Special Features of Ultrasound in Medical Physics - Coursework Example

Running Head: Medical Physics - Ultrasound Medical Physics - Ultrasound [Institute’s Medical Physics – Ultrasound Introduction Impressive advances in computers and materials science have fueled a broad-based confluence of basic science breakthroughs. These advances are making us reformulate our learning, teaching and credentialing methodologies and research and development frontiers. We are now in the age of molecular medicine. In the entire field of health care, a paradigm shift from population-based solutions to individual specific care is taking place. These trends are reshaping the practice of medical physics. Medical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare. A medical physics department may be based in either a hospital or a university and its work is likely to include research, technical development and clinical healthcare. (Hollins, 2001) Of the large body of medical physicists in academia and clinics, roughly 85% practice or specialize in various forms of therapy, 10% in Diagnostic imaging, and 5% in nuclear medicine. Areas of specialty in medical physics however are widely varied in scope and breadth. Briefly, in this paper, we will try to describe and discuss some of the major aspects of medical physics, and particularly, the role of medical physics in the diagnosis of different illnesses in the modern healthcare. Moreover, one of the technologies of medical physics, ultrasound will be discussed in detail, and different related aspects of ultrasound will be analyzed in the paper. Specialties In terms of areas of specialty, medical physics has been categorized into medical imaging, treatment of disease, physiological measurement techniques, radiation protection, and medical computing and mathematics. As earlier described in the paper that the paper will primarily focus on the role of medical physics in modern healthcare and diagnosis of illnesses, the paper will cover the areas of medical imaging and treatment of disease areas of specialty of medical physics. Treatment of Diseases Cardiac arrhythmias ventricular fibrillation is one of the life threatening diseases that can now be treated definitely by one of the major advancements in the field of medical physics, the defibrillation. A defibrillator is used during the process of defibrillation in which, affected heart is given a therapeutic dose of electrical energy. In the result, a serious mass of muscle of heart is depolarized resulting in the termination of arrhythmia that allows the reestablishment of natural pacemaker of the human heart. In specific, external, as well as, implanting defibrillators are now available in the market, which can be employed according to situation of the patients. (Hollins, 2001) Imaging guidance is utilized to perform invasive procedures in one of the subspecialties of radiology, interventional radiology, another significant treatment contributed by the medical physics. As angiography has earlier been discussed in the paper, it is one of the diagnostic purposes of interventional radiology. On the other hand, angioplasty is used for treating disease. Catheters or needles are used for directing the procedures during angioplasty. Some other procedures of interventional radiology are chemoembolization, thrombolysis, biopsy, cryoablation, biliary intervention, etc. All these procedures have contributed enormously in different aspects of healthcare and medicine. (Bhudatt, 2006) Unlike radiology in which, radiation is used to diagnose the disease, cancer treatment is performed by radiation therapy through the utilization of ionizing radiation for controlling malignant cells in the body. Commonly, adjuvant cancer treatment usually utilizes the radiotherapy, whereas, experts have indicated therapeutic usages of radiation therapy, as survival benefits have been observed during the therapy, which can be curative at some extent. Besides, trigeminal neuralgia and thyroid eye diseases are often treated with the help of radiation therapy that has been recognized as one of the most important treatments provided by medical physics. (Galloway, 2005) Photodynamic therapy is another feasible technology of medical physics that has contributed enormously in the treatment of cancer. In addition, psoriasis and acne treatment has also been investigated by the photodynamic therapy. Most of the renowned medical institutions have approved the photodynamic therapy as a feasible treatment for wet macular degeneration. (Bhudatt, 2006) In other words, medical physics has contributed significantly through a number of treatments that have changed the concept of healthcare and medicine in most parts of the globe. Medical Imaging Techniques Since last decade, field of medical physics has advanced tremendously and facilitated the healthcare workers in the provision of high quality of treatment to the patients. However, in midst of employment of such high technology, the complexity of detection, planning and delivery tools for medical services has increased exponentially. The computer age has been a double-edged sword. It has significantly enhanced our capabilities while also increasing the potential for greater risks in the delivery of our services. New technology not only requires a highly skilled medical physicist - it also requires continuous updating of knowledge and skills and integration of new technological developments in our practice. There are new challenges in a number of areas of medical physics, such as learning, teaching, research and development and clinical services. (Bhudatt, 2006) However, besides all the challenges, medical physicists have been able to contribute largely to the field of healthcare and medicine. In this regard, medical imaging is one of the most renowned achievements of medical physics, which has changed the concept of diagnosis of different illnesses around the globe. For instance, pathology of the skeletal system can be detected with the help of x-rays in a useful manner. Moreover, soft tissues can be detected in terms of any disease processes with the help of x-rays technology of medical physics. Nowadays, chest x-rays is one of the common examples that is utilized by the physicians to detect lung cancer. (Winter, 2006) However, utilization of x-rays has witnessed a number of criticisms due to its effects on the body, and few governments have considered it as a carcinogen, which is another debatable issue. Another major contribution of medical physics in the area of medical imaging is angiography in which, blood vessels and body organs are visualized to detect any disease in the body. Most commonly, coronary arteries are visualized and blood visualized reports are acquired through angiograms. Computed tomography angiography is the latest form of common angiography, which utilizes a CT scanner, which is another major advancement in the field of medical physics. A number of experts have indicated that fewer associated risks are confronted in the computed tomography angiography, as compared with the former medical imaging techniques. (Bhudatt, 2006) (Obstetrix Medical Group, 2008) Magnetic resonance imaging is another significant advancement in the field of medical physics, which allows the surgeons to visualize different structures, as well as, functions of the human body. Different soft issues can be visualized in detail with the help of MRI scans. Mostly, neurosurgeons and cardiologists prefer the MRI scans during the diagnosis of their patients. Unlike CT scans, no ionizing radiation is used by the MRI scans, and hydrogen atoms in the body are visualized by a powerful magnetic field. Like other medical imaging techniques of medical physics, MRI scans have also been criticized by the experts. During the MRI scans, excitation of proton spins requires a powerful radio transmitter. Utilization of such transmitter results in the generation of extra heat that may result in associated risks of hyperthermia in the patients. (Bhudatt, 2006) One of the noteworthy medical imaging techniques of medical physics is ultrasound, which has contributed tremendously in the field of healthcare and medicine. Now, medical imaging technique of ultrasound will be discussed in detail in the paper, which has played a vital role in the diagnosis of different illnesses. Ultrasound When the upper limit of human hearing is surpassed by a greater frequency of a cyclic sound pressure, it is referred as ultrasound. In the field of medical physics, sonography is one of the most renowned applications of ultrasound that has contributed significantly in healthcare and medicine. Nowadays, fetuses in the human womb can be visualized by the production of pictures through sonography. In specific, muscles and internal organs of the human body can be visualized by one of the noteworthy medical imaging techniques of medical physics, medical sonography, which is also referred as ultrasonogrpahy. Real-time tomographic images of pathological lesions can be acquired by such medical imaging facility. (Hollins, 2001) Most of the emergency prenatal care related cases required visualizations of fetus through ultrasound scans. In healthcare, sonographers are the officially recognized healthcare professionals that are allowed to utilize this medical imaging technique on the patients, and it is very important that proper guidelines should be followed by the professionals, in order to avoid any kind of associated risks. (Winter, 2006) During pregnancy, another common process is obstetric sonography that is preferred by the experts. Since half a decade, ultrasound has played a vital and crucial role in the provision of images of human body that has improved a number of clinical processes in different parts of the globe. Most of the modern medicinal experts prefer the utilization of ultrasound technology for the diagnosis of illnesses. (Sanford Brown Institute, 2008) In terms of cost, most of the other imaging techniques that were discussed in the paper are quite expensive, as compared with the ultrasound. In addition, another major advantage of ultrasound is its portability, which has surpassed the magnetic resonance imaging, as well as, the computed tomography. Until now, no known risks have been associated with the technique of ultrasound, which has recognized it as one of the commonly used and preferred medical imaging technique for the diagnosis of different diseases. It has been observed that a number of medical imaging techniques are not perfectly safe, as they often utilize ionizing radiation, which may result in the production of cancer or carcinogens, as well as, in the breaking process of chromosomes. (Kossoff, 1998) It is very necessary to understand the stochastic and non-stochastic effects, in order to understand the consequences of ionizing radiation. In specific, years after exposure of ionizing radiation, patients are often confronted with some adverse responses that are referred as stochastic effects. It is indicated by the experts that dose of ionizing radiation that is given to the patients is highly responsible for the chances of generation of any stochastic effect in the human body. On the other hand, no process has yet been developed that can investigate the evidence of stochastic effects due to the ionizing radiation in the body. In other words, stochastic effects are also referred as delayed effects of ionizing radiations, and therefore, it is very important that medical professionals should take care of the intensity that is employed during the process of ultrasound. (Bhudatt, 2006) Unlike stochastic effects, a clear relationship has been observed between the ionizing radiation and the effects. Additionally, it is observed that size of the dose is directly proportional to the scale of effect. In other words, when a patient is given with a very large dose in very less amount of time, it is very usual that the patient will be confronting non-stochastic effects in the human body. In this regard, erythema is one of the significant examples of non-stochastic effects that results in the reddening of human skin. In some cases, tissues are burnt, and death is confronted in extreme cases. In other words, it is very important that patients during the therapeutic uses of ultrasound should not be imposed with high threshold of intensity, which could result in stochastic or non-stochastic effects. (Hollins, 2001) So far, sonography is one of the safest medical imaging techniques that do not use ionizing radiation, and therefore, is preferred by most of the medical experts. However, two physiological effects have been indicated in terms of ultrasonic energy that is used in the process of diagnosis. Firstly, it is observed that inflammatory response is often enhanced by the ultrasonic energy, which may have adverse effects on the human body. Secondly, soft tissues are often heated by the ultrasonic energy, which may result in the distortion of cell membrane. However, ultrasound medical imaging technique is usually not employed at high intensity, as sonographers are trained in such a way that they should use the equipments with less intensity. Therefore, no serious issues have yet been reported related to the ultrasound. In addition, it has been observed that obstetric appointments during pregnancy usually utilize sonography; however, sonography for non-medical purposes has been discouraged by a number of healthcare and medical institutions in different parts of the globe, as it may result in some kind of psychological effects on the patients. For instance, a false positive is often acquired during the attainment of results of sonography during the pregnancy, which may affect the patients due to false warning of birth effects. In other words, ultrasound is usually preferred after twelve weeks of gestation during pregnancy. Moreover, healthcare institutions encourage the utilization of ultrasound medical imaging technique only during the diagnosis of diseases. Furthermore, when ultrasound medical imaging technique is utilized with precautions related to amount of dosage, a number of the therapeutic applications have been developed in the field of medical physics. According to a number of radiologists, pelvic abnormalities are often detected by ultrasounds, particularly, abdominal ultrasound. Some other related applications are rectal ultrasound and vaginal ultrasound for men and women respectively. Moreover, focused ultrasound surgery is another significant therapeutic application of ultrasound technique that is used for the treatment of benign and related disorders in the body. (Galloway, 2005) Conclusion In this regard, ultrasound medical imaging technique, an achievement of medical physics has contributed tremendously, and played a crucial and vital role in the advancement of diagnosis of different illnesses in various parts of the globe. Conclusively, the paper has discussed the current utilization of medical physics in the modern healthcare and medicine, particularly, for the diagnosis of different illnesses. Specifically, principles, processes, safety precautions, risks, etc. of ultrasound were described, discussed, and analyzed in the paper. It is hoped that the paper will be beneficial for the students, teachers, experts, and nonprofessionals in the better understanding of the topic. References George Kossoff. (1998). Safety of Diagnostic Ultrasound. Informa Health Care. Martin Hollins. (2001). Medical Physics. Nelson Thornes. Obstetrix Medical Group. (2008). MRI Scans. Retrieved June 6, 2008 from http://pediatrix.com Paliwal Bhudatt. (2006). Medical Physics practice in the next decade. Journal of Medical Physics. Vol. 31, Issue No. 3, Page # 98-108. Robert Lee Galloway. (2005). Medical Imaging 2005. SPIE. Sanford Brown Institute. (2008). Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Retrieved June 6, 2008 from http://www.sanford-brown.edu/campus/67/programs.asp?map=3 Thomas Charles Winter. (2006). Clinical Sonography. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Word Count: 2285 Words (excluding title page, reference page, and pictures) Checked by Copyscape.com and Turnitin.com Read More