Advances in diagnostic techniques for therapeutic intervention

Abstract

The ability to get amazing real images from inside the human body has been made possible through the advent of medical imaging techniques. A lifesaving diagnostic tool began with the accidental discovery of X-rays. The last quarter of the nineteenth century saw an explosion of technological advancement in medical imaging from ultrasound to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which can peek inside the human body to a greater extent with improved image quality and shorter examination time at a reasonable cost. The aim of this chapter is to provide a concise information regarding the major imaging modalities available, their applications, benefits, and risks. Towards the end a comparison of all modalities are summarized in a table which will help to provide a better understanding of these medical imaging techniques to encourage further interest in the use and development of these techniques to benefit all human beings.