DETECTI

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BREAST CANCER

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X-RAYS

A kind of high energy radiation which give off photons

The photons are absorbed by the dense parts within the body. They turn white whereas softer parts turn darker.

X-rays are produced by electrodes.

X-rays are used for detecting elements of the body such as bones and tumours

MAMMOGRAPHY

Used to detect tumours or any other unusual lumps in the breasts

Low dose X-rays are passed through the breasts

If any strange lumps are found , further tests are carried out to check whether the patient has breast cancer.

CT SCAN

Also known as CAT scans (computerised axial tomography)

The patient has to lie on a platform which slowly moves through a hole in the CT machine.

X-ray pictures are taken from many different angles of the body and the machine forms a 3D image which makes it easier to see a tumour

THERMOGRAPHY

• Sensitive to infrared radiation

• Cancer cells divide quickly which means they give off more heat

• Tumours show up as warmer area which allows the tumour to be seen easier

• The warmer the are the more infrared radiation given off

ULTRASOUND

• Uses sound waves to build up an image of body parts that may contain tumours

• Detects tumours in soft parts of the body e.g. Liver

• Its portable and cheap

MRI – MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

• Patient lies inside a very large magnet

• Machine measures the magnetic field in different parts of the body

• Computer builds up a three dimensional image

• Very detailed image

• Expensive

• Not painful, can be uncomfortable as you must stay in the same position for a long amount of time

PET SCAN

• Stands for position emission tomography

Patient is injected with a radioactive substance

Substance breaks down and releases gamma rays

Gamma rays are detected

Gamma rays are used to build an image of the body

Most metabolically active parts give off more gamma rays.

• PET scanners are very expensive.

• Metabolically active means that more chemical reactions take place