Dr Vasileios Skiadas
Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist
Southampton MSK Imaging
Common Examinations
Radiography
Xrays and fluoroscopy
X-ray is a type of radiation used to create a picture of the inside of your body. As x-ray beams pass through your body they are absorbed differently by various structures in the body, such as your bones and soft tissues. This is used to create an image. X-ray imaging is also known as radiography. It is mainly used to access the bones. Fluoroscopy uses x-ray beams to show movements of the bones in real time.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging (sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves to view inside the body. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can also show movement of the body's internal organs, the muscles and tendons as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels. Unlike X-ray imaging, there is no ionizing radiation exposure associated with ultrasound imaging.
CT Imaging
During a CT scan, you will lie inside the CT scanner. Many X-ray beams coming from different diretions will pass through your internal organs, muscles, bones and joints as the X-ray tube rotates around you. The machine will take pictures from many angles, forming multiple cross-section images (slices) of the area. Your doctor will review the pictures on a computer.
MR Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a very strong magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of joints, soft tissues and bones. It is usually the best choice for evaluating the body for injuries, tumors, and degenerative disorders. MRI is in most cases the best imaging modality for musculoskeletal disorders. It does not use radiation and it is considered safe.
