Exercise:

Complete the text.

(1) _______________ are specially trained in taking blood. They are skilled at (2) ____________ - puncturing the vein to take a blood sample. The wrist, hand and foot can be used but more often a vein in the inner part of the elbow is used. If it is difficult to locate a suitable vein, the patient may be asked to make a (3) ____________ ,or a (4) _____________ may be applied on the upper arm to make the vein more apparent. Afterwards, a (5) _____________ is applied and the patient is asked to press gently. This helps to stop the bleeding and prevent (6) _______________ at the site. It is important that (7) ____________ _____________ are labelled correctly before they are sent to the haematology (8) _______________, where a full blood count or other investigations will be carried out.

Unit 13 X-rays and ct

Image-изображение

Contrast medium-рентгеноконтрастное вещество

Radiolucent-рентгенопрозрачный (пропускающий рентген излучение)

Radiopaque-рентгеноконтрастный (удерживающий рентген излучение)

Radiography and radiology

Radiography involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of radiation to produce an image of the internal organs. Organs with high density such as the ribs and spine are radiopaque, meaning they do not absorb radiation, and appear white or light grey on the image. Lung tissue is radiolucent – absorbs radiation –and appears dark on the image. Before some types of X-rays, patients are given a liquid a contrast medium, such as barium or iodine, which is radiopaque and allows the organ or tissue it, fills to be examined. The contrast medium may be swallowed or given as an injection.

Radiology is the use of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer.

X-ray examination

The chest X-ray is the commonest diagnostic X-ray examination. Normally a frontal (anteroposterior) view is obtained. The patient stands facing the photographic plate with the chest pressed to the plate, with hands on hips and elbows pushed out in front. The radiographer, the technician who takes the X-ray, asks the patient not to move, then to breathe in deeply and not to breathe out. This makes a blurred, unclear X-ray image less likely and improves the quality of the image, as it is easier to see abnormalities in air-filled (inflated) lungs than in deflated lungs.

For a side, or lateral view, the patient is asked to stand sideways to the photographic plate with arms raised. A chest X-ray may be repeated at intervals to track for any changes. These repeated examinations are called serial chest X-rays.

Computed Tomography

H ere is an extra from a hospital’s press release.

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence. Look at A and B to help you.

1. In radiography, barium is used as a contrast ……………………….. (image/medium).

2. Tissue which absorbs radiation and appears dark on an X-ray is …………………………. (radiolucent/ radiopaque).

3. X-rays used to measure the progress of a disease are called …………………….. (repeated/serial) X-rays.

4. If a patient moves during an X-ray, the image may be ……………….. (blurred/abnormal).

5. It’s easier to see abnormalities when the lungs are …………………… (deflated/inflated).

2. Complete the words. Each begins with radio. Look at A and B to help you.

1. Using radiation to diagnose and treat disease in radio ……………………….

2. Using radiation to make images is radio ……………………………….. .

3. Using radiation to provide treatment is radio ………………………….. .

4. If something is not penetrable by radiation, it is radio ……………………… .

5. If something is penetrable by radiation, it is radio ……………………………

6. A technician who administers X-rays is a radio ………………………….. .

3

sideways, take, hold, push, out, facing, still

. Complete the radiographer’ s instructions. Look at B to help you. Choose from the words:

Please stand (1) ………………………. this board.

Put your hands on the back of your hips and your elbows forward. I’ll help you.

(2) …………………….. your elbows (3)……………………… .

Keep (4) ……………………………. .

In a moment I’ll ask you to (5) ……………………………… a deep breath in and hold it.

Breathe in, (6) ………………….. it.

That’s it. Fine. You can breathe out now.

Thank you. I’ll need to check the film.

Now I’m going to take a side view.

Can you stand (7) ……………………… with your right side close to the machine and your arms raised

4. Complete the table with words from B and C.

VERB	NOUN	ADJECTIVE
		abnormal
breathe
drain
intervene	intervention
		therapeutic

Unit 14 MRI and ultrasound

Pacemaker – водитель ритма, кардиостимулятор

Renal – почечный

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI is safer than X-rays because it does not use radiation. It provides more information than Computed Tomography about some head, neck and spinal disorders because the images are more detailed and have more contrast, meaning the differences between dark and light areas are stronger. Unlike CT, the images can be taken on any plane – any surface of the body seen from an angle. It is now used for imaging- taking images of-the brain and heart, and in oncology.

Contraindications, cases in which it should not be used, include patients with metallic foreign bodies, and patients with pacemakers – electronic devices surgically implanted to regulate heartbeat. MRI is also not approved during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound examination uses high – frequency sound waves to view organs and structures inside the body. The waves are generated and received by a hand – held device. The reflected waves are processed by a computer which produces detailed images for display on a monitor. Ultrasound is safe as it does not employ ionizing radiation like X-rays. It is a cheap, quick and non – invasive investigation – with no surgical procedure – for a wide range of referrals, although results can be unsatisfactory in obese (overweight) patients.

Preparing for medical imaging

Preparing for an MRI scan

You will need to have completed a safety questionnaire and have it with you (1). It is important that there is no metal on your clothing or person (2). Prior to the scan you can eat and drink normally (3). Your details and safety questionnaire will be checked with you by the radiographer, who will explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have (4). You will be asked to remove any metallic objects, as well as credit cards (5).

You will be asked to lie on the MRI scanner table and make yourself comfortable (6). The radiographer will position the part to be scanned carefully in the scanner (7). During the MRI scan you will not feel anything but you will required to stay still to achieve the best possible images (8). The whole examination process takes approximately 45 minutes (9). You will not require any injections (10).

Preparing for an ultrasound

You will be asked to lie on an examination table (11). A special gel is applied to your skin (12). This ensures there are no air pockets between the transducer and your body. The transducer is moved over the area to be examined (13). You may feel some pressure and experience some discomfort (14). You may be asked to change your position for clearer pictures (15). When the radiologist is satisfied with the picture quality, the test is done and the gel is wiped off (16). A typical test may take between 20 minutes and one hour (17).

Describing medical imaging