Clinical applications

Comprehensive abdominal ultrasound — liver, gallbladder / biliary tree, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, abdominal aorta, and bladder.…

Whole-body scintigraphy using technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (or HDP) — sensitive for osseous metastatic disease, stress…

Sealed radioactive source placement inside or adjacent to tumor — prostate (LDR seeds or HDR), cervix / uterus (HDR tandem-and-ovoid,…

Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI — the highest-sensitivity breast imaging modality. Used for high-risk screening (BRCA carriers,…

Myocardial perfusion imaging with Rb-82 — a generator-produced positron emitter (parent Sr-82, ~25-day half-life in generator). Rest and…

Gated myocardial perfusion imaging with Tc-99m sestamibi or tetrofosmin under rest and pharmacologic or exercise stress. Historically the…

Endovascular alternative to carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic or high-grade asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Balloon angioplasty +…

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms — platinum coils packed into the aneurysm sac via microcatheter under biplane…

Posteroanterior + lateral upright chest radiograph — the most-ordered diagnostic imaging study globally. First-line for pneumonia,…

Whole-body CT protocol for blunt polytrauma — non-contrast head, CT angiogram of neck, contrast-enhanced chest / abdomen / pelvis in a…

Cone-beam CT of the maxilla or mandible for implant planning — assessment of alveolar bone volume, proximity to inferior alveolar nerve…

Coronary and sometimes ventricular angiography without intervention — used to characterize coronary anatomy before CABG, assess graft…

Problem-solving mammography for a specific finding — palpable lump, nipple discharge, recall from screening, or short-interval follow-up…

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of lumbar spine + proximal femur (and sometimes forearm) — standard screening for osteoporosis in…

Catheter-based treatment of cardiac arrhythmias — atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, SVT, VT, WPW. 3D electroanatomic mapping (CARTO,…

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET / CT is the dominant molecular imaging exam in oncology. FDG — a glucose analog — concentrates in…

Modulated-intensity external beam radiotherapy. The linac's multi-leaf collimator moves during delivery to create spatially varying…

Endovascular mechanical clot removal in large-vessel-occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke. The 2015 trials (MR CLEAN, ESCAPE, EXTEND-IA, SWIFT…

Obstetric ultrasound is the imaging backbone of pregnancy care from first-trimester dating through term — covering viability,…

Diagnostic and interventional catheterization for congenital heart disease — ASD / VSD / PDA closure, balloon valvuloplasty, stent…

Catheter-based diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease — angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement. The dominant…

Endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease — iliac, femoropopliteal, tibial, and occasionally brachiocephalic lesions. Balloon…

Standard brain MRI protocol — T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI, and usually susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI / SWAN), with optional post-contrast…

Routine bilateral mammographic screening for average-risk women. Two views per breast (craniocaudal + mediolateral oblique, CC + MLO).…

Hypofractionated ablative radiation therapy — delivers very high dose per fraction (typically 6–20 Gy) in a small number of fractions…

Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of mammographically-detected microcalcifications or masses not well seen on ultrasound. Performed on a…

Single-fraction (or up to 5-fraction hypofractionated) high-dose radiation to intracranial targets — brain metastases, arteriovenous…

Image-guided treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) delivers…

Catheter-based replacement of the aortic valve in patients with severe aortic stenosis. One of the largest changes in cardiovascular…

Rotational IMRT delivered during continuous gantry rotation with simultaneously modulated MLC leaves, dose rate, and gantry speed.…