Introduction

Technology advancements in imaging methods have made it possible for healthcare professionals to
provide patients with better treatment, conduct more drug research, and complete tasks swiftly and
effectively. As a result, imaging is now far more common, with 8 million scans performed annually in
Australia.
In this talk, specific breakthroughs in this field are discussed along with their relevance, the value of
understanding these areas, and the significance for the medical field.

X-Ray

As X-ray waves reach the receptor on the other side of the machine, they interact with various tissues
differently as they travel through the body and produce an image. They are essential for conducting
research and making patient diagnoses.

Early X-ray machines would generate dangerously elevated levels of radiation, which would lead to
burns, hair loss, infertility, x-ray-induced cancer, and even death for many researchers and patients.
Safety precautions were put in place as soon as scientists became aware of these negative effects. X-rays
now provide high-resolution pictures while emitting little energy. X-rays are the most popular method of
imaging, by a margin of 63.7%, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Ultrasound

A transducer is placed by a sonographer on top of the gel over the area being scanned. The transducer
transmits soundwaves into the body, and when they return, it collects them and delivers them to the
computer to create images. Most often, fetuses and organs are examined using ultrasound technology.

Because they do not use radiation, ultrasounds may be used to diagnose diseases, guide images during
surgeries, and deliver treatments without causing any negative side effects.

CT scans

CT scans provide a 3D image of a specific area of the body by taking several images of it from varied
angles. They help with both illness and injury diagnosis and therapy planning. From 2018 to 2021,
4,213,160 ( 4 million two hundred and 13 thousand 160) CT scans were performed in Australia.

As they offer 3D images of the body without requiring exploratory surgery, CT scans have been
important in helping us comprehend the human body.

A contrast agent may be injected, ingested, or administered as an enema prior to undergoing a CT scan to
assist improve the contrast of the pictures for better viewing. Some people may experience allergic
responses to this. The risks of developing cancer may also rise due to the radiation, although not
considerably, given the low dose of radiation.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imagining) scans

Since they can capture pictures with high resolution and have excellent characterization of a range of
different tissues and organs, MRI scans are a breakthrough medical tool that make patient diagnosis
simpler and more accurate.
Every region of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, bones, joints, heart, and many internal organs,
can be examined with an MRI scan.
The patient will lie on a flatbed within a specialized scanner during an MRI scan. The water molecules
will be realigned by the scanner. These realigned water molecules provide signals that aid in the creation
of an image when exposed to radio waves.
PET Scans

PET scans are images that capture the functioning of the body rather than just the structure. It has made a
major impact in diagnosing patients, particularly those with cancer, saving many people from unpleasant
diagnostic operations. They are normally quite safe because the patient is only exposed to a little amount
of radiation; however, they are not widely available.

An IV line is used to inject a radionuclide. The PET scanner then goes across the part of the body being
examined. Positrons, which are parts of atoms, are released when the radionuclide decays. When
positrons clash with electrons near the decay event (a decay event occurs when there is an imbalance of
electrons and positrons. There would be more positrons in this circumstance). Gamma rays are produced.
The gamma rays are then detected by the scanner, which the computer registers and converts into a
picture.
How this led to better treatment

PET scans increase melanoma staging accuracy and may lead to more suitable therapy. Proper melanoma
staging (the extent of the tumor) is essential for choosing the best therapy option for the patient.
Radiological techniques gradually improved over time as x-ray diagnosis got more accurate, going from
skeleton evaluation to imaging complex inside organs. The x-ray proved vital in tuberculosis detection,
and it is still used today.
CT scans combine hundreds of X-ray pictures to build a three-dimensional image of the body. By
allowing surgeons to view inside patients without undergoing exploratory surgery, technology has
revolutionized medicine. In the United States, around 90 million medical CT scans are conducted each
year. Several imaging scans also allow surgeons to scan while doing procedures to make treating the
patient simpler.

Why is it important to understand these areas?

Imaging is important in modern medicine because it produces detailed images of organs for researchers to
utilize and for treating patients. Because of advances in imaging technology, many potentially fatal
illnesses and diseases may now be avoided and treated. Without them, diagnosing sickness would be
difficult to impossible, meaning that there would be no remedy, and, ultimately, death.
Imaging has allowed the medical field to advance significantly in comparison with the past. Not only are
these approaches incredibly helpful for society at large, but they also allow for a greater understanding of
the human body. Formerly, little treatment was accessible, resulting in unnecessary deaths; but, with
advances in technology, we now have access to treatment, and the human body may be helped through
many ailments and illnesses.
What ethical and cultural obstacles are there to producing better imaging techniques

Ethical

Although various imaging technologies, such as implanted devices, may make life simpler, it will be
some time before people accept that this is something that will become normal. Inequality of wealth.

Certain things are overlooked by many individuals, including surgeons and researchers. In the market,
buyers will presume that a product has been thoroughly scrutinized for defects, which is usually correct.
Nevertheless, different sorts of devices require several types of considerations, which may be overlooked.

Cultural

Wearing implanted devices unless absolutely required is prohibited by various religions and cultures.
The therapy received by persons with different beliefs or appearances may differ, resulting in cultural
inequality among those who seek to participate in obtaining treatment via imaging technology.
What impact do imaging techniques have on the medical field?

Modern technologies influence health care and the concept of disease in a variety of ways. According to
common thinking, contemporary imaging technology has reduced disease frequency and improved human
health. Modern technologies provide immense promise for reducing disability and mortality, improving
quality of life, and prolonging healthy lives. Yet, technical developments might bring accidental damage
to people if they are not professionally researched. For example, when x-rays were still new, many
individuals became ill due to a lack of study on x-rays. Several protections are now in place to protect
patients and researchers, and new discoveries are continually being brought to the globe, improving
healthcare for many people.