General Instructions

In this activity, you will be given a series of questions and instructions where you will choose and explain imaging techniques and conduct research on each technique. In the second part of this activity, you will compare and contrast options between these techniques and indicate them in two different case studies. 

Step 1 - Review

Gather information about the following medical imaging techniques, their function and their use in medicine. Be sure to include information on the technology used, the procedure involved, the type of information obtained, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.

1. X-rays
2. CT scan
3. PET scan
4. MRI
5. Ultrasound
6. Endoscopy

Review the following two case studies:

Case Study 1:

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. She reports a history of gallstones and a gastric ulcer on another occasion and is concerned that she may have another episode. The doctor suspects cholecystitis but cannot rule out the already-treated gastric ulcer and wants a medical image to confirm the diagnosis.

Case Study 2:

A 65-year-old man presents to the primary care clinic with a persistent cough and shortness of breath. The physician suspects lung cancer and wants to obtain a medical image to evaluate the extent of the disease.

Step 2 - Respond

1st Part: 

Analyze each medical imaging technique and write a description of 70 words for each one. Your analysis should include the following sections: 

A. Introduction: provide a brief overview of the importance and correct technique of each medical imaging technique.

B. Compare and contrast with other imaging techniques: mention in which cases it is the preferred imaging study according to its function. Mention the specificity of this study.

2nd Part: 

Describe in 100 words the patient's imaging technique recommended by the physician for each case study (200 words for both case studies). You should also compare and contrast the imaging techniques based on their strengths and limitations in diagnosing each patient's condition.

Provide your opinion on which medical imaging technique is the most effective for each clinical case. Be sure to support your conclusion with evidence from your research and the content learned throughout the module.

Step 3: Share 

To share your work, click the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Interact 

To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click “Post to forum.

OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”