wide variety of job opportunities in the medical imaging career. The call for ultrasound’s assistance opens new paths in future high-quality careers.
A Diagnostics Medical Sonographer also known as an ultrasound expert, it is somebody who uses extraordinary imaging equipment that coordinates sound waves into a patient’s body which is normally known as a sonogram to finding various medical conditions. For instance, heart diseases, pregnancy and cancer (ExploreHealthCareers). A sonographer commonly uses high frequency sound waves to deliver images inside the human body.
In most cases the brain aneurysm is an incidental finding. If the brain aneurysm is found by a doctor it is important for the patient to consult a neurosurgeon to determine if further action needs to take place. Brain aneurysms often occur in people between the ages of 35-60 but can also occur in young children as well. Aneurysms are most common after the age of 40. A speech-language pathologist would have a role in therapy after a patient has had a brain aneurysm. A speech-language pathologist might help with memory and thinking as well as helping a patient relearn how to say words. A speech therapist might also do a swallow study on a patient. There are several speech therapy techniques including; giving the beginning of the sound of the word to trigger memory, and working on simple day-to-day conversation skills. There are other members who will be included in the patient’s recovery including physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and
One of the most recently new advances in radiology is the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI has been around for the past century. It was at first called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and then it changed to MRI once there was an available image. Walter Gerlach and Otto Stern were the first scientists to start experimenting with the magnetic imaging. Their very first experiment was looking at the magnetic moments of silver by using some type of x-ray beam. The scientists then discovered this was by realizing that the magnetic force in the equipment and in the object itself. In 1975, the first image was finally created using and MRI machine. The scientists used a Fourier Transformation machine to reconstruct images into 2D. The first images ever use diagnostically was in 1980. This is when hospitals began to use them. At first the images took hours to develop and were only used on the patients that needed it most. Even though MRI has been around for a long time, it has advanced and has been one of the best imaging modalities recently (Geva, 2006).
Computed tomography (CT) and Radionuclide imaging (RNI) are both a form of diagnostic imaging. Since they have been first introduced in medical imaging they both suffered a huge development over the years in terms of image acquisition and also patient radiation protection. The following essay it is going to focus on just a few important things that make CT and RNI similar and different in the same time. However this subject can be discussed in much depth, the focus is going to be on the similarities and differences of the physics imaging methods and also a small awareness of biological effects and radiation protection.
In summary, the medical imaging technology of ultrasound is founded on the world of physics. As we understand more and more about waves and how they functions, ultrasound imaging capabilities expand, allowing for the increasingly accurate diagnostic of medical problems.
The training, experience and interests during my existence up to now happen to be quite varied. I've resided and labored in Germany, The country and France too as with the United kingdom. Lately, I've thought extensively about altering my career and been attracted to radiography because it offers attractive possibilities to use abilities and private characteristics which i consider I possess, to supply an immediately tangible and satisfying contribution to individuals??utes health.
I chose this topic because I a found it as a very interesting thing which I wanted to know more about. I have been CT-scanned when I had concussion after a car accident when I was seven. Also because my father has been under a CT-scanner and a lot of my friends.
Trevena L. (2009) Cancer screening Reprinted from Australian Family Physician: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales. Vol. 38, No. 4
Initially, my area of interest was directed towards diagnostic sonography, however, this area of study was not