April 2008 Blog Archive
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
New Lung Imaging Technology Relies on Illumination
Lung cancer and other diseases of the lungs are of great concern to a large portion of the population. It is currently most common to check for these problems using a CT
lung scan. However, new technology has been developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield which may have the potential to offer more accurate information than the lung scan.
The new technology uses innovative light imaging in combination with an MRI scan to show doctors the function of the lungs. The patient inhales harmless gases which are then hyper-polarized using lasers. The air spaces in the lungs are revealed by looking at images on the MRI. Researchers will continue to study this technology to see if it can be effectively used as a preventive method in the future.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Why has it taken so long to move forward from using the traditional lung scan if other technologies may be more efficient?photo link
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Celebrities Concerned About Colon Cancer
You probably already know that colon cancer is something to be concerned about. It's one of the major cancers affecting people and a leading cause of death in America and worldwide. That's why it's strongly recommended that people get regular
colon cancer screening as they age.
Unfortunately, not all individuals are as health savvy as you are. Many people don't realize that colon cancer is such a problem for the average person. And most people don't take the need to get screening as seriously as they should. That's why it's great to see that a number of celebrities are speaking out about the issue.
A handful of celebrities have been affected by colon cancer, either by being diagnosed with it themselves or by having a diagnosis in the family make them realize the seriousness of the issue. Celebrities that are taking their awareness to the media and making sure that fans realize the importance of screening include singer Vanessa Williams, baseballl player Darryl Strawberry and fashion designer Carme Marc Valvo.
When well-known people start to spread the word about causes, their fans begin to notice. This could start an important trend in raising awareness about this medical issues. Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Is it important for celebrities to make an effort to raise awareness of medical issues such as colon cancer?photo link
Monday, April 28, 2008
Brain Tumor Neuroimaging Improves Quality of Life
Patients who are suffering from a brain tumor don't have many options other than to have the tumor removed. However, there are definite risks associated with brain surgery. These risks have the potential to impact different parts of the brain and lower the patient's quality of life. Researchers interested in eliminating this problem have been working hard to find ways to map out the brain and decrease these risks. A new study shows that neuroimaging can be immensely helpful in this area on an individual level.
Neuroimaging is used to map the function of the brain before, during and after the surgery. This provides valuable information to the surgeon which decreases the risks of the surgery. The surgeon is better able to balance the need to remove the tumor with the risks of removing parts of the brain. This ensures better patient survival rates and an overall increase in the quality of life for patients.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Is imaging more important for preventive health or as part of the overall treatment of disease?photo link
Friday, April 25, 2008
Korean-Americans At Risk of Undetected Colon Cancer
Despite increased education about preventive health care throughout the United States, there continue to be portions of the population which are underserved in this area of medicine. One
recent study took a look at the fact that Korean-Americans are much less likely than others in America to get screening for
colon cancer. As a result, the disease is more likely to cause damage and fatalities in this population (due to late-stage detection).
The study reviewed the reasons that this population seems to remain underserved and found the following to be the most likely factors:
- Failure of
physicians to recommend screenings and / or lack of knowledge regarding location of test sites..
- Language barriers and related concerns that don't get expressed.
- Fear of being a burden on the family by getting "unnecessary" treatments.
- Lack of health insurance and / or money to pay for screenings.
The study suggests that physicians working with a Korean-American population should take care to make sure that their patients understand the importance of screening and have the resources to get the screening done.
Question of the Day: Which other populations in America do you suspect are underserved when it comes to preventive health care?photo link
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Make Sure Your Colonscopy Doctor Is Experienced
When you go to get any sort of preventive imaging done, you want to work with an experienced doctor. That's just a common sense kind of thing. But a
new study shows that you particularly want to ask about the experience of a doctor who is going to give you a colonsoscopy. That's because it's been determined that the screening is much more effective when the doctor has specific experience than when he is new to the job.
The study revealed that a doctor must complete at least 150 colonscopy exams in order to be able to achieve the best results from the screening. As a patient, you are more likely to get proper screening if you work with a doctor that has done a great number of these exams.
However, it should be noted for the Western patient that this study was looking at the traditional colonsoscopy exam. This is not a very common exam anymore due to the fact that we now have the
virtual colonoscopy. This newer method uses scanning technology to provide the doctor with information and may not have the same experience requirements as the traditional colonoscopy.
Question of the Day: What would be the minimum experience level you would require from a doctor who was giving you a colonoscopy?photo link
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
CT Scan to Replace Ultrasonography for Pulmonary Embolisms
Most people don't know what a
pulmonary embolism is but it's definitely something that you want to know about if you have one. It's a blockage in the pumonary artery that can cause health problems ranging from difficulty breathing to sudden death. It is commonly detected using a combination of a D-Dimer Measurement and venous ultrasonography. However, a new study reveals that the ultrasonography may be replaced with a CT scan for effective detection of the ailment.
The
CT scan is done of the chest to look at the arteries and determine whether or not there is blockage. It should be noted that the single-slice CT scan is not capable of detecting this problem. However, the multi-slice CT scan is as effective as venous ultrasonography in identifying blockages. Once identified, this blocks can be treated in order to reduce the discomfort and risk of the pulmonary embolism.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: If your symptoms included chest pain and difficulty breathing, what would be the first health problem you would presume that you had?photo link
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Forgotten Cancer is in your Mouth
There are a number of different types of cancer that people regularly get screened for. The most common of these are breast cancer, prostate cancer and
colorectal cancer. However, one of the leading fatal forms of cancer is a type that we don't normally screen for ... in fact, it's one that we almost never hear about at all!
That cancer is oral cancer (or cancer of the mouth). It's a highly fatal form of cancer:
"Nationally, statistics show that the death rate from these cancers is higher than those of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, testicular cancer, and thyroid and malignant melanoma." (source)
However, the reason that it's killing so many people isn't because it's some sort of rogue cancer that can't be stopped. Instead, it's because people don't identify and treat it in the early stages. Like with any other disease, early detection can mean the difference between life and death with oral cancer.
If you're concerned that this may be something that you're at risk for, you'll want to look out for a few common signs that people with this disease typically overlook. Those signs are a persistent sore throat, a mass in the neck and white or red patches in the mouth. Ask your doctor or dentist if you have any concerns.
Question of the Day: What do you think is the reason that we don't hear about this leading killer cancer?photo link
Monday, April 21, 2008
Imaging Radiation: Website Draws Controversy
One of the biggest concerns that patients have about getting preventive health screening is that they know there is some exposure to radiation with most imaging exams. Although it is believed that radiation levels are low enough to be safe - and that the risk is worth the reward in terms of early disease detection - patients face fears about the issue.
This is due in large part of the fact that they are largely unaware of how much radiation exposure is caused by their screening; lack of information leads to fear.
One organization
aimed to reduce that fear by providing patients with information about their radiation exposure risk. The company, called the American Imaging Management of Chicago set up a website a few months back which allows patients to check their radiation exposure levels online. It uses an avatar and different exams to offer a guesstimate about radiation exposure levels.
The site has drawn significant amounts of controversy. This is because expert radiologists working in the field believe that the information is inaccurate. They also say that it's confusing to the patient, drawing comparisons that aren't easy to understand (and aren't necessarily correct). There is also some question as to the ethics of the site because of the company's relationship with a local health-benefits firm.
People - including doctors - do agree that a tool like this could be useful and informative to patients. However, they say that the current site isn't sufficient for providing that information. Changes are recommended if the site is going to continue.
Question of the Day: Would you get information about imaging radiation using an online source such as this one?photo link
Friday, April 18, 2008
Women Urged to Get Breast Cancer Screening Every 3 Years Through Age 75
The topic of screening for breast cancer is one of hot debate right now. The main thing that researchers are arguing is what type of screening is best for which type of patients. With advances in breast MRI technology, many believe that the typical mammogram should be
supplemented with a breast MRI. And
some say that women may even need FDG-PET/CT scans to supplement the MRI information.
But those are for cases in which women are already diagnosed with breast cancer or have a high likelihood of getting it. What about the average woman who doesn't have a family history of breast cancer and just wants to keep herself safe with the basic minimum required screening?
New studies suggest that this woman should be fine with just the standard mammogram. Moreover, she probably doesn't need to get it every year as is commonly suggested but may be fine with just a once-every-three-years mammogram ritual. And how long into her life should she keep getting these? The research says that this is an effective method of preventing breast cancer through the age of seventy five.
Of course, you shouldn't make your own medical decisions based solely on this research. Your unique medical condition and family history may alter the recommendations for your own breast cancer screening so work with your doctor to figure out a screening type and schedule that is right for your needs.
Question of the Day: How late into life were you planning to continue annual mammograms?photo link
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Men Taking Diuretics Should Consider Bone Scan
One of the major health problems that continues to plague
aging adults today is the issue of bone loss and osteoporosis. This is not only a physically painful part of aging but one that impacts the overall quality of the individual's life because of the precautions that must be taken to prevent risks to the body. As a result, many aging adults use
bone density scans to keep themselves aware of their risk level and able to combat the problem.
A
new study reveals that this precaution may be even more important for a certain population of aging men. The study showed that men who are taking loop diuretics are more susceptible to bone loss. These diuretics are a commonly prescribed medication for aging men who have hypertension or are at risk for heart failure. As a result, it is important that these men and their doctors work together to monitor bone loss using the imaging processes that are available.
Question of the Day: Is it the doctor's or patient's responsibility to make sure that bone scans are completed for patients on loop diuretics?photo link
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
CT Angiography Beats Stress Test
There are many different ways to check the body for signs of heart disease. However, one of the best ways might be the
CT Angiography which is not necessarily the method used most often in the medical community. Many people instead use a stress test to determine whether they might have obstructive coronary artery disease. A
new study reveals that the CT angiography is far superior to the stress test in diagnosing this condition.
The sensitivity of the CT angiography was nearly 30% higher than that of the stress test. In fact, at 98%, th CT angiography was almost perfect in terms of its sensitivity level. The test's specificity level was also high - nearly 75% which makes it almost 40% better than the stress test. In other words, if you're considering getting checked out for this condition, there's a strong case to be made for using the CT angiography to do so.
Question of the Day: Have you ever had a stress test and would you consider getting a CT angiography to compare results?photo link
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Colon Cancer Risk Detection Improved
Most Americans now realize the importance of colorectal screening to
detect colon cancer, a leading cancer killer for people around the world. The primary form of screening is the
virtual colonscopy which individuals regularly get in order to catch colon cancer before it spreads. Although this tool has been highly useful in preventing and treating colon cancer, there are researchers out there who want to go one step further. They're seeking to screen for colon cancer in a way that it can be detected even before tumors are formed.
How is that possible? Think, for a moment, about screening for heart disease. A
heart scan can show you what blockages there are and what dangers you're in as a result. However, we can also do risk detection for heart disease by checking for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Through those methods, we can discern whether someone is likely to get heart disease before it's actually a serious problem and can help them to alter their lifestyle habits for prevention.
Researchers are hoping to be able to do something similar for colon cancer. They're studying the impact of different vitamins and minerals on the body with respect to colon cancer, checking out what exacerbates it and what prevents it. It is believed that both Vitamin D and calcium may assist in preventing colon cancer so a ten year study is set to begin to determine the effectiveness of colon cancer prevention through these ingredients.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Do you think that preventive imaging is enough when it comes to colon cancer or do you think the industry needs more than that?photo link
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Future of PET Scans
The
PET scan is a type of imaging procedure which was first developed in the late 1950's. It began to see use in the medical community in the 1970's and has grown steadily in its importance to the industry since that time. Although there are always new imaging techniques emerging, the PET scan remains a leading tool for the medical community to diagnose and prevent diseases of all kinds.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a leading treatment facility in Los Angeles, is just one place that's regularly used the PET scan to meet a variety of needs. In a recent article, a doctor from Cedars-Sinai took a look at the future of the PET scan with particular emphasis on its function as a tool for assessing heart disease.
Ultimately, what seems to be the case is that PET will continue to be important for years to come. Although there are likely to be changes made that will alter how PET scans are done (increasing their efficiency even more over time), the basic foundation is a good one from which the medical community will continue to build.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: How important do you think the PET scan is in the medical community in comparison to other scans such as the MRI?
photo link
Friday, April 11, 2008
Colon Cancer Screening Coalition Formed
Colon cancer is a more serious problem than most people realize. In fact, it's the second most common cause of cancer-related death. As a result, it is obviously highly important to screen for colon cancer in order to catch it in the early stages and prevent it from becoming fatal.
Of course, in order for people to become concerned enough about their own colon cancer risk to go get screened, they need to be aware of the problem. To that end, a new non-profit group
has been formed which is geared towards educating the general public about the importance of
colon cancer screening.
The National Coalition for Quality Colorectal Cancer Screening and Care is a group of people that includes several different types of doctors and surgeons as well as patient advocates and individuals concerned about this issue. Although they will be doing many different things, one of their main areas of focus will be to inform the general public that the
virtual colonscopy used for colon cancer screening is a safe procedure which causes only minimal discomfort. Their hope is that this will reduce the anxiety behind testing while raising awareness of the value of screening.
Question of the Day: Do you believe that a majority of people that you know have gotten colon cancer screening in the past?photo link
Thursday, April 10, 2008
5 Preventive Scans Make List of Top Cancer Prevention Methods
A
recent news report that provided readers with tips for preventing cancer highlighted the importance of getting regular preventive imaging screening done. Although individuals may vary in the types of cancer screening that they need to have completed, there were five basic exams that were recommended in this report.
For women, it was recommended that the annual breast exam and cervix exam be done without fail (something most women have known about for years). For men, the prostate exam was listed as a test that must be done regularly. And for both genders, colon cancer screening and skin cancer screening ranked high on the list of things that you can do to protect yourself from cancer.
The news report emphasizes the fact that cancer is not solely a genetic disease. It is something which you can control to some degree by properly taking care of yourself. Getting preventive screening done is a big part of that self-care.
Question of the Day: Which scan do you consider to be most important for people to get regularly in order to prevent cancer?photo link
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Korea Adopts Western Virtual Colonscopy Screening
The
virtual colonscopy, a form of screening for colon cancer which is considered less invasive than other screening methods, has traditionally been done primarily in the United States and Europe. However, its success in these areas of the world has led to interest in the procedures by doctors everywhere. Researchers in Korea have recently
presented information showing that they have adopted Western-style virtual colonscopy techniques fairly successfully and may now move forward with this type of screening.
The study took some time to develop as there were many changes throughout its duration. However, the result was ultimately that the modern procedures could be used successfully among the Korean population. This suggests that there will be a rise in the use of this type of preventive screening throughout Asia in the years to come.
Question of the Day: Do you believe that the virtual colonscopy is important to everyone in the world?photo link
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Major Imaging Provider Invests in Surgery Centers
Alliance Imaging is a well-known name in the preventive health care industry. This company is a leader in distributing imaging technology to medical centers across the nation. And apparently they're interested in expanding into potentially providing their own treatment because they've recently
invested in the acquisition of six different surgery centers.
Alliance provides an assortment of different technology to medical centers across the United States. This includes such equipment as MRI and
PET scan technology. Additionally, they provide services to manage this technology so that medical centers receive the assistance they need in treating their patients.
Alliance has recently begun to expand what they're doing in the medical industry. This started with the acquisition of eight cancer treatment centers which formed their launch into the area of cancer treatment. It is believed that the new acqusition is intended to be part of that same development.
Question of the Day: Would you be interested in receiving preventive imaging and / or treatment care from a medical provider such as Alliance?photo link
Monday, April 07, 2008
Breast MRI May Not Be Enough
It wasn't that
long ago that medical experts began recommending that
some women add the breast MRI to their annual mammogram exams. Now
further research indicates that there is an additional sector of women who should not only get the breast MRI but who should also get FDG-PET/CT scans to identify and prevent the spread of breast cancer.
The breast MRI is recommended for a select group of women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. This includes women who feel unusual lumps that haven't been properly diagnosed with a mammogram as well as women with a history of breast cancer in the family. More importantly, the breast MRI is recommended for women who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer and who want to be able to determine the exact spread of the disease.
The new research shows that women who have "locally advanced" breast cancer can further benefit from the use of FDG-PET/CT scans. These scans are able to detect breast cancer in areas of imaging that aren't covered by the breast MRI. By using it in addition to the breast MRI, it is a tool which can determine the exact spread of the disease. This allows the doctor to eradicate the disease more effectively.
Question of the Day: Do you get your annual mammogram done?photo link
Friday, April 04, 2008
Lung Scan Doctors Should Encourage Smokers to Get Serious Intervention
We all know that smokers should just quit. And when you're sitting there awaiting the results of your
lung scan it's really easy to swear that you're never going to have another cigarette again as long as those results come back clean. But good intentions aren't all that you need to to quit smoking. In fact,
evidence suggests that some smokers need even more intervention from their doctors than they are currently getting.
The research study showed that patients who receive serious intervention for terminating their smoking tend to have a high likelihood of successfully quitting the habit. However, it is also indicated that most doctors take only minor steps (inquiring about smoking use and offering resources) to insure that their patients are ending their smoking. As a result, most patients who need preventive assistance for kicking the smoking habit and avoiding lung cancer need some more intensive help.
Of course, it's not up to preventive health doctors to make sure that their patients stop smoking. But this evidence suggests that doctors performing lung scans could be effective in preventing lung disease if they opt to go the extra mile in the case against smoking. After all, when are you going to be more receptive to advise about quitting smoking than when you're in the doctor's office awaiting those lung scan results?
Question of the Day: What role should preventive health doctors play in preventing lung disease?photo link
Thursday, April 03, 2008
New Imaging Tool Sees Detail 1000 Times Smaller Than Earlier Tools
Even if you didn't know anything at all about medical imaging, you would probably be able to guess that the ultimate goal of any new technology is to see smaller pieces of the body with better detail and yet less invasiveness to the body. Medical researchers at Stanford have accomplished that goal with the development of a new tool called Raman spectroscopy.
"This is an entirely new way of imaging living subjects, not based on anything previously used," said Gambhir, who directs the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford. He said signals from Raman spectroscopy are stronger and longer-lived than other available methods, and the type of particles used in this method can transmit information about multiple types of molecular targets simultaneously.
The new technology uses molecular imaging to identify tumors in the body that are as small as one trillionth of a meter in size. This is a great step forward for medical imaging because it could potentially mean that doctors in the future would be able to catch diseases - particularly cancer - in much earlier stages than is currently possible. Early detection has always meant more likelihood of beating disease so even earlier detection could mean that many of the diseases which are life-threatening today could be fairly innocuous in the future.
In discussing the new technology, researchers likened it to the
PET scan. This scan is currently considered to be the most efficient scan for many different types of disease detection. When it was first introduced years ago, nobody really knew the impact that it would have. The Stanford researchers hope that this new tool will exceed even current predictions and surprise people with its efficiency and effectiveness as the PET scan has done.
Question of the Day: When do you think we might start seeing widespread use of a new imaging tool such as this one?photo link
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
MRI Study Shows Brain Lesions Common in Seniors
You would probably be pretty terrified if you received news from your doctor that you had lesions in your brain. If you were then told that these lesions (called cerebral microbleeds) "likely reflect cerebrovascular pathology and may be associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular problems" you would probably feel a bit of a sense of panic. It sounds like something awful - and indeed it might be - but a new MRI study shows that these brain lesions may be far more common than originally thought.
The study used
brain scans to determine the development of these lesions in people aged sixty and over. At age 60, there was just under a twenty percent likelihood that the patient would have these lesions. Ten years later, the risk percentage had doubled. This seems to indicate that the aging brain may be at risk for cerebral microbleeds.
Learn more about this issue
here.
Question of the Day: Would you be interested in a preventive imaging brain scan?
photo link
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Boulder CO Opens Heart Attack Prevention Center
Heart disease is a leading killer of people in the United States and throughout the world. Although it is more prevalent among men than women, both genders are at risk of suffering from fatal heart disease. It is shocking that this continues to be such a prevalent problem considering that it is relatively easy to treat heart problems if they are caught in the early stages. The problem, of course, is that not enough people are getting preventive health measures for detecting and treating heart disease.
However, many different doctors and organizations across the nation have worked hard to raise awareness of the importance of heart health. As a result, we are slowly seeing an increase in the number of people who are getting
heart scans as well as in the number of organizations that are committed to preventing heart disease.
A new step in this process has been achieved with the opening of a new medical center in Boulder, Colorado which is designed specifically to focus on the prevention of heart attacks. This is the first center of its kind in the area and should be a great help in assisting Colorado residents in developing better heart health practices. You can learn more about the new center
here.
Question of the Day: What would encourage you to schedule a heart scan?photo link
