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Patients & Visitors

Clinical Imaging and Measurement

C16

About the Service

Clinical Imaging and Measurement (C16) provides

  • Nuclear Medicine Imaging
  • Bone Mineral Density Measurement
  • Gastrointestinal Physiology
  • Microvascular Imaging

Nuclear Medicine Imaging: This involves the patient being given a small amount of radioactive tracer linked to a pharmaceutical that will be taken up by the organs of interest. This tracer is normally given intravenously although some may be given orally. The majority of our workload is diagnostic imaging. After the radioactive tracer is administered there is usually a delay while the tracer gets to the area of interest and then the patient is scanned using one of our gamma cameras.

Bone Mineral Density Measurement: This involves taking X-ray pictures of your bones using a DEXA Scanner. The pictures we take for a bone mineral density scan calculate how strong or weak your bones are. If your bones are fragile this is known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis doesn't cause pain but can cause broken bones or fractures to happen easily. If your bone strength is low your healthcare professional can help reduce your risk of breaking your bones.

Gastrointestinal Physiology: This involves the patient being given a small amount of carbohydrate, Glucose or Lactose, in order to investigate Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) or lactose mal-absorption. The procedure uses a Combined Hydrogen/Methane Breath Analyser to detect hydrogen and methane in patient's breath.

Microvascular Imaging: These techniques involve specialist tests such as infra-red thermography and capillaroscopy for our rheumatology patients. We are also involved in a number of research projects and have close links with the University of Bath and the University of the West of England. Recent research areas include microvascular function in connective tissue disease, imaging in localised scleroderma, mechanisms of complex regional pain syndrome and assistive technology for stroke patients.

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