Diagnostic Imaging: MedlinePlus
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`Page 1 of 4
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`National Institutes of Health / U.S. National Library of Medicine
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`Home → Health Topics → Diagnostic Imaging
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`URL of this page: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnosticimaging.html
`Diagnostic Imaging
`Also called: Imaging
`
`Diagnostic imaging lets doctors look inside your body for clues about a medical condition. A variety of
`machines and techniques can create pictures of the structures and activities inside your body. The type of
`imaging your doctor uses depends on your symptoms and the part of your body being examined. They
`include
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`• X-rays [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/xrays.html]
`• CT scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ctscans.html]
`• Nuclear medicine scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nuclearscans.html]
`• MRI scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mriscans.html]
`• Ultrasound [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ultrasound.html]
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`Many imaging tests are painless and easy. Some require you to stay still for a long time inside a machine.
`This can be uncomfortable. Certain tests involve exposure to a small amount of radiation
`[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radiationexposure.html] .
`
`For some imaging tests, doctors insert a tiny camera attached to a long, thin tube into your body. This tool
`is called a scope [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endoscopy.html] . The doctor moves it through a
`body passageway or opening to see inside a particular organ, such as your heart, lungs, or colon. These
`procedures often require anesthesia.
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`Start Here
`• Overview of Imaging Tests
`[http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/special_subjects/common_imaging_tests/overview_of_imaging_t
`ests.html] (Merck & Co., Inc.)
`
`Latest News
`• Technology May Help Surgeons Tell Brain Cancer from Healthy Tissue
`[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_153151.html] (06/18/2015, HealthDay)
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`Related Issues
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`https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnosticimaging.html
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`9/2/2015
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`Diagnostic Imaging: MedlinePlus
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`Page 2 of 4
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`• Contrast Materials [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_contrast]
`(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
`Available in Spanish [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_contrast]
`
`• Doses from Medical Radiation Sources
`[http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/dosesfrommedicalradiation.html] (Health Physics Society)
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`• Radiation Exposure in X-Ray and CT Examinations [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?
`pg=sfty_xray] (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
`Available in Spanish [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray]
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`• Tracing the X-Ray Trail [http://www.asrt.org/docs/PatientPages/XrayTrail.pdf]
`(American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF
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`Journal Articles
`References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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`• Article: Imaging Diagnosis of Solitary Tumors of the Phalanges and Metacarpals...
`[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26102388?tool=MedlinePlus]
`
`• Article: Creating a Patient-Centered Radiology Practice Through the Establishment of a...
`[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26102386?tool=MedlinePlus]
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`• Article: Diagnosing Borderline Hepatic Nodules in Hepatocarcinogenesis: Imaging Performance.
`[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26102378?tool=MedlinePlus]
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`• Diagnostic Imaging -- see more articles [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=diagnostic+imaging
`[majr]+NOT+(radiography[mh]+OR+magnetic+resonance+imaging[mh]+OR+ultrasonography[mh]
`+OR+radionuclide+imaging[mh]+OR+tomography,x+ray+computed[mh])+AND+english[la]
`+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]
`+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+systematic[sb])
`+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])+AND+%22last+1+Year%22[edat]
`&tool=MedlinePlus]
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`Reference Desk
`• RadiologyInfo: Glossary of Terms [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm]
`(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
`Available in Spanish [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/glossary/glossary1.cfm]
`
`Find an Expert
`• American College of Radiology Accredited Facility Search [http://www.acr.org/Quality-
`Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search] (American College of Radiology)
`
`• Food and Drug Administration [http://www.fda.gov/]
`
`• RadiologyInfo [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/]
`(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
`Available in Spanish [http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/]
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`https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnosticimaging.html
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`9/2/2015
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`Diagnostic Imaging: MedlinePlus
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`Children
`• Keeping Kids Still during Exams [https://www.asrt.org/docs/PatientPages/PedImmobilization.pdf]
`(American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
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`• Radiology and Children: Extra Care Required
`[http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048599.pdf]
`(Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
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`• What Parents Should Know about Medical Radiation Safety
`[http://www.imagegently.org/Portals/6/Parents/Image_Gently_8.5x11_Brochure.pdf]
`(Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging) - PDF
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`Patient Handouts
`• Radiology and Children: Extra Care Required
`[http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048599.pdf]
`(Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
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`MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
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`Imaging and radiology [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007451.htm]
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`Related Health Topics
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`Colonoscopy [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/colonoscopy.html]
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`CT Scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ctscans.html]
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`Endoscopy [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endoscopy.html]
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`MRI Scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mriscans.html]
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`Nuclear Scans [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nuclearscans.html]
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`https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnosticimaging.html
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`9/2/2015
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`Diagnostic Imaging: MedlinePlus
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`Page 4 of 4
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`Radiation Exposure [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radiationexposure.html]
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`Ultrasound [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ultrasound.html]
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`X-Rays [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/xrays.html]
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`National Institutes of Health
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`The primary NIH organization for research on Diagnostic Imaging is the National Institute of
`Biomedical Engineering and Bioimaging [http://www.nibib.nih.gov/]
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`NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
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`Envisioning the Future (Biomedical Imaging)
`[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter08/articles/winter08pg2-3.html]
`
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`U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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`National Institutes of Health
`
`Page last updated on 19 June 2015
`Topic last reviewed: 11 September 2013
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`https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diagnosticimaging.html
`
`9/2/2015