Radiology Technician

A radiology technician is a term that is often used by lay people outside the industry; however, the key determinate here is the word “technician.” A technician is someone who is not certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). A “technologist” is someone who is certified.

X-Ray Technician

An x-ray technician is someone who has not been certified through the ARRT and therefore takes the title of “technician”. This term is often used interchangeably with the title “radiology technician”.

Radiologic Technologist

A radiologic technologist is someone who has completed an accredited radiology program and become certified through the ARRT. The educational program is most commonly completed in two years with an associates of applied science in radiology degree. Once the ARRT exam has been passed and they are formally registered, they can assume the title of technologist. They are also referred to as “Rad Tech” or R.T.

Radiologist

A radiologist is an actual M.D. who has specialized training in the application of radiologic technology for diagnosis and treatment. Radiologists must complete medical school, a residency, and additional specialized training specific to radiology. The road is long to becoming a radiologist; however, these professionals are in very high demand and are some of the most highly compensated in the health care industry.

Hopefully, this clears up any confusion you may have about some of the common titles used in radiology.

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a procedure which widens a blood vessel that has become obstructed. A catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and with the help of image guidance, the area of obstruction is located. At the end of the catheter is a deflated balloon-like device. Once the obstructed area is located, the balloon is expanded, which opens the blood vessel and helps to regain normal flow of blood. In some cases, a “stent” is placed in the blood vessel in order to ensure that it remains open.

Embolization

Embolization is the opposite type of procedure from angioplasty, in which substances are inserted in order to stop irregular blood flow or to inhibit a non-working organ such as the spleen. Sometimes image guided technology is used to locate an abcess or an area that requires draining.

Angiogram

Some procedures simply involve using the image guided technology to assist with diagnosis. An angiogram is a procedure similar to the one described above; however, it is used solely for obtaining images and determining areas of blockage or irregularity.

Chemoembolization

Another common procedure for cancer patients is chemoembolization, which is an interventional procedure where cancer treatment agents are delivered to a tumor, then clotted so that the chemotherapy agent is not pushed from the area of concern.

Thrombolysis

Thrombolysis is a technique in which image guided technology is used to navigate and locate blood clots, which are then dissolved using either a special pharmaceutical or by using a special device to assist in dissolving the clot.

Biopsy

Biopsies from internal organs are often taken using image guided technology, which can then be examined for disease and treatment.

Becoming trained and certified to perform these procedures often involves a combination of a formal educational or certificate program combined with on the job training and job shadowing with a seasoned professional. For those who wish to begin on a path towards becoming an interventional radiology specialist, it is recommended that you start by learning how to become a radiologic technologist or diagnostic medical sonographer and getting certified. This will set the proper foundation for further studies in IR. You can learn more about interventional radiology training and a more comprehensive list of it’s uses.

Currently used equipment, known as real time scanners, take continuous pictures of the moving fetus which can be depicted on a monitor. They are emitted from a transducer placed in contact with the maternal abdomen and moved around to look at any content within the uterus. Repetitive arrays of ultrasound beams scan the fetus in thin slices and are reflected back onto the same transducer. The information is recomposed back into a picture on the monitor screen ( a sonogram, or ultrasonogram). Movements like fetal heart beat and malformations in the fetus can be assessed accurately on the screen. These measurements form the cornerstone in the assessment of gestational age, size and growth in the fetus. A full bladder is often required for the procedure when abdominal scanning is done in early pregnancy. There is no sensation at all from the ultrasound waves.

ULTRASOUND USED IN PREGNANCY

Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, accurate and cost effective. It plays an important role in the case of every pregnant woman. The main uses of ultrasonography are to diagnose and confirm early pregnancy or vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. In the presence of first trimester bleeding, ultrasonography is also indispensable in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and molar pregnancies. Determination of gestational age and assessment of fetal size is important. Fetal measurements  tell the age of the fetus. In patients with uncertain last menstrual periods, measurements must be made as early as possible to arrive at a correct dating for the patient.

Measurements are usually made of the crown-rump length and the bi parietal diameter. The bi parietal diameter is the diameter between the two sides of the head. Babies of the same weight can have different head size. Dating using the BPD should be done early. The abdominal circumference is the single most important measurement to make in late pregnancy. It tells of fetal size and weight. Serial measurements are useful in monitoring growth of the fetus.

Diagnosis of fetal malformation is important because the risk of having a baby with chromosonal abnormality increases with the mothers age. Abnormalities can be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan. Common abnormalities can be spina bifida, cleft lips/ palate, congenital cardiac abnormalities and many more. First trimester ultrasonic soft markers are now in common use to enable detection of Down Syndrome fetuses. Ultrasound can also be used in other diagnostic procedures, which are many.

Ultrasonography has become very imporant in localization of the site of the placenta and determining its lower edges, thus making a diagnosis  of placenta previa. Other placental abnormalities can also be assessed. In the situation of multiple pregnancies, ultrasonography is invaluable in knowing the number of fetuses, like twins. Hydramnios and oligohydramnios, excessive or decreased amniotic fluid can be clearly depicted by ultrasound. Both conditions can have adverse effects on the fetus.

Other areas of interest are confirmation of intrauterine death, confirmation of fetal presentation in uncertain cases. Also evaluating fetal movements, tone and breathing in the biophysical profile.

I’ve tried to provide a bit more detail in this post about obstetric sonography and its role in monitoring pregnancy. Obstetric ultrasound scans have become a vitally important part of being pregnant and taking good care of yourself and your baby. There’s a lot more to it than waving a wand around a pregnant belly and determining the sex of the fetus, like we tend to see on television. If you think you have what it takes to become an obstetric sonographer, start by getting information directly from ultrasonography schools.

The Joint Review Committee on Education for Radiologic Technologists (JRCERT) is the accrediting body for radiology schools across the country. In order to become a Rad Tech, you will want to choose a school that is on JRCERT’s list of accredited programs and institutions. If you complete a certificate or degree from a program not on the their list, you may be faced with denial of the ability to take the exam required to become a certified Rad Tech administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). So, picking radiology schools that are recognized by JRCERT is important if you want to be certified.

When picking a radiology school, take your time interviewing school representatives from multiple institutions. Sites such as this one allow you to request information by filling out simple forms. These forms are then sent to school representatives who will contact you and provide you with specific information about the nature and scope of their programs. Ask questions about the rate of students graduating who pass the ARRT exam. This is a good indication of whether or not the program sufficiently prepares their students for success after graduation. Also, find out who the instructors are and what their credentials consist of? Does the school provide an externship after the classroom work? Does the facility have actual radiology equipment that you will be able to practice with?

In general, be sure the radiology school you are about to enroll in is going to give you what you need to be successful and get into this rewarding career with your best foot forward.

The associates degree usually takes two academic years to complete and has three main phases. The first phase is the general medical and health care knowledge you will need such as medical terminology, anatomy, patient records management, and medical ethics. The second phase consists of the core radiology courses which usually include subjects such as patient positioning, radiographic physics, medical imaging technology, sectional anatomy, and a set of courses designed to acquaint you with imaging major anatomical areas. The third phase is the clinical experience where you will work with an existing Rad Tech and work through a set of competencies, skills, and knowledge out in the field.

The certificate programs for radiography are quicker and usually take about one academic year to complete. Associates programs are more popular than the certificates because there are many more approved programs through JRCERT (Joint Review Committee for Education in Radiologic Technology), and they more thoroughly prepare you for the ARRT examination. The ARRT, known as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, is the national organization that administers tests and grants certification to Radiologic Technologists. Completing an associates degree is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for the exam.

Bachelor’s degrees are another option that will provide you with a much more robust education; however, this path is pursued less because it is not required unless you are planning on pursuing a supervisory role, becoming a trainer, or setting the foundation for a masters degree.

Radiology has become a popular career choice because it is getting the reputation as one of the highest paying and rewarding health care jobs you can get with a two year degree, which is why a radiology associates degree is a popular option.

Thank you Dave for recognizing us and for sharing our resource with members of the radiology community.

In Chicago, researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studying brain activation found men and women respond differently to positive and negative stimuli. The study was at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and was covered by Radrounds network.

It was found that men direct more attention to sensory aspects of emotional stimuli and process them in terms of implications for required action. Women direct more attention to the feelings engendered by emotional stimuli,”said Andrzej Urbanik,M.D., PhD., chair of Radiology at Jagiellonian University Hospital in Krakow, Poland.”

40 right handed volunteers, 21 men and19 women, between the ages of 18 and 36 were recruited for the study by Dr. Urbanik. All volunteers underwent (fMRI) while looking at pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a standardized testing system comprised of thousands of slides of various objects and images from ordinary life designed to evoke emotional states. The pictures were displayed in two runs. The first run only negative pictures were shown. The second only positive images were shown.

Viewing the negative images, women showed stronger and more extensive activation in the left thalamus, which relays sensory information to and from the cerebral cortex, including pain and pleasure centers. Men showed more activation in the left insula, which gauges the physiological state of the entire body and generates subjective feeling that can bring about actions. Information from the insula is relayed to other brain structures in decision making.

The brain activation in the women might indicate a stronger involment in the neural circuit. “It is associated with identification of emotional stimuli,” Dr. Urbanik said. The pronounced activation of the insular cortex in men  can be related to the autonomic componants, like elavated heart rate or increased sweating, that accompany watching emotional material.”

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the body’s “fight or flight” response to threatening situations. Viewing positive images, women showed stronger and more extensive activation in the right superior temporal gyrus that is involved in auditory processing and memory. Men showed stronger activation in the bilateral occipital lobes that are associated with visual processing.

Dr. Urbanik believes these differences show that women may analyze positive stimuli in a broader social context and associate the positive pictures with a particular memory. Looking at a picture of a smiling toddler would evoke memories of a woman’s own child at this age. Male responses are more perceptual.

“Dr. Urbanik said Positive images are devoured by mens visual and motivational systems.”

This was a very interesting and informational study done by using(fMRI) Fuctional Magnectic Resonance Imaging.

]]> http://www.radiology-schools.com/blog/2010/01/new-study-using-mri-shows-men-and-women-respond-differently-to-danger/feed/ 0 http://www.radiology-schools.com/blog/2010/01/strange-things-in-stomach/ http://www.radiology-schools.com/blog/2010/01/strange-things-in-stomach/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:13:27 +0000 Alexis Addison http://www.radiology-schools.com/blog/?p=44 According to Fox News Kang Mengru, A one yearl old girl from China is awaiting surgery to remove her parasitic twin found after her stomach began to enlarge.A CT scan discovered the cause of her enlarged belly. While the condition is very rare, Dr. Manny Alvarez, editor of health at Fox News.com, remarked that it was very posssible that’s what this child is carrying. In some cases you could have some sort of merging body parts… like and extra leg or sometimes you have an abnormal formation of the head when you have two brains Dr. Alvarez remarked. From looking at a picture of the girl you could clearly see that it’s a large abdominal mass that could be a remnant of an embryonic lost twin. This is called fetus-in-fetu which you have an encapsulated tumor like formation inside the body which contains fetal parts.Luckily this was dicovered right away or who knows what complications could of developed over time. This is a very shocking revelation. As of now Little Kang Mengru awaits her surgery to remove this very unusual and rare condition.

Please check back often for updates.

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