ALU 101 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - ✔✔1. produces images of soft tissue, organs,
bone & other internal structures w/o ionizing radiation
2. preferred over CT when soft tissue is involved
✔✔Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - ✔✔evaluates pulmonary nodules, lung
cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, head/neck cancer, lymphoma, myeloma,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy & hibernating myocardium
✔✔Limitations to PET scanning - ✔✔1. cost
2. accessibility
3. nature of radionucleide agent
4. elevated serum glucose/insulin levels can affect results
5. limited sensitivity in defining tumors less than 10mm
6. high degree of expertise required
✔✔Angiography - ✔✔1. visualizes major blood vessels (i.e. heart, carotid arteries,
kidneys, lungs & legs)
2. identifies obstruction, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, pulmonary emboli &
DVT
3. gold standard for vessel imaging
✔✔Endoscopy - ✔✔1. invasive procedure that inspects cavities/hollow organs
2. designed for: colonoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, laparoscopy, bronchoscopy
3. evaluates blood flow/provides depth and extent of a lesion (when used with US)
✔✔MRI is preferred test for which conditions? - ✔✔acute hemorrhage/hemorrhagic
stroke, brain abscess, sinus disease, hydrocephalus, aneurysms/arteriovenous
malformations,
acute non-hemorrhagic stroke, tumor/metastasis, MS, Alzheimer's
, ✔✔CT is preferred test for which conditions? - ✔✔acute head trauma, TIA, acute
hemorrhage/hemorrhagic stroke, brain abscess, sinus disease, hydrocephalus,
aneurysms/arteriovenous malformations, Alzheimer's (w/ PET)
✔✔Carotid Duplex US - ✔✔measures focal blood flow velocities in carotid artery &
provides estimate of carotid stenosis/residual lumen diameter
✔✔Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) - ✔✔specifically targets blood flow &
blood vessel abnormalities
can view vessels of neck, face and head
includes Computed Tomography Angiography
✔✔Cerebral Angiography - ✔✔1. invasive study involving insertion of a catheter through
the femoral artery & threaded into the aorta to monitor arteries of the head and neck
2. gold standard for imaging small blood vessels that supply the brain and spinal cord
✔✔Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) - ✔✔1. helps dx
dementias and neurodegenerative disorders
2. uses scintigraphy to monitor blood flow and produces 3D images
3. less sensitive than PET scan for the brain
✔✔Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap - ✔✔1. helps dx subarachnoid hemorrhage,
infection/inflammation, MS & Guillain-Barre Syndrome
2. can be used to detect disc protrusion (myelography), or tumors obstructing the spinal
canal, chemotherapy or anesthesia
✔✔Cisternography - ✔✔1. radiographic imaging of the subarachnoid spaces that
contain spinal fluid (cisterns)
2. dx's normal pressure hydrocephalus, spinal fluid fistulas or leaks
3. often combined w/ CT/MRI scans
✔✔Tilt Table Test - ✔✔evaluates syncope esp. when cardiac testing & seizure
evaluation have not provided a dx
✔✔Vasovagal Syncope - ✔✔syncope involving decrease in BP & heart rate
✔✔Dysautonomic Syncope - ✔✔syncopy involving decrease in BP only (autonomic
nervous system disorder)
✔✔Electroencephalograpy (EEG) - ✔✔1. measures & records low voltage electrical
activity in the brain
2. helps dx epilepsy & seizure disorders
3. records standard patterns of alpha, beta, delta and theta waves that are influenced by
level of consciousness
✔✔Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - ✔✔1. produces images of soft tissue, organs,
bone & other internal structures w/o ionizing radiation
2. preferred over CT when soft tissue is involved
✔✔Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - ✔✔evaluates pulmonary nodules, lung
cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, head/neck cancer, lymphoma, myeloma,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy & hibernating myocardium
✔✔Limitations to PET scanning - ✔✔1. cost
2. accessibility
3. nature of radionucleide agent
4. elevated serum glucose/insulin levels can affect results
5. limited sensitivity in defining tumors less than 10mm
6. high degree of expertise required
✔✔Angiography - ✔✔1. visualizes major blood vessels (i.e. heart, carotid arteries,
kidneys, lungs & legs)
2. identifies obstruction, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, pulmonary emboli &
DVT
3. gold standard for vessel imaging
✔✔Endoscopy - ✔✔1. invasive procedure that inspects cavities/hollow organs
2. designed for: colonoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, laparoscopy, bronchoscopy
3. evaluates blood flow/provides depth and extent of a lesion (when used with US)
✔✔MRI is preferred test for which conditions? - ✔✔acute hemorrhage/hemorrhagic
stroke, brain abscess, sinus disease, hydrocephalus, aneurysms/arteriovenous
malformations,
acute non-hemorrhagic stroke, tumor/metastasis, MS, Alzheimer's
, ✔✔CT is preferred test for which conditions? - ✔✔acute head trauma, TIA, acute
hemorrhage/hemorrhagic stroke, brain abscess, sinus disease, hydrocephalus,
aneurysms/arteriovenous malformations, Alzheimer's (w/ PET)
✔✔Carotid Duplex US - ✔✔measures focal blood flow velocities in carotid artery &
provides estimate of carotid stenosis/residual lumen diameter
✔✔Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) - ✔✔specifically targets blood flow &
blood vessel abnormalities
can view vessels of neck, face and head
includes Computed Tomography Angiography
✔✔Cerebral Angiography - ✔✔1. invasive study involving insertion of a catheter through
the femoral artery & threaded into the aorta to monitor arteries of the head and neck
2. gold standard for imaging small blood vessels that supply the brain and spinal cord
✔✔Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) - ✔✔1. helps dx
dementias and neurodegenerative disorders
2. uses scintigraphy to monitor blood flow and produces 3D images
3. less sensitive than PET scan for the brain
✔✔Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap - ✔✔1. helps dx subarachnoid hemorrhage,
infection/inflammation, MS & Guillain-Barre Syndrome
2. can be used to detect disc protrusion (myelography), or tumors obstructing the spinal
canal, chemotherapy or anesthesia
✔✔Cisternography - ✔✔1. radiographic imaging of the subarachnoid spaces that
contain spinal fluid (cisterns)
2. dx's normal pressure hydrocephalus, spinal fluid fistulas or leaks
3. often combined w/ CT/MRI scans
✔✔Tilt Table Test - ✔✔evaluates syncope esp. when cardiac testing & seizure
evaluation have not provided a dx
✔✔Vasovagal Syncope - ✔✔syncope involving decrease in BP & heart rate
✔✔Dysautonomic Syncope - ✔✔syncopy involving decrease in BP only (autonomic
nervous system disorder)
✔✔Electroencephalograpy (EEG) - ✔✔1. measures & records low voltage electrical
activity in the brain
2. helps dx epilepsy & seizure disorders
3. records standard patterns of alpha, beta, delta and theta waves that are influenced by
level of consciousness
