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X-ray technology has come a long way

By Dr. Don Palermo, McClatchy Newspapers, Source: MCT News Service

My article this week is about one specific aspect of my profession that has changed drastically during my 32 years of practicing veterinary medicine _ X-rays.

I used the old terminology because that was precisely what we called it in 1977. I originally used an X-ray machine purchased from the local hospital that had been used for "humans." Now veterinary medicine has come a long way since that first X-ray machine of mine, but at the time that machine was a welcomed addition for my practice.

The first X-ray developer was a hand-dipped vat with three departments. The first section had developing solution while the second section was the neutralizer that would wash away any of the developer and prepare the film to be hand-dipped into the third section which was "the fixer." The fixer enabled the film to remain in a stable environment that allowed for viewing, diagnosing, and storage.

It is interesting to note that the duration of time in each department depended on the strength of your X-ray solutions. As the solutions aged, they became weak. I have stayed in a dark closet developing many an X-ray from one to 10 minutes depending on the strength of the developing solution.

About 10 years later the automatic processor was available for X-rays. Excuse me, we were told to say radiographs in 1987.

Technology does bring with it a new nomenclature. After all when the expense goes up a new name must come on the scene to describe it.

With the advantage of the automatic processor, veterinary medicine allowed the client to be informed of his or her pets problem during the initial exam. I found it much more comforting to tell a concerned client that their pet had a specific fracture and be able to show the radiograph immediately while discussing treatment.

Now veterinary medicine has reached another plateau of radiographs.

Excuse me, I'm supposed to be saying digital imaging. You guessed it, more technology, but what a technology it is.

Our local hospital in Ocean Springs, Miss., can now store all patients' radiographs electronically in their file on our computer rather than use large storage files that take up so much space. Our local veterinary emergency clinic uses the same digital imaging and can even burn a disc and send the radiograph to the local veterinary hospital for further treatment.

Some of the marvelous advantages of digital imaging include being able to magnify a suspicious area for a closer look, storage of the radiograph as I said before, and use of a collection plate rather than film for collecting the image.

All of veterinary medicine has improved since 1977. I am so proud of the way all my colleagues use current technology that enables all of us to give such quality care to our furry friends. Now if I can only learn how to use my digital camera and be able to text someone on my phone.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

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(Dr. Don Palermo, a veterinarian at Bienville Animal Medical Center in Ocean Springs, encourages questions for this column. Write to South Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, 20005 Pineville Road, Long Beach MS 39560 and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.)

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