- Who are Radiographers, Sonographers and Radiologists?
- What is an X-Ray?
- Are X-rays safe?
- Do X-rays hurt?
- What about x-rays and pregnancy?
- What is an ultrasound?
- Are ultrasounds safe?
- What is CT scanning?
- What does 'Bulk Billing' mean?
- Why do I need to go to a Radiology Practice to have an injection, FNA or biopsy?
- Why can I not have two ultrasounds performed on one day?
- Why do some ultrasound examinations have longer waiting times than others?
Who are Radiographers, Sonographers and Radiologists?
Radiographers are trained technicians who perform x-rays.
Sonographers are trained technicians who perform ultrasounds.
Radiologists are specialist doctors who are trained and experienced in interpreting medical images in order to make a clinical diagnosis. They may also perform procedures such as guided injections and biopsies. As such training to become a radiologist takes typically around 15 years.
What is an X-Ray?
X-rays are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes light. Whereas light cannot pass though solid objects (with the exception of glass), x-rays can. The amount of x-rays that pass through an object is determined by the objects density. During an x-ray examination the amount of x-rays that pass though the body is recorded. Tissues that are less dense will allow more x-rays to pass through than denser tissues such as bone.
For example, during an arm x-ray there will be far more x-rays passing through the muscle and tendons than the bone. The recording of this will show the outline of the bony parts of the arm which can help to diagnose irregularities in the bone such as breaks.
Are X-rays safe?
Yes. Over-exposure to extremely high volumes of x-rays over an extended period of time can cause burns and increase the risks of cancer. However, modern x-ray machines use a fraction of the x-ray radiation than was required in the past.
Radiation occurs naturally from the sun and stars, from rocks and from the atmosphere and is unavoidable, but usually harmless in these very low doses.
A chest x-ray for example requires the same dose of radiation as would naturally be experienced from the atmosphere in around 10 days. A bone x-ray such as a leg may require higher doses to the tune of around 70 days' natural exposure.
Radiographers who work with x-rays every day will go behind a protective screen during the examination to ensure that their exposure does not build up over years of x-ray exposure.
Do X-rays hurt?
No. There is no pain caused by x-ray examinations.
What about x-rays and pregnancy?
It is well known that the risk of x-rays to unborn foetuses is much greater, especially during the first three months of development. As such you should always discuss this with your doctor and with the radiographer who is performing your examination. Sometimes, if your doctor is concerned about your health and other imaging techniques such as ultrasound are not suitable, an x-ray can be performed when you are pregnant. A lead gown will be placed over your abdomen to reduce the risk to the foetus. This is usually a last resort and will be avoided if at all possible.
If there is a chance you might be pregnant then tell your doctor and the radiographer performing your examination before your x-ray so alternative imaging methods can be considered.
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasounds are high frequency sound waves that pass through the body during an examination. These soundwaves bounce back off different densities at different rates creating an image of the internal structures of the body.
Are ultrasounds safe?
Yes. Ultrasounds are totally safe as they use no radiation. This is why they are used to assess development during pregnancies.
What is CT scanning?
CT stands for computed tomography. It is basically a sophisticated x-ray machine which performs x-rays whilst rotating the x-ray tube around you whilst you are on the CT table. Powerful computers use this information to create images of the internal organs of the body. These can be reconstructed in 3D if required. Images are displayed in slices either from front to back (known as axial), from top to bottom (known as coronal) or as left to right (known as sagittal).
What does 'Bulk Billing' mean?
As long as a patient has is a valid doctors referral and a Medicare card, radiology practices are paid by Medicare to perform most examinations. Practices that bulk bill do not charge patients money in addition to the payment they receive from Medicare. Rather than paying for the examination, the patient's fee can be charged directly to Medicare with no money changing hands.
Practices who do not bulk bill charge the patients a fee in excess of that provided by Medicare. Once the fee has been paid, the patient can then recover some of that cost back from a Medicare centre.
Why do I need to go to a Radiology Practice to have an injection, FNA or biopsy?
To ensure that a biopsy or FNA (fine needle aspiration) sample is taken from the tissue it is meant to, it can be done under ultrasound or CT guidance. This ensures that when the needle removes a sample, it is taken from the tissue of interest.
Some injections such as nerve root injections into the spine require CT guidance to ensure the needle injects the fluid directly into the nerve root sleeve. If the treatment is not injected close enough to the spinal cord it can be ineffective. If the needle goes too far it may cause further damage, therefore CT guidance of these procedures is essential.
Why can I not have two ultrasounds performed on one day?
Medicare requirements stipulate that only one ultrasound will be covered on each patient on a given day. As such, they will not pay for a second ultrasound examination on the same day. If you are unable to return on a different day for your second ultrasound you will have to be charged for the examination.
Why do some ultrasound examinations have longer waiting times than others?
Some ultrasounds such as echocardiograms require Sonographers with specialist training. As such waiting times are dependant upon their availability.
Other ultrasounds, such as muskulo-skeletal ultrasounds (i.e. Shoulder, knee etc) require a doctor to be on site. As such, appointments are subject to their availability. As such you may need to wait several days for an echocardiogram or a shoulder ultrasound appointment whereas an abdomen examination could be available immediately.
Book an appointment today
