5 Remarkable Facts About Medical Imaging

by Kevin Smith Author

The medical world is rapidly growing and changing to better serve patients and the population as a whole. One of the very important aspects of the healthcare industry is medical imaging, which can save so many lives. Optima diagnostic imaging in Long Island, NY, can detect serious health concerns and alert patients and medical professionals to potentially deadly illnesses or injuries. Here are five amazing facts about medical imaging that you should know.

Non-Invasive

Let's start with the basics. Diagnostic imaging is a non-invasive procedure that makes it possible for doctors to examine internal organs. This medical method can be used to diagnose and monitor diseases, abnormalities and injuries of internal organs and bones. The medical industry would be a lot different without this incredible technology.

Imaging Categories

Another fact you should know is that there are so many types of medical imaging performed every single day. Some of the most common forms of diagnostic imaging include ultrasound, mammography, magnetic resonance, sonography and angiography. Other kinds of diagnostic imaging you may encounter include computed tomography, cardiac-interventional radiography and vascular-interventional radiography. No matter what kind you undergo, these diagnostic imaging procedures can make a world of difference.

War Fields

While thankfully the majority of diagnostic imaging is performed in clean and safe doctor's offices, medical clinics and hospitals, back in the day x-ray equipment was extremely vital to the world wars. A Polish and French woman by the name of Marie Curie was instrumental in bringing such life-saving tools to the battlefield. In fact, she designed vehicles that could safely transport this essential x-ray equipment to the wounded soldiers during World War I. Now, diagnostic imaging can be done in many different environments if absolutely necessary.

Needed Nuns

Another interesting historical observation about medical imaging is that nuns played a big role in the use of this technology during the 1930s. These kind, nurturing souls made up a considerable portion of radiological technologists throughout that decade. While there may not be many nuns working in medical offices and hospitals today, radiologists are still very much needed and appreciated in the healthcare sector.

DNA

Did you know that medical imaging has led to some major medical discoveries? In fact, the rise of X-rays allowed researchers to learn so much more about the structure of DNA. Using X-ray crystallography, a British researcher named Rosalind Franklin was able to photograph the first images of human DNA structure. With this technique, X-rays bounce off atoms against a crystal to generate shadow images of a three-dimensional structure like the human body. With this in mind, it's pretty safe to say that Optima diagnostic imaging in Long Island, NY, is a key contributor to the medical industry of the past, present and future!