X Ray Information: What is An IVP?

Medical terminology can be very confusing and somewhat intimidating to patients, or people who are not trained in medicine. We have big, long names for procedures, medications and even for xray exams themselves. One of the more common questions from patients is "What is an IVP?"
IVP stands for Intravenous Pyelogram. Simply put, this is an exam to demonstrate the entire Urinary System by means of an IV injection. The technologist will inject an xray dye, or contrast agent, into a vein in order to demonstrate the kidneys, ureters and bladder. It's a relatively painless procedure. Probably the biggest complaint is having to lie on the xray table for perhaps 45 minutes to an hour. We have a special pad that we use on our table to make it a bit more comfortable. Pictures are taken immediatley after the injection is given, and then at designated times after that. The first few pictures demonstrate the kidneys. Delayed pictures will visualize the ureters and eventually the bladder. The number of pictures will vary according to the preference of each Radiologist. Certain conditions can dictate the length of the exam as well. Patients with a kidney stone that is obstructing a ureter can often have to wait several hours to see if the kidney will eventually empty the contrast. The Xray technologist will explain and inform the patient if these delays are necessary.
Many physicians today will order CAT Scans instead of IVP's. There are still many reasons why they are still done on a regular basis. A majority of our patients present with a history of hematuria, or blood in the urine. There are a multitude of reasons for that, sometimes it's an infection, a kidney stone, possibly a tumor. We do IVP's for kidney stones quite often. It is a very informative exam for the physician. I hope this has provided some useful information for you.

What is Nuclear Medicine

Just the name sounds scarey but Nuclear Medicine is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it is one of the most informative tools the physician has to diagnose patients. I am sure you have heard of Bone scans, thyroid scans, etc. There are a host of exams that are performed in this department, and that list is still growing. Today doctors can examine the function of the heart with a SPECT scan, which is done in NM. It's an amazing area that is seeing new technology every day.
When you ask just How this all works, well..it is pretty complicated. Basically, the patient is injected with a Radioisotope that is mixed with a substance specifically targeted to a certain organ or body part. Then the patient lies on a table underneath a camera which will rotate around them while taking pictures. It is a simple and painless procedure and in many cases not very lengthy. There are some constraints on eating, etc..but they are explained prior to the procedure. The only radiation you get from these procedures is from the radioisotopes, and it is not very much. It will vary for each procedure so you can ask the technologist about it if you are concerned.
Nuclear Medicine can be used for a variety of things, such as, to check for metastisis or spreading of cancers, gall bladder function, heart function,loosening of hardware. Doctors can actually use a radioisotope to treat patients with hyperthyroidism. So, if your physician recommends a procedure to be done in Nuclear Medicine don't be alarmed, and I hope this has provided some insight for you.

X Ray Information and Radiation

There really is alot of information out currently about x-rays, Ct's and all this radiation we're getting. I think it is great to inform the public as long as you are giving them accurate information on all the aspects concerned. Sure radiation is not "good for you", however it is the only way to perform x-ray examinations, and CT examinations. These diagnostic tools save thousands of lives every day, so I don't think they deserve ALL the bad publicity they are getting right now. The issue IS and Should Be, that radiation when "deemed necessary" is an extremely valuable tool.The problem area is that necessary part. Sometimes what a patient feels is necessary, and what a Doctor feels is necessary, are two different things. The difference is that the Doctor has been schooled and highly trained for 6-10 years in the practice of medice. The patient may have spent a few hours possibly, on the Internet learning ALL about what they have..or don't have. The Doctor will know all the tests that can be utilized for a series of symptoms. The patient may see one or two online. So, in my eyes this is merely a publicity thing. Newspapers, TV, they all go after anything that can be made the least bit controversial and they beat it to death. IF it's Britany Spears, fine..she can handle that. This is however a much different arena. Some patient may read all this hype and decide they just won't have a CT scan, it could cause them cancer someday. IF this person has a serious problem and it doesn't get detected for a prolonged period of time, the result could be fatal. This goes back to the "necessary" part. IF you have problems and your Doctor feels a CT scan is necessary to diagnose if you have appendicits or whatever, then I feel you should definitley have that scan. IF you have a stomach ache for 3 hrs. and feel you "need" a CT scan, I definitley think you should NOT have that scan and I'm 99% sure your Doctor would agree. Most Doctors will try the least invasive tests first, depending on how severe your symptoms are. That is the Proper course of treatment. Trust your physician. No one is perfect, sure, but he is highly trained and I am sure he ..or she...will be happy to explain why they do or don't want to do a CT exam. Remember that not everything you hear on TV is accurate and honest. We wish that it were, but unfortunatley it is not. I am a Registered XRay Technologist and have been for 32 years so I know what is true and what is not. I think it is great when patients read up and are able to ask questions about their health care. I do not think it is wise to tell a Doctor what or order. Instead, establish a rapport with your Doctor where you can sit down and discuss your symptoms and perhaps the different treatments for those symptoms. Most all Doctors I know welcome an informed discussion and will be happy to participate in one with you. It is in their best interest, as well as yours, to have you healthy again. So, instead of throwing all this negative information at your Doctor on your next visit, you might try asking a few questions and presenting some positive xray information along with them.