Get Njreg051611rulemaking.docx. Formation And Development Of Medical Imaging Modalities

The concept of medical imaging began in 1895 with the invention of the x-ray by a German professor of physics, Wilhelm Rontgen. The concept of x-ray is based on the principle of passing ionizing radiation through the body and having the images projected on a photosensitive plate placed behind it.

The four main types of imaging modalities are x-rays (including computed tomography and fluoroscopy), ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine (including positron emission tomography [PET]). Each modality has its own benefits and drawbacks, which I'll discuss below.

Until November 8, 1895, physicians had no access to pictures of what was happening inside a patient's body. On that fateful day, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered a “new kind of ray” that he called “X-rays” while experimenting with a Crookes cathode ray tube.

Imaging modalities are often categorized by the method in which images are generated: ultrasound, radiation such as x-rays, and MRI. Ultrasound images are created using sound waves and are able to gather real-time images of both anatomy as well as function (heart valve opening and closing).

A CT scan, or computed tomography scan, sends radiation through the body. However, unlike a simple X-ray study, it offers a much higher level of detail, creating computerized, 360-degree views of the body's structures. CT scans are fast and detailed. They take longer than X-rays but are still fast (about one minute).

Medical Imaging Ultrasound Imaging. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Pediatric X-ray Imaging. Medical X-ray Imaging.

Common types of imaging include: X-rays. CT (computed tomography) scan. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) ultrasound. nuclear medicine imaging, including positron-emission tomography (PET)

X-rays (radiographs) are the most common and widely available diagnostic imaging technique.

Each modality is unique in terms of the images it gathers, equipment it uses, and conditions it helps radiologists diagnose. Learn more about our five most common modalities for our various types of imaging tests: X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET.