X-rays, Using Deadly Radiation to Stay Healthy - Article Example

MEDICAL APPLICATION OF X-RAY Name Institution Course Date Introduction The innovation of x-rays has led to undoubtable wide application in medical field. X-ray is among many other radiations that are found on the electromagnetic spectrum. In the electromagnetic spectrum that refers to the range of all electromagnetic radiation, there are several electromagnetic radiations. The radiations refer to the energy that spreads and travels out as it goes. The radiations are arranged from downwards up in the order of their frequencies. These radiations are arranged as radio, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and then the gamma rays. In this paper, x-rays radiation are the radiation of interest that are going to be discussed. X-ray that refers to x-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that ranges from frequencies of 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz or 0.01 to 10 nanometers. The high frequencies of this radiation have made these rays to have a broad variety of applications in different field including the medical field. This article explores in the wide use of X-ray absorption in medical therapies and diseases treatment (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). Some of the medical applications of these intense radiations include the ones discussed in the below subheading. Medical Application of X-ray Absorption X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) refers to a technology that is widely applied in determining the electronic and the local geometric structure of matters. This experiment is carried out at a synchrotron radiation source that usually provides tunable and intense x-ray beams. This x-rays cannot be seen by the naked eye but have the ability to through the human body. The radiation is not felt when penetrating the body. Different parts of the body absorb these radiations at a different rate (Clarke and Dux, 2011). With an x-ray detector placed on the other part of the patient body, the x-rays are then picked up by the detector as they pass through the body thus tuning up those rays into the real images. As a result of this, the radiation is applied by the medical officers in the following ways. X-rays are used to carry out radiation therapy. The radiations are used in destroying of cancer cell by treating organs such as the neutrons and protons on the affected parts of the body. Some particle accelerator such as the clinic 2100 and Cobalt-60 radiation therapy unities are used to generate higher energy emissions. The technique is a modern technology that with lesser side effects than the traditional ones. With this type of technology, different treatments are used depending on the location of the source radiations. The following are the different types of radiotherapy that applies the use of x-rays (Clarke and Dux, 2011). X-rays are widely employed in the fracture identification in human body parts. The x-rays have some energy particle known as photons. These radiations are capable of penetrating through the human skin, but they are resistant to the bones. This property of the x-ray makes it capable to identify any fracture in the human body. The rays are produced from an X-ray machine with an x-ray tube. The tube has an electron gun that typically shoots electrons. The electrons are directed to hit targeted materials (mostly tungsten is used) with an extra high velocity. Finally, the x-rays are obtained from the atomic process that occurs at the time the electronics hits the targeted materials (Clarke and Dux, 2011). The above outlined atomic procedure involves two processes. The first process is known as the Bremsstrahlung. With this process, x-rays are produced from the changing velocity of the electrons as they hit the tungsten. The x-rays are radiated as the electrons begin to slow down once they start fluctuating about the nucleus of the tungsten atom. The second process is referred to as the K-shell emission. During this process, an electron that is blast from the electron cannon to hit the atom of the tungsten has sufficient energy that thrills the electron from K-shell of the atom. The electrons that come from the external shell cascades on the K-shell giving rise to the x-rays that are the pictures of the exact energies. Also, the doctors in radiographs use x-rays. These are X-ray images that are obtained through illuminating short x-ray pulse through the patient part that is normally placed in front of an x-ray detector. Radiographs are applied in the study of the pathology of the skeletal system. Likewise, it is used in detecting of some diseases like the lung cancer, pneumonia, gallstones and kidney stones in the soft tissues. Dental radiography is also used commonly applied in the diagnoses of some oral problems like the cavities. All these radiographs are capable of being generated because these diseases absorb the x-rays as they penetrate the rest parts of the flesh. Higher energy x-rays are used for this application because low energy ones are absorbed by the body (Clarke and Dux, 2011). The bellow figure is an example of a radiographs photo X-rays are also applied in medicine field to generate the pictures of the cardiovascular system (the veins and the arteries). Two images are taken. The first one is the original image of the functional area of interest. After that, iodinated difference gain is introduced into the blood vessels in that region and then the second image is taken. The two images are finally subtracted digitally only leaving the iodinated contrast image that outlines the blood vessels. The surgeons or the radiologists finally compare the images to identify if there is any blockage or damage of the vessels. Besides, x-rays are also used to generate fluoroscopic images. Fluoroscopy, as used by doctors, refers to an imaging technique. This method is majorly used radiation therapists or the physicians to get the real-time moving photos of some internal parts of the body through the help of fluoroscopy. The fluoroscope consists of a screen and an x-ray source. The modern fluoroscope screen is commonly linked to CCD video camera and an X-ray image intensifier that allows the images to be noted and played on a monitor. This technique can use distinction materials like barium swallows to scrutinize esophageal conditions and the cardiac catheterization to study the blockages of the coronary artery (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). In addition to the above-stated applications use of the X-ray absorption in the medical field, still it can also be used for CT scanning to produce computed tomographic images (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). The CT scanning is a medical imaging system where slices of particular body region are generated from massive series of two-dimensional images of x-rays taken from various directions. The resulting cross-sectional images can finally be combined. The combination results in a three-dimensional picture that shows the inside of the body. The images are then used in different medical sectors for a therapeutic and diagnostic purpose (Clarke and Dux, 2011). The figure is an example of a CT scan (transverse plane). For many people suffering from different types of cancers, x-rays are the usual ones used by the doctors to treat them. This process of using x-rays to treat cancer is referred to as the radiotherapy. Very high radiations are required to carry out this process than the ones needed in the imaging process. The higher emissions are correctly calculated out so as they don’t cause much harm to other body cells. Cancer cells are killed by these higher x-ray radiations. For the skin cancers treatments, lower energy X-rays are used. But for internal cancers like the ones in the brain, prostate, lung and breast cancers, very high energy x-rays are used (Nasonkin and Syme, 2012). Meanwhile, the whole application of the x-ray radiation lies in its ability to penetrate the patient body, and the fact that they are absorbed at different rates by the various body tissues thus giving a clear image of the investigated part. Hence, this aspect is mainly employed by doctors to examine various aspects of the patient body. For example, to add the above-discussed ones, doctors also use the x-rays to study tooth problems. Among which includes dental abscesses and loose teeth (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). The abnormal curvature of the lumbar spine also known as the scoliosis is among the body problem that are examined by the doctor with the aid of the x-rays. These spinal disjoin occurs as a result of applying more force on the lower abdomen that is more than the maximum strength that can be sustained. X-rays are used to generate an image that is used by the doctors or the physiotherapists to examine and correct the problem (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). Currently, the X-rays have been mostly used by the surgeons and doctors as a guide during some of the medical operations. For example, doctors use the x-rays when they carry out coronary angioplasty. The x-rays assist them to widen some narrow arteries that are found near the heart. More so, this x-rays can also be used to monitor a catheter alongside one of the patient arteries (Nasonkin and Syme, 2012). Alongside that, x-rays are also used by the doctors to examine some swallowing problems also known as the dysphagia. It is the usual case to find a child having accidentally swallowed something dangerous like a coin or any other. For such cases, x-rays are used by the doctors to examine the location of that thing so as to carry out the operation. However, besides all the great importance of x-ray radiation in the medical field discussed above, great care must be taken by the doctors during the process. X-rays cause significant dangers to the human body when exposed to the radiations. The diagnostic x-rays raise the risk of evolving cancer among other problems when exposed to the body (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). In fact, the World Agency for Research on Cancer which is a World Health Organization classifies x-rays as a carcinogen. The fact that is also supported by the U.S government. The organization indeed estimates that about 0.4% of the present cases of cancer in the United States is contributed by the past computed tomography. This rate is expected to increase at a rate of about 1.5 to 2% by 2007 rate of CT scan (Nasonkin and Syme, 2012). X-rays effects are categorized into two categories. Stochastic and non-stochastic health effects. Stochastic effects are the ones associated with low-level, but long-term exposure to x-ray radiations. Any example of these effects being cancer. The non-stochastic effects (also known as acute effects) on the other side are the ones related to high-level but short-term exposure to the x-rays radiations. For example, the effect of x-ray burn and the radiation sickness. The radiation sickness mostly leads to premature aging and to some extent they result in death, which generally occurs within a period of two months (Nasonkin and Syme, 2012). Conclusion The ability of the x-ray radiation to penetrate the human body tissue, and their ability to be absorbed at a different rate by the different body tissue has made it to have a very wide application in the medical field. The CT scanning produces diagnostic images of different human body parts that are used by the doctors to examine those regions. It is also seen that x-rays are applied by the physicians and the surgeons in the treatment of cancer and other related body disorders. The radiations are also used to detect and examine disorders in the soft body tissues and identify swallowed items in the human body. Finally, x-rays are also seen applied by the doctors as a guide during somebody operations like the coronary angioplasty. Besides that, the x-rays also have some dangers when exposed to the human body. As discussed above, x-rays can cause cancer, body burn and radiation sickness that can lead to death. Therefore, great care needs to be undertaken by the doctors when carrying out these operation to lower the chances of these risks occurring. Bibliography Clarke, C. and Dux, A., 2011, Chest x-rays for medical students. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Nasonkin, S. and Syme, A., 2012, Poster — Thur Eve — 49: Application of plastic scintillating detectors to orthovoltage x-ray measurements. Med. Phys., 39(7), p.4634. Shaida, N. and Shaw, A., 2010, Radiology for Undergraduate Finals and Foundation Years. Radcliffe Pub. Read More

The above outlined atomic procedure involves two processes. The first process is known as the Bremsstrahlung. With this process, x-rays are produced from the changing velocity of the electrons as they hit the tungsten. The x-rays are radiated as the electrons begin to slow down once they start fluctuating about the nucleus of the tungsten atom. The second process is referred to as the K-shell emission. During this process, an electron that is blast from the electron cannon to hit the atom of the tungsten has sufficient energy that thrills the electron from K-shell of the atom.

The electrons that come from the external shell cascades on the K-shell giving rise to the x-rays that are the pictures of the exact energies. Also, the doctors in radiographs use x-rays. These are X-ray images that are obtained through illuminating short x-ray pulse through the patient part that is normally placed in front of an x-ray detector. Radiographs are applied in the study of the pathology of the skeletal system. Likewise, it is used in detecting of some diseases like the lung cancer, pneumonia, gallstones and kidney stones in the soft tissues.

Dental radiography is also used commonly applied in the diagnoses of some oral problems like the cavities. All these radiographs are capable of being generated because these diseases absorb the x-rays as they penetrate the rest parts of the flesh. Higher energy x-rays are used for this application because low energy ones are absorbed by the body (Clarke and Dux, 2011). The bellow figure is an example of a radiographs photo X-rays are also applied in medicine field to generate the pictures of the cardiovascular system (the veins and the arteries).

Two images are taken. The first one is the original image of the functional area of interest. After that, iodinated difference gain is introduced into the blood vessels in that region and then the second image is taken. The two images are finally subtracted digitally only leaving the iodinated contrast image that outlines the blood vessels. The surgeons or the radiologists finally compare the images to identify if there is any blockage or damage of the vessels. Besides, x-rays are also used to generate fluoroscopic images.

Fluoroscopy, as used by doctors, refers to an imaging technique. This method is majorly used radiation therapists or the physicians to get the real-time moving photos of some internal parts of the body through the help of fluoroscopy. The fluoroscope consists of a screen and an x-ray source. The modern fluoroscope screen is commonly linked to CCD video camera and an X-ray image intensifier that allows the images to be noted and played on a monitor. This technique can use distinction materials like barium swallows to scrutinize esophageal conditions and the cardiac catheterization to study the blockages of the coronary artery (Shaida and Shaw, 2010).

In addition to the above-stated applications use of the X-ray absorption in the medical field, still it can also be used for CT scanning to produce computed tomographic images (Shaida and Shaw, 2010). The CT scanning is a medical imaging system where slices of particular body region are generated from massive series of two-dimensional images of x-rays taken from various directions. The resulting cross-sectional images can finally be combined. The combination results in a three-dimensional picture that shows the inside of the body.

The images are then used in different medical sectors for a therapeutic and diagnostic purpose (Clarke and Dux, 2011). The figure is an example of a CT scan (transverse plane). For many people suffering from different types of cancers, x-rays are the usual ones used by the doctors to treat them. This process of using x-rays to treat cancer is referred to as the radiotherapy. Very high radiations are required to carry out this process than the ones needed in the imaging process. The higher emissions are correctly calculated out so as they don’t cause much harm to other body cells.

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