Debunking Common Medical Imaging Misconceptions

Medical imaging has been a critical part of diagnosing unseen illnesses and injuries for over a century, and yet despite this, the evolution of imaging technologies has only intensified over the years.

The most recent developments involve the use of artificial intelligence to help streamline and speed up the process of creating medical images and detecting samples which have the potential to display markers of diseases.

However, even as early as the first X-ray, there have been myths and misconceptions about the technology, as well as common beliefs that are not quite true.

Here are some of the most common and the truth behind them.

MRIs Do Not Generate Radiation

Given that the first diagnostic imaging technology was the X-ray, and systems such as CT scans rely heavily on radiography to function, there is an assumption that any diagnostic equipment also involves radiation.

However, that is not the case when it comes to MRI. Short for magnetic resonance imaging, MRI scans do not use radiation but instead use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create images of the body.

As well as this, ultrasound scanners use sound waves rather than radiation to generate images.

Ultrasounds Are Highly Versatile

There is a perception that ultrasounds are only used for scans on pregnant women, but they are also a fast, effective baseline scan used to check abdominal organs, blood vessels, the heart and even the joints and muscles.

X-Rays Are Still Evolving

The first X-ray was generated by accident in 1895, but do not confuse this century of history with an antiquated approach, as X-rays are not only a widely used technology but one that is rapidly developing and at the cutting edge of diagnostic technology.

The technology is still used to provide quick, affordable imaging results when a basic scan of the body is all that is needed, with digital X-rays providing even more efficient results.

Beyond this, X-rays are a core component of computer tomography (CT) scans, which work by essentially taking X-ray scans at multiple angles and splicing the results using highly advanced computers.