Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy is often used to diagnose problems of the gut. For example, in a ‘barium meal’ the patient swallows a drink of barium, which shows up well on X-rays, to give moving pictures of the stomach and intestine.
The X-ray beam passes through the body and is viewed by a special camera which produces a moving image on a TV screen.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound can be done on different areas of the body. Abdominal ultrasound can help doctors diagnose problems with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and kidneys. Pelvic ultrasound can help diagnose gynaecological or bladder problems. Ultrasound is also used to check foetal development during pregnancy.
A sensor, placed on the body, sends out sound waves and picks up the returning echoes. This produces pictures of the body which are displayed on a screen.
X-ray
X-rays are generally used for looking at broken bones or at the chest or teeth. A machine directs a beam of X-rays through the part of the body that is being examined and on to a special film. A picture is produced of the structures the X-rays have passed through.
