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Show X-ray exposes liiddeii ' -t -, vi4 .. ' In ' w ' ' 'A 1 " ' " 1 : P 1 ' " ff i I ' . . 1 1 &iiS!Afttf:-::::v:: n n ilWiliffl i V irifi ii liii illi liii iMUMiiii m i iimitWTrmiTi OunTifi MMilTnin 'iHHi nnnid A football player with a neck injury in-jury entered American Fork Hospital for treatment. A routine x-ray x-ray was taken to help determine the type and extent of the injury, and something completely unexpected was discovered. This young man had been born with a malformation which caused a weakness in his neck. If he continued playing football, his neck could have been broken at any time ... the young man stopped playing football. This is just one example of x-ray's medical significance. A potentially fatal problem was identified that could otherwise have remained hidden until it was too late. When American Fork Hospital (AFH) first opened its doors in 1937, only very basic x-rays were possible. Today's AFH x-ray department is a fully-equipped, modern facility with state-of-the-art equipment including "CAT" scan, osteoporosis and mammography capabilities, nuclear medicine, and modern x-ray equipment that releases much less radiation than x-ray x-ray equipment of past years. According to Dr. Harvey Hatch, AFH radiologist, the history of x-rays x-rays goes back past the turn of the century. A German physics professor, Dr. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, discovered "x-rays" in the year 1895. They were called "x-rays" "x-rays" because they were unknown rays, and "x" is the unknown number in mathematical equations. In 1901, Roentgen won the Nobel Prize. By the early 1900's, x-rays were used by physicians, mainly for bone work. Dr. Hatch explains that, in simplest sim-plest terms, x-ray films are ; produced by shooting a beam of x-rays x-rays (gamma energy rays) through ; a patient onto an x-ray film cassette. Since x-rays are not able to go through dense objects (such as bones) as easily as light objects (such as air), density shows whiter and lack of density shows darker ... the result is an x-ray picture. "X-ray technology was revolutionary to the world of medicine," says Dr. Hatch. "For the first time, doctors could look inside the body without opening it up." Dr. Hatch says that when he first came on staff in 1974, the hospital was still using basically the same type of x-ray units they had used in 1937 . . . very little had changed in x-ray x-ray technology during those years. However, the next 13 years brought major advances. In 1977, the hospital obtained equipment to perform ultrasound, which utilizes high-frequency sound waves that bounce off structures and form a picture. Dr. Hatch explains that this procedure works especially well in fluids, and doesn't have the radiation dangers associated with x-rays. x-rays. It is mainly used to monitor unborn babies in the womb, and is also used to identify problems in the abdomen and gal bladder. In the late 1970's "rare earth" x-ray x-ray screens were developed. "This requires only one-eighth to one-fourth one-fourth the amount of usual radiation in order to make a picture," says Dr. Hatch. "Today, all x-rays taken at AFH are of this type." According to Dr. Hatch, mammography mam-mography developed within the last 20 years, but has only been utilized during the last 10 years. AFH obtained ob-tained a mammography machine in the early 1980's. This machine uses a special type of x-ray beam and a special kind of cassette to examine soft tissues, and is used mainly for the detection of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, it has cut down breast cancer deaths by 30 percent. In the last two years, AFH obtained ob-tained a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan machine. Initially developed in England in 1973, this process was refined and made precise by 1978. By using a computer to form an image of what the x-ray beam is seeing, the "CAT" scan picture is much more precise than an ordinary x-ray. However, it is also much more costly. "Cat" scans are used mainly for the detection of strokes, acute bleeding, trauma of the head, and body tumors. "This was a major leap forward in x-ray technology," says Dr. Hatch. Nuclear medicine capabilities came to AFH just this year. Dr. Hatch explains that radioactive substances are injected into the Dr. Harvey Hatch examines an x-ray with a technician. I body. As these rays rise out of the body, they are detected by a screen on a Gama Camera, and an image is photographed. This assists physicians in diagnosing bone and thyroid cancer, as well as blood clots in the lungs and other medical problems. Even through the name frightens some people. Dr. Hatch emphasizes that there is no more radiation associated with nuclear medicine ; than with other types of x-ray. Today's AFH radiology department depart-ment is well-equipped to handle most x-ray needs. Two highly qualified radiologists, Dr. Hatch and Dr. Val Dunn, work with 10 technicians who operate the machines and take pictures. A great deal of growth and change has developed since AFH first opened as a small community hospital in 1937. |