DIAGNOSTIC NORMAL FINDINS DESCRIPTION PURPOSE INDICATION PROCEDURE NURSING IMPLICATIONS

TEST
Magnetic A normal MRI in the Magnetic resonance An MRI lets your After 4 to 6 weeks of leg During the exam, it’s important to stay still to Patient will be asked
Resonance medical community imaging (MRI) is a doctor see the soft pain, if the pain is severe obtain the clearest images. Children who have to remain perfectly still
Imaging can show disc bulging test that uses tissues in your body enough to warrant surgery difficulty staying still may need sedation, during the time the imaging
and degenerative disc powerful magnets, along with the bones. After 3 to 6 months of low administered either orally or through an IV line. takes place, but between
disease. These positive radio waves, and a This allows them to back pain, if the pain is Sedation can also be helpful for adults who are sequences some minor
findings are “normal.” computer to make inspect the elements severe enough to warrant claustrophobic. movement may be allowed.
detailed pictures of the knee that surgery. The MRI Technologist will
inside your body. might have been You will lie down on a table that slides into the advise accordingly.
Your doctor can use injured during MRI machine. The table slides through a large When MRI procedure
this test to diagnose physical activity or magnet shaped like a tube. You may have a begins, patient may breathe
you or to see how from wear and tear. plastic coil placed around your head. After the normally, however, for
well you've table slides into the machine, a technician will certain examinations it may
responded to take several pictures of your brain, each of be necessary for you to hold
treatment. Unlike X- which will take a few minutes. There will be a your breath for a short
rays and computed microphone in the machine that allows you to period of time. 
tomography (CT) communicate with staff. Monitoring is
scans, MRIs do not indicated to patients who are
use the damaging great potential for change in
ionizing radiation of The test normally takes 30 to 60 minutes. You physiologic status
X-rays. may receive a contrast solution, usually (respiratory rate, oxygen
gadolinium, through an IV to allow the MRI saturation, temperature,
machine to see certain parts of your brain more heart rate and  blood
easily, particularly your blood vessels. The MRI pressure) during the
scanner will make loud banging noises during procedure or whenever a
the procedure. You may be offered earplugs to patient requires observations
block the MRI machine’s noises, or you may of vital physiologic
listen to music during the test. parameters due to an
underlying health problem.
There are no risks associated with an MRI itself. Monitoring is
There is a very slight chance that you will have imperative to patients who
an allergic reaction to a contrast solution. Tell are using sedative or
the medical staff if you have decreased kidney anesthesia to ensure patient
function. It may not be safe to use contrast safety
solution if this is the case.

Ultrasonograph The liver normally Ultrasonography of ● To distinguish  Painful sensations The patient is placed in a supine position. During each scan, ask the patient
y demonstrates a the liver produces between obstructive in the right A water-soluble conductive gel is applied to the to hold his breath briefly in deep
(Liver) homogeneous, low- images by and nonobstructive region of the face of the transducer. inspiration to displace the liver
level echo pattern, channeling high- jaundice abdominal cavity; Transverse scans are taken at 3 ⁄8 (1-cm) caudally from the costal margin
interrupted only by frequency sound ● To screen for intervals, using a single-sweep technique and the ribs to aid visualization.
 Presumptive
the different echo waves into the right hepatocellular between the costal margins. Although this Remove the conductive gel from
neoplasms in the liver;
patterns of its portal upper quadrant of disease technique demonstrates the left lobe of the the patient’s skin.
and hepatic veins, the the abdomen. ● To detect hepatic  Identification and liver and part of the right lobe, sector scans Inform the patient that he may
aorta, and the inferior Resultant echoes metastases and concretization of the through the intercostal spaces are used to view resume his usual diet
vena cava. Hepatic are converted to hematomas etiology of the the remainder of the right lobe.
veins appear cross-sectional ● To define cold pathological focus, Scans are taken longitudinally from the right
completely images on a spots as tumors, which was detected by border of the liver to the left.
sonolucent; portal monitor; different abscesses, or cysts other diagnostic... For better demonstration of the right lateral
veins have margins shades of gray dome, oblique cephalad-angled scans may be
 Polycystic;
that are highly depict various tissue taken beneath the right costal margin.
echogenic. densities.  Presumptive Scans are then taken parallel to the hepatic
Ultrasonography abscess; portal, at a 45-degree angle toward the superior
can show right lateral dome, to examine the peripheral
intrahepatic anatomy, portal venous system, common bile
structures and duct, and biliary tree. Clear images are
organ size, shape, photographed for later study
and position.
Ultrasound Results shows no Diagnostic  View the  Adhesion Gel is applied to your skin over the area being • Explain the procedure to the
malignancy developing ultrasound, also uterus and formation examined. It helps prevent air pockets, which woman, indicating that she can
in the body. There is called sonography ovaries during can block the sound waves that create the watch the procedure and ask
 Pain and muscle
no occurrence of or diagnostic pregnancy and images. This water-based gel is easy to remove questions about the images on
spasms
lumps, tumor and etc. medical monitor the from skin and, if needed, clothing. the screen. If appropriate, point
sonography, is an developing  Haematoma out landmarks on the screen.
imaging method baby's health A trained technician (sonographer) presses a • Explain to the woman that she
 Capsulitis
that uses high- small, hand-held device (transducer) against the will be allowed to empty her
frequency sound  Diagnose bladder as soon as possible.
 Joint stiffness area being studied and moves it as needed to
waves to produce gallbladder
disease 
capture the images. The transducer sends
images of structures Scar tissue
sound waves into your body, collects the ones
within your body.  Evaluate  Calcified tendinitis that bounce back and sends them to a
The images can blood flow computer, which creates the images.
provide valuable  Swelling
information for  Guide a
diagnosing and needle for Sometimes, ultrasounds are done inside your
treating a variety of biopsy or tumor body. In this case, the transducer is attached to
diseases and treatment a probe that's inserted into a natural opening in
conditions.
  Examine a your body.
breast lump

 Check your
thyroid gland

 Detect genital
and prostate
problems

 Assess joint
inflammation
(synovitis)

 Evaluate
metabolic bone
disease

Nuclear Scans If there is no cancer, Nuclear scans Nuclear scans can Nuclear scans are often used Before the test, you receive a small amount of Checking the equipment to
there should be no are tests that help doctors diagnose to find out radioactive material. You may get it as an assure it is working properly and
tumor shown in the involve the use of many conditions, whether cancer from injection. Sometimes you swallow it or inhale it. is ready for use on patients.
picture as “hot-spot” harmless including cancers, another place in your body Then you lie still on a table while the camera Cleaning equipment before and
radioactive injuries, and (such as your breast, for makes images. Most scans take 20 to 45 after each use to prevent the
materials. infections. They can instance) has spread to your minutes. spread of infection is done by
also show how organs bones. You might hear a the nursing staff.
like your heart and doctor or nurse called this
lungs are working. metastatic cancer. Your
doctor also might order the
test if you have
unexplained pain in your
bones.
X-ray Normal findings in a Chest X-rays An X-ray is a common  The condition of Items are removed  Remove all metallic
chest x-ray will show a: produce images of imaging test that’s your lungs. Chest X- Patients will be asked to remove any clothing, objects. Items such
your heart, lungs, been used for rays can detect jewelry, or other articles that may interfere as jewelry, pins,
blood vessels, decades. It can help cancer, infection or with the study. buttons etc can
 Normal
airways, and the your doctor view the air collecting in the hinder the
lung fields,
bones of your chest inside of your body space around a lung, Appropriate clothing is given visualization of the
cardiac
and spine. Chest X- without having to which can cause the Patients will be provided by an X-ray gown to chest.
size,
rays can also reveal make an incision. This lung to collapse. They wear.
mediastinal  No preparation is
fluid in or around can help can also show
structures, required. Fasting or
 your lungs or air them diagnose, chronic lung medicationrestriction
thoracic surrounding a lung. monitor, and treat conditions, such as Position the patient is not needed unless
spine, ribs, many medical emphysema or cystic The patient in a standing or sitting position will directed by the
and conditions. Different fibrosis, as well as face the cassette or image detector with hands health care provider.
diaphragm types of X-rays are complications related on hips, inhale deeply, hold one’s breath until
 Ensure the patient is
used for different to these conditions. the X-ray image is made. For a lateral view, the
not pregnant or
purposes. chest is position on the left side against the
 Heart-related lung suspected to be
image holder with hands raised above the head.
problems. Chest X- pregnant. X-rays are
rays can show usually not
Images are taken
changes or problems recommended for
The x-ray technician will stand behind a
in your lungs that pregnant women
protective shield while the films are being
stem from heart unless the benefit
developed within a few minutes.
problems. For outweighs the risk of
instance, fluid in your damage to the
lungs can be a result mother and fetus.
of congestive heart
 Assess the patient’s
failure.
ability to hold his or
 The size and her breath. Holding
outline of your one’s breath after
heart. Changes in the inhaling enables the
size and shape of lungs and heart to be
your heart may seen more clearly in
indicate heart failure, the x-ray.
fluid around the  Provide appropriate
heart or heart valve clothing. Patients are
problems. instructed to remove
 Blood clothing from the
vessels. Because the waist up and put on
outlines of the large an X-ray gown to
vessels near your wear during the
heart — the aorta procedure.
and pulmonary  Instruct patient to
arteries and veins — cooperate during the
are visible on X-rays, procedure. The
they may reveal patient is asked to
aortic aneurysms, remain still because
other blood vessel any movement will
problems or
congenital heart affect the clarity of
disease. the image.