| The Magic School Bus is great in theory. But climbing | | | | complications if an artery or valve appear to be |
| aboard a big yellow school bus, shrinking down the | | | | abnormal. |
| cellular scale and invading the body and its systems | | | | Advances have been seen even on the cellular level. |
| has yet to be accomplished by science. Some of you | | | | Most imagery equipment gives information and pictures |
| might feel disappointment when it comes to the lack of | | | | regarding anatomical structure. Positron Emission |
| the minuscule vehicle, but the goal of exploring the | | | | Tomography takes this a step further by showing us |
| human body may still be possible. X-rays and scans | | | | the activity of the cells of this organs and tissue. If |
| have been used to gauge extent of trauma, locate | | | | there is no apparent damage or structural problem, |
| malfunctioning organs and diseased tissue. But recent | | | | using PET allows us to see what may be going wrong |
| developments and creative techniques have been | | | | inside the body. What's more, this can be accomplished |
| recently introduced into the medical world. Medical | | | | without surgery or before symptoms worsen. |
| technology is now able to give a clearer and more | | | | PET scans involve injections of radioactive inks called |
| valuable picture of tissue, blood and bone than ever | | | | tracers. Depending upon which type of cell a physician |
| before. | | | | in interested in, different tracers can be used |
| For years, X-rays have been given scientists black | | | | accordingly. If cancer is suspected, an oncologist would |
| and white photos of fractures and other bone | | | | use a radioactive glucose tracer. Cancer cells rapidly |
| abnormalities. Recently, improvements in the images | | | | divide and multiply, thereby needing and using a lot |
| produced by x-rays have made it possible for | | | | more energy. Cancerous cells would use the tracer |
| physicians to interpret more and more information. | | | | more than the healthy cells. |
| Digital detectors can provide a picture of soft tissue as | | | | Once the tracer is injected, any diseased cells would |
| well as the bone matter it surrounds. Neck trauma, for | | | | appear to glow on screen. Single PET scans will |
| example, often involves soft tissue damage as well. | | | | create a two-dimensional image. However, combining |
| The new technology can locate anything that may be | | | | multiple shots of the same person allows scientists to |
| obstructing the patient's airway as well as any bone | | | | create a 3-D model of their patient. This new program |
| damage. | | | | will help with cancer treatment and research as well |
| Computed Tomography, or CT-Scans, is helpful | | | | as cardiology and neurology. |
| because they produced and accurate picture quickly | | | | Advances in medical equipment and software continue |
| and effectively. When paired with another form of | | | | to prove invaluable. Doctors and researchers are able |
| medical imaging equipment, CT-scans take diagnostics | | | | to literally paint pictures of their patients and subjects |
| to the next level. When CT-Scans are pair with | | | | body and health. It might not be fun as following the |
| volume-rendering programs, a picture of the heart and | | | | journey of a white blood cell in the Magic School Bus, |
| its blood vessels can show any abnormalities before | | | | but one can still dream. |
| any incision is made. Surgeons can determine possible | | | | |