Fundamentals of Diagnostic Imaging

Diagnostic imaging is widely used in health care to arrive at a diagnosis of illness and to guide therapeutic techniques to alleviate, and in some cases cure, illness. The number of medical imaging investigations performed is increasing and most patients and health care professionals will encounter the Diagnostic or Medical Imaging department of the hospital as matter of course. Professional barriers are being broken down in the modern NHS and, as new ways of working are used to deliver high quality patient-focussed care, professions other than doctors are often involved in requesting medical imaging tests and receiving test results. This book provides an introductory overview of a wide range of commonly encountered medical imaging tests including radiation-based techniques such as plain film radiography, computed tomography and nuclear medicine, and non-ionising imaging techniques such as medical ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Each chapter has an initial section explaining 'how the technique works' and a second section describing 'what the technique is used for'. Learning is supported with case studies, activities, explanations of technical procedures and terminology, diagrams and photographs. This book will appeal to educational institutions delivering training and education to student nurses, students training for roles in the allied health care professions and for any health care practitioner who needs a basic introduction to diagnostic imaging. As an introductory text, the book is also suitable for students in further education establishments preparing for careers in health care.