this is a work on the various roles of medical radiography in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

1. ROLE OF MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF
CANCER
BY
ABAGHA VICTOR UCHENNA
2017/245539
A SEMINAR PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OFA BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, FACULTY
OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE,
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ENUGU CAMPUS
SUPERVISOR
PROF. C. U EZE
APRIL, 2023

2. OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION
• Background Of The Study
• INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY AND CANCER
• Historical Development Of Radiographic Imaging Techniques
• Definition Of Terms
• RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS
• X-rays and Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) And Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography
(SPECT) Scans
• Ultrasound and Mammography
• RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER TREATMENT
• Types Of Radiation Therapy
• How Radiation Therapy Works
• Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy
• New Advances In Radiation Therapy
• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATION
• REFERENCES

3. INTRODUCTION TO
CANCER
Cancer is a serious medical
Condition affecting millions of
People worldwide.
Cancer refers to any one of a
large number of diseases characterized
by the development of abnormal
cells that divide uncontrollably
and have the ability to infiltrate
and destroy normal body tissue.
It has become the second leading
cause of death globally. The early detection
And accurate diagnosis of cancer will determine
The effectiveness of treatment and better outcomes.
This is where Medical Radiography comes in because
It is an important diagnostic tool used in the detection
of Cancer. This seminar will provide a
comprehensive Understanding of the role of
Medical Radiography in Cancer Diagnosis and
treatment.

4. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
OF RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING
TECHNIQUES
• Roentgen and his wife’s
Hand Radiograph
Medical Radiography’s History
dates back to the 19th Century
when Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
discovered X-rays in 1895.
He discovered that this new
beam could cast shadows of solid
objects through majority of
materials and it could penetrate
human tissue.
Later that same year, Roentgen
made a film of his wife Bertha’s
hand. The potential uses of these
rays in surgery and medicine
were soon recognized and they
started getting used for medical
purposes. Since then, various
imaging techniques have been
developed including CT Scans,
MRI, PET and SPECT Scans.

5. DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS
• X-rays: They are a type of electromagnetic
radiation of high energy and short
wavelength that can penetrate through
the body’s soft tissues but are absorbed
by denser tissues like bones thus they are
used to create images for the detection of
pathologies in the body.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scans: It is
an x-ray image created using a form of
tomography where a computer controls
the motion of the x-ray source and
detectors creating detailed images of the
body from different angles.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It is
a type of scan which uses strong magnetic
fields and radio waves to produce detailed
images of the body’s internal structures
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
and Single-Photon Emission Computed
Tomography Scans:
PET and SPECT Scans use small amounts of
radioactive tracers to produce images
of the body’s metabolic activities,
usually used for detecting tumors at
their early stages and monitoring the
effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Ultrasound And Mammography:
Ultrasound uses high frequency sound
waves to produce images of the body’s
internal structure while Mammography
is a specialized type of x-ray that is used
for breast cancer screening.

6. RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING
TECHNIQUES FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS
• X-RAYS: This is the most familiar type of imaging
modality. Images produced by x-rays are due to the
different absorption rates of different tissues.
Bones absorb x-ray the most so they look white on
a film, fat and other soft body tissues absorb less
so they look gray and air absorbs the least so lungs
look black non a radiograph.
• X-rays are used in diagnosing cancer for instance
chest radiographs and mammograms are used for
early cancer detection and to see if cancer has
spread to the lungs or other areas in the chest.
• Fig. 1 Radiograph Showing Small Cell Lung Cancer
• CT SCANS: They use x-rays to produce multiple
images of the body from different angles which are
then reconstructed by a computer into a three-
dimensional image. With this, we can determine
where a tumor is and how deep it is in the body in
order to plan for effective treatment. It is used to
provide detailed images of the body’s internal
organs like liver, lungs and kidneys.
• Fig. 2 A 1mm spiral CT Slice through the midchest
showing both lungs with a white spot in the right
lung indicating a suspicious nodule.

7. RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING
TECHNIQUES FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS
• MRI:It is a non invasive imaging
modality that uses strong magnetic fields
and radio waves to produce detailed
images of the body’s internal structures.
Usually used in detecting tumors of the
brain, spinal cord and soft tissues as it
provides detailed images of the tumors
location and size. There is no hazardous
radiation in MRI making it safe for use in
children and pregnant people as long as
there is no metal in the person’s body.
• Fig 3 MRI Scan without contrast showing
possible liver tumor
• Fig 4 MRI Scan of the same patient using
contrast
Images courtesy of Dr. Peter Choyke,
Clinical Center, NIH.

8. PositronEmissionTomography (PET)
Scan:
This involves the use of radioactive tracers
called radiopharmaceuticals which are
intravenously injected into the patient. An
example of a tracer is
fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG). Cancerous cells
have a higher metabolic rate and tend to
consume more glucose than normal cells.
When this happens, there’s an emission of
positrons which annihilate to release gamma
rays that are then detected and rearranged by
the computer system to create 3D Images of
the body. In these images, cancerous cells
often appear as areas of intense tracer
concentration helping the radiologist to
pinpoint location and extent of tumors as well
as evaluate if the cancer has spread to other
areas of the body. Fig5
Single-PhotonEmissionComputedTomography
(SPECT) Scan:
This functions on the same principle as the PET scan
however it uses radiopharmaceuticals that emit
gamma rays, such as thallium-201. These tracers bind
to specific molecules in the body and reflect blood
flow and tissue function. These emitted gamma rays
are detected by special cameras which translate the
signal into electrical signals that are rearranged by
the computer to produce 2D or 3D Images.
PET Scans detect smaller concentrations of
radiopharmaceuticals and have better sensitivity in
identifying cancerous lesions however SPECT Scans
provide better specificity in certain cases and thus
can be used to target specific receptors or molecules.
Fig 5: PET Scan. Uptake of tracers
In the lymph nodes with lymphoma in the groins, both
axilla and neck (red areas)
Fig 6: High levels of antibody in
Pelvis and axilla (red) and uptake
In thigh and shoulder (green)
Showing areas of cuteanous T-Cell
Lymphoma
Fig 6

9. ULTRASOUND
US Imaging utilizes high frequency sound waves
Which are not audible to humans to generate
images of internal body structures Helping
visualize tumors in soft tissue like breast And
thyroid. In addition to tumor detection, US is useful
In performing biopsies or tumor treatment procedures.
Diagnostic US does not use hazardous radiation
Fig 7: US Image of the liver. Dark areas by arrows show
Possible Tumors.
MAMMOGRAPHY
This ia a special modality that utilizes x-rays in detecting
Breast cancer. It provides detailed images and enables
specific areas to be enlarged or enhanced. Mammography
Has helped in no small way in the early detection of
Cancerous tumors in the breast thereby saving a lot of
patients.
Fig 8: Breast images using conventional and digital
mammography

10. RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER TREATMENT
Radiotherapy has grown to become a common Treatment for cancer that uses high-energy
radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. X-RAYS are typically used although other types
of radiation such are proton radiation are becoming available. It works by damaging cells
Genetic makeup which results in damaging both healthy and cancerous cells but healthy cells
Repair themselves more easily. The goal of radiotherapy is to treat cancer while causing the
Least amount of damage to healthy cells.
Types of Radiation Therapy include; EXTERNAL BEAM RT, INTERNAL BEAM RT and SYSTEMIC
RADIATION But the first two are most common.
External Beam RT like the name implies involves directing high energy radiation beams from
Outside the body towards the tumor and is administered over a number of weeks.
Internal RT also called BRACHYTHERAPY involves exposing the tumor to a radioactive source
Which is placed in or near the tumor and left to do its job
The SIDE EFFECTS Of Radiotherapy may include fatigue, skin changes, hair loss, low blood count
Headache, nausea, diarrhea and sometimes seizures. They are often temporary.
There are NEW ADVANCES in Radiotherapy for instance; INTENSITY MODULATED RT (IMRT)
Which uses computer controlled xrays to target tumors more precisely and also PROTON RT
Which uses proton beams to deliver radiation to the tumor. IN CONCLUSION, RADIOGRAPHY
HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT.

11. REFERENCES
 How Radiation Therapy Is Used To Treat Cancer [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14].
Available
From: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-
types/radiation/basics.html
 SoR. The role of the radiography workforce in accident and emergency. SoC&College
Radiogr [Internet]. 2014; 1-2. Available from:
https://www.sor.org/system/files/section/201410/accident_and_emergency_rad_leaflet.p
df
 Cancer Imaging Basics | Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) [Internet]. [cited 2023 May
14]. Available from: https://imaging.cancer.gov/imaging_basics/cancer_imaging.htm
 Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques: Radiography [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14]
Available from: https://www.nde-
ed.org/NDETechniques/Radiography/Introduction/history.xhtml
 Radiation therapy – Mayo Clinic [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/radiation-therapy/about/pac-20385162
 Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 14]. Available from:
https://imaging.cancer.gov/

12. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING