radiology

I am just about to finish my first week of my 1 month radiology rotation. Thus far, it's been interesting. Currently I am working in the peds department. Sometimes in the morning I watch fluroscopy - where kids drink some barium drink and we take x-rays if it to see if they have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or if they have an obstruction in there GI tract, etc. It's sort of interesting. Today I saw 2 girls come in to see if they are having continued vesicoureteral reflux (reflux of urine from the bladder back into the ureters going towards the kidneys). In this situation a catheter has be stuck into the girl's bladder and then we fill the bladder with something that can be seen on x-ray and look to see if there is reflux once the bladder is fully distended.

Other than that I sit in a dark room looking at x-rays, MRI's, and CT scans. It can be boring at times, but I do find some of it interesting. My goal for this rotation was just to gain some basic knowledge about radiology. I'm learning. I like the variety of the different things I get to see, because we are able to get through many films in a day. Actually there aren't real films anymore - it's all digital. The problem I have is that I want to know how to treat these kids and what happens to them. You don't get to find this out as a radiologist. For example I've seen x-rays of some pretty bad scoliosis and I want to know what can be done and how do things work out for these kids.

I'm more interested in the treatment aspect and what happens after diagnosis aspect rather than the radiology aspect. I'm learning though, relaxing, and enjoying myself.

Heading to State College this weekend to visit a "friend" ;) ;) - It should be fun. There's a Penn State Game. We don't have tickets, but that doesn't mean we can't tailgate with everyone. I'll post pictures when I get back on Sunday!