The Role of Medical Imaging Software

There is no doubt that medical imaging software is a vital part of modern medicine. Today doctors rely heavily on imaging software to provide diagnoses of a whole variety of illnesses. In nearly all fields of medicine, scans and imaging software are used by doctors to see the body's interior for accurate diagnosis. This article discusses the role of medical imaging software in medicine and why advancements in technology are important and research should continue into the technology used.

Medical imaging software in particular is crucial to MRI scans. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and it involves a magnetic field being directed to the part of the body that needs investigating for problems and abnormalities. Through the magnetic field radio waves are sent. When the waves hit the body, the nuclei of the atoms in the cells give off energy. The software used detects this energy and converts the data into images for a doctor or radiologist to view. These images show any abnormalities with the cells and can detect a host of problems such as tumours. It is the scan itself that creates the information, but it is the medical imaging software that presents the data in a way that it can be used.

Imaging software is also used in other scan types (or modalities). A CT scan is another valuable and commonly used scan to help doctors gain a good understanding of what is wrong with a person's health. It is most often used to explore the brain further and will be prescribed after someone has suffered a serious head trauma. During a CT scan a very large number of pictures or images are taken at the same time. Imaging software is then used to interpret this web of pictures into one 3 dimensional image of the body or the brain. Just like with MRI scans, without imaging software neither of these scans would exist. It is one thing gathering the data, but unless it is displayed in a helpful way the data is totally useless.

Another type of scan that uses medical imaging software is an x-ray. Most people have heard of an x-ray and can picture the images produced from it. It is used mostly to detect broken bones as it is not usually able to provide a very clear picture of more intricate parts of the body like cells and tissue. It does show up broken or fractured bones however very well. During the procedure, the body receives a dose of radiation. The radiation travels through the body being absorbed in small amounts as it does so. The waves travel at different speeds and it is this data that is interpreted by software to be projected onto film. The film holds a clear image of the bones in the body. An x-ray can detect other abnormalities in the body, but will not display them as clearly as a CT or MRI scan would. If a shadow or dense area is spotted on the x ray then further scans will be required.

An ultrasound scan is another type of scan that relies heavily on medical imaging software. This can be used to detect many things in the body but is most commonly used during pregnancies. It does provide a clear picture however and therefore can be used to investigate the organs in the body and even the bones.

If it wasn't for medical imaging software, none of these scans would be possible. Although the data would be collected, without software it would not be displayed in a format that was possible to understand or interpret. Researching technology and ensuring medical imaging software is as good as it can be is vital to the field of medicine. Oncology software in particular is vital in the fight against cancer. Medical image fusion takes these scans even further by enabling the images to be viewed at the same time for an even clearer picture.
by:  Kathryn Dawson -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11869.shtml