- Radiologist: A medical doctor who uses imaging techniques to diagnose, monitor and treat illnesses.
- Suffolk Nuffield Hospital: see www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk
- Vascular: Referring to the blood vessels
- Gallstones: Solid deposits that commonly form in the gall bladder which is a small sac that stores bile. Stones often cause no problems but can lead to severe abdominal pain (biliary colic or cholecystitis). Ultrasound is very sensitive in the detection of stones and their complications.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: A swelling of the main blood vessel (aorta) in the abdomen. Often cause no symptoms until they leak. Early detection is vital to allow curative surgery. There are national plans to screen those at high risk, but this service is not widely available.
- Implanted metal device: These include pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, spinal stimulators and older surgical clips. Replacement joints are usually not an issue with MR scanning but the radiographer performing the investigation will check before the scan starts to make sure it is safe to proceed.
- Radiographer: A technician trained in the production of high quality medical imaging. Some have further specialised to perform CT and MRI scans.
- Polyps: Precancerous growths arising from the lining of the gut. It is thought that all large bowel cancers develop from small polyps and for this reason detection and treatment is very important.
- Embolisation: A technique where fine tubes (catheters) are used to cut off the blood supply to a given area. This technique is particularly successful in the treatment of some fibroids and varicoceles.
- Barbotage: A technique where a small needle is used to break up hard deposits that can build up around joints, particularly the shoulder. Ultrasound is used to guide the needle into the correct area.
- CT Colography or CT pneumocolon: A CT technique used to examine the colon. Laxatives are used prior to the test to ensure the lining is clean. A small flexible tube is inserted in to the rectum and the colon distended with air. CT scans are then taken lying first on your back and then on your front. The images are used to produce a three dimensional representation of the inside of the bowel. This test is as sensitive as other methods of examining the colon.
- Endoscopy: A flexible camera that is inserted into the bowel allowing the operator to directly visualise the bowel lining.
