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Select a link below to find out more about patient information  Printable
VersionFees & The Gap | Operation Costs | Consultation Costs | Patient Tests and Investigations | Privacy |
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Contents 1. Why are they ordered? 2. Blood tests - Haematological investigations - Electrolyte investigations - Specific tests 3. X-rays 4. CAT scans 5. MRI scans - What is it? - How is it done? - What are the risks? - What will happen during the test? 6. Nuclear medicine Why are they ordered? A small number of disease processes can be diagnosed by your doctor after an adequate history has been taken and the doctor has examined you. However, many diseases are not discreetly identifiable with merely your doctor’s history and examination and you must rely on extra information that he can obtain. This extra information is either obtained through pictures of the inside of your body (radiological investigations) or blood tests which give information on how your body may be reacting to any disease processes. Equipped with the history and physical examination and the results of further investigations, the doctor has a better chance of accurately diagnosing your condition and therefore treating you appropriately Blood Tests Blood tests are divided into three main groups Haematological investigations (looking at your blood count) Your blood count is routinely performed before any major surgical operation to ensure that your body is optimally fit for the surgery. A low blood count or red cell count may mean that your body is unable to get adequate oxygen to the cells at the time of surgery. There are a number of different types of blood cells that circulate in your body that react in different ways to different diseases. Your white blood cells increase in response to infection. Thus, if your doctor sees a raised white blood cell level, this will increase the suspicion of infection in the clinical setting of the pain and suffering that you may be encountering. Electrolyte investigations (looking at the elements and irons in your blood) Electrolyte levels are again routinely performed prior to major operations as abnormal electrolyte levels are associated with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and other muscle dysfunctions. These abnormalities are often correctable prior to any major operative procedure. Also different electrolytes and chemicals within your body may again reflect disease specific to different organs of the body. Some chemicals may suggest raised levels of some chemicals suggesting a problem with the bones, while others suggest problems in the liver, kidney, prostate, bladder or heart. Again the doctor uses the results of these investigations in conjunction with the history and clinical examination that have been performed to aide in more accurately diagnosing the disease process. Specific tests Over the last decade, with advances in modern technology, a large number of disease specific tests have been identified and are now routinely performed as part of baseline screen and specific marker tests. Tests such as a raised ESR or (erthyrocyte sedimentation rate) or CRP may indicate general markers of infection somewhere in the body. Other tests such as a PSA or prostate specific antigen, may indicate abnormality within the prostate gland. Other specific marker tests are available for heart and liver function problems as well as others for bone disease. X-rays X-rays or radiographs are the oldest available non-invasive method of obtaining pictures of the inside of a body. They are still commonly used today and provide excellent valuable information with regard to the bony or skeletal structure. X-rays provide us with a two dimensional picture much like a shadow of the bones with a faint outline of the soft tissues. They involve the use of ionising radiation which is transmitted in a beam form and impacts on a silver impregnated film. Once this film is developed, it gives excellent pictures of the bony or skeletal structure. X-rays are usually used in the identification of fractures. Many fractures are able to be treated, without operations, in plasters and your doctor may bring you back at weekly intervals for check x-rays. In the early stages of fracture healing, there is a possibility that even though the bone or limb is encased in plaster the fracture may move to an unsatisfactory position. It is common practice for the doctor to perform weekly x-rays for the first two to four weeks, depending on the fracture. At the end of this stage, the fracture is unlikely to move and will not require such frequent x-rays. Further x-rays are then usually performed to ensure that the fracture has united prior to or just after removal of the plaster. X-rays are also used to examine pain in major body joints. The x-rays provide a picture of the bones and from the reaction to the bones around the joint, the doctor can often determine useful information with regard to the status of that joint. Unfortunately x-rays do not show good pictures of soft tissue structures such as ligaments, menisci or muscles and significant pathology within the soft tissue structures is often not found on plain radiographs. Thus, there is a need for further specific investigations depending on the pathology that the doctor is looking for. CAT Scans (Computerised Axial Tomography Scans) CAT scans are a computerised form of x-ray and involves the patient lying on a table where a very fine x-ray beam travels inside a gantry and provides fine slice pictures through the body. With modern computerised technology these pictures can then be reassembled in the computer to give an excellent three dimensional image. CT scans are very useful in providing information on bony detail and give accurate information on some soft tissue problems. CAT scans also involve ionising radiation but are relatively quick and easy to perform. CAT scans are often used to provide information on the spine such as spinal stenosis or disc protrusion. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) What is it? MRI stands for ‘magnetic resonance image’. It is a special type of scan. In the spine it is used to look at the nerves and discs, which don’t show up on normal x-rays. It shows these structures better than a CAT scan, and can also look at the spine in more directions than a CAT scan can. How is it done? It is performed in a specialised scanning machine. The test is done by a radiographer (an x-ray technician). A radiologist (a doctor who is an x-ray specialist) supervises the test and then reads the scans. The MRI machine is like a CAT scanner as you lie on a table that slides in and out of a narrow tunnel. The machine uses a very strong magnetic field and radio waves rather than normal x-rays. This means there is no radiation and the test is safe. What are the risks? Because it uses a magnet, there are some people that cannot have an MRI. These
include people with pacemakers, metal aneurysm clips in their brain, and particles
of metal in their eye. People who have worked with metal such as with welding
or grinding may need to have an x-ray of their eyes to make sure there are
no metal fragments there. Precautions sometimes need to be taken if people
have had heart, brain or eye surgery. Hearing aids and dentures may need to
be removed. What will happen during the test? You will be asked to change into a gown. You must leave your watch, jewellery, keys, purse or wallet and credit cards outside the scan room, as the magnet may affect your watch and erase your credit cards. You will then lie on the scan table and move into the tunnel. You will need to lie as still as possible. While the machine is scanning it makes a loud humming and knocking noise. You can choose to wear headphones and listen to music during the scan. Sometimes a special magnetic dye (not iodine like for other scans) is injected into a vein through a needle in the back of your hand for the scan. The scan usually takes about half an hour. When they are finished, the scans will be reported and then sent to your doctor. Nuclear Medicine Scans |
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