Imaging Comparisons
Physics: AQA A Level, topic 10.6.6
Imaging Comparisons
Different types of medical imaging are better for different jobs. You should be able to make comparisons between them all.
X-ray
- Good to see broken bones,
- Bad for soft tissue.
- Ionising so its use must be limited.
- Not safe for pregnant mothers.
Ultrasound
- Good for soft tissue.
- Safe for pregnant mothers.
- Non-ionising.
- Bad for boundaries with large differences in acoustic impedance, such as the lungs.
PET scan
- A clear 3D image of the body.
- Ionising.
- Expensive.
Test yourself on Imaging Comparisons
Which statements about different types of medical imaging are true?