Nuclear Medicine This technique uses a very low dose of a radioactive agent which is taken up and used by the body's metabolism to reveal bodily function with the agent broken down naturally by the body usually within minutes to hours before it is excreted.

Bone Densitometry (DEXA scanning) This is a very low dose x-ray technique used to quantitatively measure bone density.  The same equipment can also be used to measure the amount and distribution of body fat.

Full Field Digital Mammography State-of-the-art imaging using a low dose x-ray technique whilst the breast is compressed allowing accurate delineation of microcalcification and soft tissue abnormalities which may suggest breast cancer.  The same equipment utilises an accurate localisation technique called stereotaxis to place a biopsy needle with minimum discomfort in potentially abnormal areas.

CT Scans (128 multislice scanner) A technique using a low dose of x-rays to image the entire body in slices as thin as a millimetre demonstrating anatomy and pathology in exquisite detail.

MRI Scans (1.5T scanner) This technique employs a magnetic field  in which naturally occurring particles in the body called 'protons' are first 'excited' prior to measuring their tendency to 'relax'.  The measurements are then converted into a detailed image showing anatomy (and pathology where present).

PET CT Scanning An infrequently available imaging modality most commonly used to assess tumour activity.  A low dose rapidly 'decaying' radioactive substance simulating a body metabolite (eg 18F-deoxyglucose [FDG] acting like glucose or PSMA, a biomarker for prostate cancer) is taken up by metabolising cells.  Cancer cells typically take up such agents 'avidly' and the cancer activity including spread and treatment response can be assessed.

Pinhole Surgery An established 'minimally invasive' technique typically using a 'pinhole' puncture of the skin at varying sites in the body to allow detailed internal imaging of the body, often used to guided minimally invasive treatments.  For a full list of therapeutic options click here.

Ultrasound (including Doppler imaging) A technique using sound waves rather than x-rays to provide imaging of the body.  It is particularly useful in areas of the body where bone or air does not block the penetration of sound waves.  Thus it is useful in most areas of the body but limited in the skull, chest and gas-containing structures eg bowel.

X-Ray Imaging (Digital) The original imaging technique using 'x-rays' following the discovery in 1896 of previously unidentified rays (hence "X") by Conrad Von Roentgen.  Digital imaging using the technique called 'Computed Radiography' currently ensures more detailed imaging using lower x-ray doses.  The latesrt technique is 'Digital Radiography' (DR).