X-ray: Medicine enters more transparent window of imaging

Nearly 115 years ago, Prof Wilhelm Roentgen invented a gadget that would revolutionise medicine.

In the middle of a cold December night in 1895, he pulled his wife out of bed and brought her to his laboratory, asking her to place her hand upon a photographic plate and aimed a machine at her hand.

A few minutes later, the world’s first X-ray was developed.

The tool that is now commonplace has proved unparalleled in service to the medical community was initially described as “mythical and unearthly”.

In fact, Mr Roentgen’s wife is said to have exclaimed “it makes me somehow feel that I’m looking at my own death!” upon seeing the bones in her hand.

Over a hundred years later, the X-ray is undergoing transformation thanks to technology.

For instance, ultrasounds have now moved to supplying 4D images.

“Expectant mothers can clearly see the features of the baby and it is also easier to catch abnormalities using 4D,” said Dr Saleem Malik, the chief radiographer at Aga Khan University Hospital.
According to new research from Frost & Sullivan entitled Strategic Analysis of the Medical Imaging Industry in Kenya, in 2007 the X-ray market earned revenues of Sh1.9 billion ($25 million) but is expected to reach Sh3.2 billion ($43 million) in 2014.

According to this report, the Kenyan medical imaging market will experience steady growth over the next five years, primarily driven by an aging population demanding greater access to the services and diagnostic procedures.

And while traditionally patients would be forced to carry big, stiff envelopes containing their x-rays to specialists, doctors can now send them digitally.

Today, most major hospitals, both private and public have advanced to digital x-ray machines that save the images on portable devices such as discs.

With digital machines, radiologists can manipulate images at the time of viewing and can improve contrast for a better picture.

By next year, the Aga Khan University Hospital will be among the first hospitals in Kenya to have the latest technology that will connect all its branches in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and others such that with the touch of a button, a doctor can access and compare images irrespective of where they are.

To draw a comparison, while other industries strive to push more of their functions onto computers and become paperless, the medical technology is moving to filmless images.

According to Frost & Sullivan health research analyst Jolize Gerber, growth in the x-ray market will be driven mainly by the installation of digital systems as well as the introduction of picture archiving communication systems (PACS) to the Kenyan market.