The duty of an x-ray technician in the field of medicine is quite demanding than what it appears to be. Like most medical staffs, their responsibility extends to caring patients, especially those who are in extreme pain. The term x-ray technologist is not confined to operating only x-ray machines. In fact, it is far more than that because x-ray technicians are also responsible for maintaining radiology supplies and inventory. The x-ray technicians’ knowledge in this field is very important as they are also responsible what supplies need to be ordered as well as verifying the supplies the moment they arrive. Therefore, an x-ray technologist or technician is not a mere machine operator. He is in the very first place a person dedicated to the caring of the patients.

The primary responsibility of an xray technologist, though, is to operate the x-ray machine to find out injuries and diseases or other conditions that afflict the patients by using the x-ray machine. The results of the x-ray or the findings are basis for doctors to diagnose the medical condition of the patients. This is very crucial because many diseases can only be diagnosed through the help of x-ray machines. In fact, the job of an x-ray technician demands love for the patients more than just operating the machines. They must also be very caring to the patients’ feelings and dignity as persons while doing their duty. They are constantly being reminded that some patients are battling with life-threatening diseases and they are called upon to be compassionate.

X-ray technologists are also trained to see minor flaws in their job. They have very high attention to detail qualities because the role they play in the medical field is very crucial as they are basically dealing with life and death, and so care is of utmost importance. A little failure in detail could have tremendous impact on the lives of the patients. Moreover, a high energy level is a requirement for x-ray technicians because most of the time they stand on their feet to perform their job, not to mention the fact that they also deal with tough and demanding situations. This kind of job demands energy and endurance.

Seen at the wider side of life, the responsibility of an x-ray technologist indeed is a demanding position. The very workplace where they are involved requires care because they are basically dealing with stressful and critical situations on the life of the patients. In fact, they are trained to handle the situations very carefully without missing any detail. Finally, x-ray technologists are people who have a positive outlook in life precisely because they help patient have a positive life.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

The attempted terrorist attack against a commercial jetliner in Detroit by a would-be terrorist from Nigeria—who hid the explosives in his underwear—has prompted the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom and across the world to put up full-body scanners at airports with a hope to prevent future terrorists from smuggling explosives onto the commercial jetliners.

There are two types of full-body scanners: the millimeter wave sensors or the backscatter x-rays. Today, the most important consideration that governments and the passengers need to think about is whether or not these full-body scanners are safe for human usage. The question on the possible hazards of the full body scanners upon the health of constant travelers should also be considered.

X-rays

Discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, x-ray is a kind of ionizing radiation. The main purpose of X-ray in the field of medicine is that it detects abnormalities in the skeletal system of a patient as well as in identifying diseases in soft tissues like the lungs. In the 1950’s, x-rays were so popular that people were subjected to it to detect tuberculosis but it was discovered that yearly chest x-ray can actually cause cancer. As a result, the annual chest x-ray was discontinued.

In fact, common experience tells us that even radiologists (x-ray operators) protect themselves against the ionizing radiation during x-ray sessions by standing behind the radiation proof screen.
It is same with the dentists who stand behind the screen or leave the room during x-ray sessions to protect themselves against the ionizing radiation. Radiologists and dentists are well aware that x-ray radiations can cause cancer.

In a study by Amy Berrington de Gonzalez of the University of Oxford and Sarah Darby of the Cancer Research in the United Kingdom, they revealed that the percentage of cancers caused by the exposure against x-ray radiation is 0.6 percent. To simplify this illustration, it states that in every 167 cancer cases, one of them is caused by x-ray radiation.

Mammograms

In a research published by Dr. Jansen-van der Weide and his colleagues from the Department of Epidemiology and Radiology at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, they investigated whether low-dose radiation can lead to breast cancer among women. They came up with the results, as follows:

• The research found out that women are at high risk, especially those with genetic or familial predisposition to breast cancer, and who have had five or more mammograms at their twenties. They have 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than other women who never had any mammograms.
• The research also discovered that older women have also higher chances of developing breast cancer by 1.5 times through mammograms. In other words, high risk women have more chances of getting breast cancer. The risk of getting breast cancer is higher if women are subjected to more mammograms.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has reviewed the scientific evidence and has suggested recommendations with respect to mammograms.

Foremost of the recommendation is that women under the age of 50 must only be required to undergo mammograms unless there is reasonable need for doing so. Moreover, women with age over 50 are recommended to have it only every other year. Though mammogram is a low-dose radiation, yet it remains hazardous because of x-ray radiation. Unfortunately, however, it is the same ionizing radiation that is used in Backscatter X-ray full body scanners.

This leads to more important and relevant question about the countless women who need to pass through a Backscatter X-ray full body scanners every time they travel on a commercial airliner. If mammogram increases the risk of having breast cancer, will it be the same with Backscatter X-ray full body scanners?

Millimeter Wave Sensors

There are two types of Millimeter-wave Imaging Technology:

1. Passive Detection System. This type of imaging technology is also called Passive Imaging System or Passive Millimeter Wave Imager. What is good in this technology is that it does not produce electromagnetic radiation, thus safer as compared to others.2. Active Detection System. This type of imaging technology is also called as Active Imaging System. This type of technology functions like a bouncing millimeter pulsed noise, basically like waves at 96 GHz against the subject, and functioning like radar.

CT Scans

Because of the evidences proving that exposure to x-rays have negative effects against the human health, there is now an alternative method used in full body scanning. If the aim is medical in nature, the full body CT scanners can actually be used for this purpose. In fact, many people are now using the CT scanners for their yearly medical checkup.

In a report published by the New England Journal of Medicine, it states that third of the entire CT scans are not actually necessary. In fact, in 2006 alone, there were about 62 millions CT scans, but 20 million of them were unnecessary just for that year alone.

So what are the governments going to do?

Now that airports around the world are putting up full body scanners for security purposes, it is even more difficult for regular passengers to avoid being scanned by x-ray machines. In fact, there is now a clamor to install the Passive Millimeter Wave Imaging body scanners at airports because they are proven to be safer than other technologies.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This

Also known as radiologic technologists or radiographers, x-ray technicians are people who operate machines and materials with radioactive contents which are used in medicine. This description, however professional, does not actually explain the complexities of their job, and it is important to look first into the responsibilities of the radiographers.

The x-ray machine is one of the most important diagnostic equipment used in modern medicine. The word “x-ray” was first used by Wilhelm Rontgen who used such a word since it was then an unknown radiation. The rays can actually go through most solid objects, with the exception of denser and thicker materials. In fact, it was Rontgen himself who discovered the x-ray but eventually decided not to use his name after his invention. The discovery led him to be awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics. As a result of this, countless scientists and inventors attempted to follow his investigations into what was known then as the strange energy. Famous scientists who followed in Rontgen’s investigations were Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. The invention and refinement of imaging machines and all sorts of maintenance and work related to these new machines have brought about new profession in this field. The result was that radiological technologists were born.

Getting an x-ray image is not only about exposing the patient to a lamp of radioactive material. It is more importantly about getting fine control to get the right quality of image. Now the image is deemed useless if it’s overexposed or underexposed, very the same in photographic film developing. The radiographer’s main task while operating the machine is to see to it that the image is good and they do this by carefully watching and adjusting radiation levels from the machine.  Aside from this, x-ray technicians are themselves responsible in the development of the film. Very much like in photography, a film is not useful without being “fixed.” Therefore, getting a film done sets the image and prevents further reactions and this means preserving the image even under bright lights. Since the film can only be seen and interpreted using strong light, it is important that the film is first fixed.

Another important element in the profession of the radiographers is that like many professions, they too work with people. They are trained how to position the patients and how to deal with them. In fact, it is even more difficult to deal with people who are suffering from various pains and illnesses, but radiographers have mastered this craft.

The working condition of the radiographers is not also safe, compared to many other medical professions, simply because they are exposed to radiation which is very dangerous. They need to know how to shield themselves and the patients from excessive exposure to radiation. It the end, the aim really is to help patients get better, and not exposing them to further health hazards.

Finally, x-ray technicians have an edge in first identifying health problems of patients based on the results. They are also qualified to interpret findings, and they too are knowledgeable to identify sensitive spots in the image. With the kind of job the radiologists perform in the field of medicine, we acknowledge their valuable contributions to medicine.

Delicious Digg This Reddit Stumble This