CALee Acupuncture

📌 [Part 2] Which Test Can Detect the Signals in My Body? — Imaging Diagnostics by Disease

In the previous post, we explored how imaging devices work.
This time, let’s take a look at how these tools are actually used in clinical practice, and which tests are most effective for different diseases.

---

☁ X-ray: Quickly Detecting Problems in Bones and Lungs

Main Diagnostic Areas

• Fractures: Check for bone damage after trauma

• Pneumonia, tuberculosis: Identify lung inflammation and lesions

• Arthritis: Analyze joint space and bone deformities

✅ Strengths: Fast and inexpensive
❗ Limitations: Soft tissue is not well visualized

---

🔄 CT: Fast and Precise 3D Imaging

Main Diagnostic Areas

• Cerebral hemorrhage, stroke: Emergency diagnosis of acute brain conditions

• Cancer diagnosis: Staging and metastasis check (e.g., lung cancer, liver cancer)

• Abdominal conditions: Appendicitis, organ rupture, etc.

• Complex fractures: Detailed analysis of fine or multiple fractures

✅ Strengths: Quick scan, precise 3D images
❗ Limitations: Higher radiation exposure

---

🎧 Ultrasound: Tracking Internal Movement in Real Time

Main Diagnostic Areas

• Pregnancy checkups: Monitor fetal development

• Thyroid, breast: Detect nodules or tumors

• Abdominal organs: Liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas

• Blood vessels: Assess blood flow, thrombosis, narrowing

• Musculoskeletal system: Diagnose rotator cuff or ligament injuries

✅ Strengths: No radiation, real-time examination
❗ Limitations: Accuracy depends on examiner’s skill

---

🧠 MRI: Detecting Even the Smallest Changes in Soft Tissue

Main Diagnostic Areas

• Brain diseases: Brain tumors, encephalitis, dementia, early stroke

• Spinal disorders: Herniated disc, stenosis, spinal tumors

• Joint conditions: Ligament, cartilage, tendon injuries

• Cancer: Precise diagnosis and monitoring in liver, prostate, etc.

✅ Strengths: Extremely precise, no radiation
❗ Limitations: Longer exam time, higher cost, discomfort in confined spaces

---

🩺 Which Test Should You Choose?

Choosing the right test is not simply about “which device is more precise.”
It requires a comprehensive consideration of symptoms, urgency, disease characteristics, cost, and safety.

Examples:

• Suspected arm fracture: X-ray → If ligament injury suspected, add MRI

• Severe headache: CT to check for bleeding → If stroke suspected, follow with MRI

• Abdominal pain: Ultrasound first → Add CT if needed

---

🧘 Harmony Between Traditional Korean Medicine and Imaging Diagnostics

In Traditional Korean Medicine, diagnosis is made by comprehensively considering the patient’s symptoms, constitution, and overall condition.
In this process, imaging results can serve as valuable, objective information.

For example, if lower back pain is due to a simple muscle spasm or a disc problem, imaging helps determine the cause—allowing for a more precise and tailored treatment plan in Korean medicine.

Thus, imaging is not only a tool of Western medicine but also a valuable aid for personalized treatments in Korean medicine, enabling a more precise and integrative approach.

---

📝 In Conclusion

Imaging devices are not merely “tools to see diseases” but essential technologies in modern medicine that make accurate diagnosis and timely treatment possible.
Knowing the strengths and limitations of X-ray, CT, ultrasound, and MRI—and choosing the right one for the right condition—is key to better health management.

We hope this overview provides some guidance when visiting a hospital and helps you better understand your own body.

So far, we have briefly looked at how the most common imaging methods work and how they are applied for different conditions.

Moving forward, we will continue to provide accurate and trustworthy care through the harmonious integration of Traditional Korean Medicine and modern imaging diagnostics. Thank you. 🙏

👉 CALee Acupuncture on Google