The Imaging in Cases of Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

This thesis deals with imaging in cases of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. It mainly focuses on the diagnostic imaging using imaging modalities, such as skiagraphy,skiascopy, ultrasonography, computer telegraphy and magnetic resonance. The objective of this thesis was to determine the characteristic and specific qualities of various diagnostic procedures of a radiological assistant when imaging patients suffering from obesity and the metabolic syndrome, especially when a contrast medium is used during the treatment, and then to compare the diagnostic possibilities of imaging when different imaging modalities are used. The theoretical part describes obesity and the metabolic syndrome, with the special focus being done on their possible extent and resulting complications. Theimaging modalities do not image obesity and the metabolic syndrome as such, but deal with the diagnostics and the treatment of various illnesses caused by metabolic dysfunctions. The issue of diagnostic imaging is complicated by the differences in methods caused by the use or non-use of ionizing radiation. The increased risk of complications during the treatment of patients suffering from obesity and the metabolic syndrome can be caused by the use of a contrast medium, which is mostly used in diagnostic imaging and it is also sometimes used in therapeutic imaging, such the invasive treatment of the cardiovascular system. For this reason, this issue has also been dealt with in this thesis. The practical part contains an evaluation and a comparison of 100 questionnaires that have been filled in by randomly selected patients of the Radiological Department.The questionnaires were anonymous and those questions were created so as to determine the prevalence of obesity in the investigated sample, which would then provide information about the possible complications that can occur during an examination which have been caused by obesity and the metabolic syndrome. After completion of the questionnaire by these patients, I also participated in their examination and verified my presupposed hypothesis in practice. The results of the questionnaire research and the participation in the examination of respondents confirmed my hypothesis that imaging in obesity and the metabolic syndrome requires a special approach, especially when contrast mediums are used during the treatment. Attention has to be paid not only to the technical modifications of procedures in individual imaging modalities, but also to the specifications connected with organ polymorbidity and the related complicating pathological conditions. Since the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome is increasing, it is very probable that we will meet patients suffering from this type of illness increasingly more often at the Radiological Department. This is another reason why the specificities of imaging patients suffering from these illnesses should be gradually implemented into regular radiological imaging procedures