Non–Surgical Tests
Human Physiology & Health > Medical Diagnostics
MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging
MRI can look at the brain for tumors, an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, nerve injury, and other problems, such as damage caused by a stroke. The non–surgical tests involve the procedure that does not penetrate the body. These are of different types.
- A magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. MRI can look at the brain for tumors, an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, nerve injury, and other problems, such as damage caused by a stroke.MRI of the chest can look at the heart, the valves, and coronary blood vessels. sing MRI to look at blood vessels and the flow of blood through them is called magnetic resonance angiography(MRA). MRI can check for problems of the bones and joints, such as arthritis, problems with the temporomandibular joint, bone marrow problems, bone tumors, cartilage problems, torn ligaments or tendons, or infection. MRI can check the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as spinal stenosis, disc bulges, and spinal tumors.
SPECT (Single photon emission computed tomography) scan-Provides true 3D information
A SPECT scan is a type of nuclear imaging test, which means it uses a radioactive substance and a special camera to create 3–D pictures. - A chest X–ray can help find some problems with the organs and structures inside the chest.
- A computed tomography(CT) scan uses X–rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside of the body. An iodine dye (contrast material) is often used to make structures and organs easier to see on the CT pictures. A CT scan can be used to study all parts of the body, such as the chest, belly, pelvis or an arm or leg.
- Fluoroscopy CT is a special test that shows movement of organs.
- Positron emission tomography(PET) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a tracer (radioactive chemical) to look at organs in the body. Study the brain's blood flow and metabolic activity. A PET scan can help a doctor find nervous system problems, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, transient ischemic attack (TIA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, stroke, and schizophrenia. It is more advanced than CT and MRI scans.
- Single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) imaging is a method that may be used to see whether a person with chest pain is at high risk for a heart attack.