What an Echocardiogram Shows (and the Five Abnormalities It Looks for)
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart that shows its size, the thickness of its walls, how strongly it pumps, and whether…
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Blog Category
Scans & Imaging
Articles on medical imaging: MRI, CT, ultrasound, PET-CT and X-ray, covering preparation, contrast agents, radiation and how to read the wording of a report. The report is interpreted together with your symptoms by your doctor.
Abdominal and Carotid Ultrasounds: What Each Scan Screens For
An abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to examine the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and abdominal aorta, detecting problems such as gallstones, cysts, fluid…
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MRCP Scan: The Non-Invasive Look at Bile Ducts That Replaced Diagnostic ERCP
An MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) test is a non-invasive MRI scan that creates detailed pictures of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct without…
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Neurophysiology Tests: EMG, EEG and Nerve Conduction in Plain Language
Neurophysiology tests measure the electrical activity of nerves, muscles, and the brain. An EMG records signals inside muscle, a nerve conduction study times impulses…
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Renal CT Scan: Preparation, What It Shows, and When It’s Ordered
A renal CT scan is an X-ray-based imaging test that creates detailed cross-sectional pictures of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Doctors order it to…
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The Chest X-Ray: What It Shows, What It Misses, and When CT Follows
A chest X-ray uses a small dose of radiation to picture the lungs, heart, airways, blood vessels, and bones of the chest. It can…
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CT Scans With Contrast: Why the Dye, How Long It Takes, What About Radiation
A CT scan with contrast uses an iodine-based dye, swallowed or given through an IV, to make blood vessels, organs, and abnormal tissue stand…
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The CT Angiogram: Mapping Blood Vessels Without a Catheter
A CT angiogram is a noninvasive imaging test that uses X-rays and an injected contrast dye to create detailed pictures of blood vessels, …
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The DEXA Scan: How Bone Density Is Measured and Scores Are Read
A DEXA scan is a quick, low-dose X-ray test that measures bone mineral density, usually at the hip and spine, to assess fracture risk…
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