With the advances in medical technology over the past few decades, a simple X-ray is no longer the standard way for medical professionals to gain a look inside the body. Many ways allow a peek within and the more common methods include CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, and X-rays. These are now known as Medical Imaging and in most medical facilities, patients will be sent to the Medical Imaging Department for any of these procedures.

Most Americans will experience one or more of these diagnostic tools so it’s wise to understand what each one entails. It’s also smart to know how to prepare for each of the different procedures.

Types of Medical Imaging

X-ray – or radiograph – is the original form of medical imaging. In this method, X-rays are passed through the body and the image appears on photographic film. An X-ray looks a lot like photo negatives. X-rays show dense body parts like bones as very white and less dense tissues as dark. Common uses of X-ray include determining whether or not a patient has broken bones.

CT scans are often called "cat scans." CT scans use the same technology as an X-ray but in a three dimensional way. Instead of the flat pictures in a standard X-ray, a CT scan offers several images, sometimes called slices. This offers medical professionals the chance to view not just a frontal view of an organ but an inner, outer, and view within.

MRI or magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnet to line hydrogen atoms in the human body to allow them to receive radio waves. The body sends back a radio signal back to the MRI machine which are converted into detailed images of the body part in question.

Ultrasounds are a form of sonography. Pregnant women usually receive at least one ultrasound to determine if the fetus is developing properly. Some medical issues can be determined through ultrasound and repaired before birth with fetal surgery. Ultrasounds are also often used to detect gallstones or tumors. It’s called an ultrasound because high frequency sound waves are sent into the body and the echo that comes back provides an image.

Two liquid methods are often used in conjunction with medical imaging. These are contrast and barium.

Contrast is the correct term for what most patients call dye. This procedure happens when a liquid is injected into the blood stream or the patient is asked to drink it. The type of contrast used varies with the type of examination necessary but the purpose is to highlight areas to make them more visible for an X-ray or CT scan.

Barium is used primarily in the digestive system as a diagnostic tool. Barium is chalky, white liquid and can be either drank or used through an enema. Once the barium is within the body, it can pinpoint areas like ulcers or other medical problems.