Radiology, without which it is impossible to imagine modern medicine, was born with the discovery of the penetrating radiation made by German physicist Roentgen. This industry has largely contributed to the development of medical diagnostics. As any other industry, its development was revolutionary and has been infuenced by modern technologies. Today, X-ray diagnostics gets a new development. Using age-old experience of traditional radiographic techniques and armed with new digital technologies, X-ray diagnostics is still a leader in diagnostic medicine.
In 1894 German physicist Roentgen (1845 - 1923) launched an experimental study of electrical discharges in the glass vacuum tubes. Under the influence of these discharges in a highly rarefied air beams cathodes are formed. Studying them, Roentgen accidentally discovered a glow in the dark fluorescent screen (cardboard, covered with platinosinerodistym barium) under the action of the cathode radiation emitted from the vacuum tube (Patel 11). To eliminate the effect of the visible light on the crystals of barium coming from the included tube, scientist wrapped it in black paper.
The glow continued, as when the scientist pushed the screen for almost two meters from the tube, since it was assumed that the cathode rays penetrated the air layer in only a few centimeters. Roentgen concluded that either he was able to receive the cathode rays, or he discovered an unknown ray. For about two months a scientist was engaged in the research of new rays that he called X-rays. In the process of studying the interaction of rays with different density objects that substituted a X-ray radiation in the course, he found the penetrating ability of the radiation. The extent of it depended on the density of objects and manifested in the emission intensity of the fluorescent screen. This luminescence firstly weakened, then intensified and was not observed at all when the record was added with the lead. In the end, the scientist put his hand along the beams and saw on the screen a bright picture of bones of the hand on the background of a weaker image of its soft tissues. To fix the X-ray shadow image of objects, the scientist replaced the screen with the photographic plate (Mould 64). In particular, he saw the image of his hand on the screen, which he irradiated for 20 minutes.
Roentgen was researching X-rays from November 1895 till March 1897. During this time the scientist published three articles with a comprehensive description of the X-ray properties. The first article "A new type of ray" appeared in the journal of Würzburg Physics and Medical Society of December 28, 1895. Thus, the change of the photographic plate was registered under the influence of X-rays, which marked the beginning of the future development of radiography.
It should be noted that many researchers were studying the cathode rays prior to Roentgen. In 1890, in a US laboratory, a picture with the image of the X-ray of laboratory items was accidentally produced. There is an evidence that Nikola Tesla also studied X-rays and worked and recorded the results of this research in the diaries from 1887. In 1892, Hertz and Leonard, as well as the developer of the cathode-ray tube Crookes, in their experiments mentioned the cathodic action of radiation on the blackening of photographic plates. However, all these researchers did not attach much importance to the new rays, they sis not conduct the further studies and did not publish their observations. Therefore, the discovery of X-rays by Roentgen can be considered to be completely independent.
Roentgen’s merit in also in the fact that he immediately realized the importance and significance of beams discovered by him, the scientist developed a method for their preparation, he created the design of X-ray tubes with an aluminum cathode and a platinum anode for the production of the intense X-ray radiation. For this discovery, in 1901, Roentgen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first Nobel Prize in this category (Adrian & Banerjee 51). The revolutionary discovery of X-rays has revolutionized the diagnosis. The first X-ray machines were created in Europe in 1896. In the same year, the KODAK company opened a production of the first X-ray film. Since 1912. a period of rapid development of the X-ray around the world began, and radiology started occupying an important place in medical practice.
Modern X-ray diagnostics is one of the fastest growing areas of clinical medicine. This is largely due to the continued progress in the field of physics and computer technologies. Vanguard of radiation diagnosis are imaging techniques: X-ray computed and magnetic resonance, allowing non-invasively evaluate the nature of the pathological process in the human body. Currently, the standard of X-ray computed disgnostics is the examination using a multislice scanner with the ability to produce from 4 to 64 sections with a time resolution of 0.1-0.5 seconds. Thus, the duration of a whole body imaging slice thickness is less than 1 mm in about 10-15 seconds, and the result of the study is from a few hundred to a few thousand images. In fact, modern multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a technique of volume study of all of the human body, as obtained axial tomography constitute a three-dimensional array of data, enables people to perform any image reconstruction, including multiplanar, 3D-Reformation, and virtual endoscopy.
The use of contrast agents in CT improves the diagnostic accuracy, and in many cases is an essential component of the study (Canon 22). To increase the contrast of tissues water soluble iodinated contrast agents are used, they are administered intravenously (usually in the cubital vein) with an automatic injector in a substantial amount and at a high speed. Ionic iodine-containing agents have a number of disadvantages associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions during rapid intravenous administration. The emergence of non-ionic low-osmolar agents (Omnipak, Ultravist) was accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of serious adverse reactions in 5-7 times, which makes MSCT an outpatient, routine method of examination.
The vast majority of MSCT studies can be standardized and carried out by the X-ray laboratory assistant, thus, MSCT is one of the less operator-dependent beam diagnostics. Accordingly, MSCT study systematically and properly stored in digital form (Brecher & Brecher 31), may be processed and interpreted by any expert or consultant without losing the primary diagnostic information. The duration of study is rarely more than 5-7 minutes (it is an advantage of MSCT) and can be performed for patients who are in critical condition. However, the processing and analysis of the results of MSCT takes considerably longer amount of time, as the radiologist must examine and describe 500-2000 primary image, renovations, and reformations.
Works cited
Brecher, Ruth and Edward M Brecher. The Rays. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1969. Print.
Canon, Cheri L. Radiology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2010. Print.
Mould, Richard F. A History Of X-Rays And Radium. Sutton [London, England]: IPC Building & Contract Journals Ltd., 1980. Print.
Patel, Pradip R. Radiology. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print.
Thomas, Adrian and Arpan K Banerjee. The History Of Radiology. Print.
