Basic concept: using radioactive (element that remits radiation as it decays) substances coupled with biologically active chemicals to visualize structures (some organs love certain substances- like thyroid and iodine) Important physics concepts to know: Isotope = element on the periodic table with different # of neutrons but same atomic #  Radioisotopes: technetium-99m, iodine-131 How nuclear medicine actually works: patient is made radioactive, they emit gamma rays, a gamma camera has a detector made of crystal that scintillates in response, computer creates an image, mul ..read more

Indications: broad (respiratory or cardiac disease, tube positioning, trauma)  Characteristics of a good chest x-ray (PIER):  Projection (AP, PA, lateral, lateral decubitus): heart will appear bigger on AP,  but not by much, AP is better for intubated/sick patients, two views is KEY Inspiration and ribs: do you see at least 8-9 posterior ribs (if too little inspiration, things can crowd and mimic abnormalities) Exposure: can you see the spine through the heart (too much penetration makes things dark, too little makes things bright and fuzzy) Rotation and clavicles: what is ..read more

If this episode doesn't fascinate you, I don't know what will!! Radiographs Ionizing radiation hits a photosensitive film to produce an image Digital radiography: photosensitive plate processed by electronic reader to be stored digitally PACS system: picture archiving, communications, and storage system Plain films = X-ray = radiograph = without contrast material Advantages: availability, less expensive Disadvantages: limited detail, uses radiation (caution in pregnancy) Uses: chest x-ray, abdomen x-ray, bone visualization Densities Air is black (absorbs the least), bone is white ..read more

Welcome to the RadEd podcast! In this episode: purpose, vision, goals for the podcast Disclaimer ..read more