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Friday, July 24, 2009
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Radioactive Drug Shortage
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The radioactive isotope technetium-99m is used in over 400,000 medical procedures a day, according to the New York Times. This isotope is in high demand, but two of the largest producers of the isotope are shutting down for repairs. This has caused many in the medical community to become worried about a shortage. Substitutes are available, but are generally less effective and more expensive.
The isotope is used to test for coronary blockages, breast cancer, kidney functions, and other diagnostic tests. Many times "Tech-99m" is injected into the patient to help locate areas near a cancerous tumor. These tests are often used in conjunction with other diagnostic scanning tests as well.
Doctors have already cut back on their use of the Tech-99m isotope, fearing that there will be a shortage in the near future. However, there is research being conducted on viable alternatives for physicians for emergencies such as this. The reactors are being repaired in Canada and are hopeful to reopen at the end of this year.
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
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Mammogram Reminders
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Mammograms are an important tool for woman to screen themselves for breast cancer. All women over age 40 are suggested to use a mammogram as a diagnostic scan to detect masses in their breasts. But many women forget to schedule these screening tests, or wait too long between tests. The American Cancer Society recently fronted the movement to send out reminders to a study group of women to see if it would effectively increase the number of women utilizing the scan.
"Regular screening is critical to insuring the greatest likelihood of detecting cancer early. The value of reminder systems is well established, and the study shows that they can be very effective on a mass scale. Ideally, the health care reforms that we can look forward to will include reminder systems for cancer screening for all adults" stated the American Cancer Society website.
As a result of this reminder system, including mail and phone calls, over 80% of women in the study had scheduled their yearly mammogram. This is in comparison to the 63% pre-reminder system. In order to best treat cancer, early detection is crucial. The ACS hopes that this study will spark other healthcare provides to send out reminder letters to their patients on a variety of other cancer screenings as well.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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CT Scans as Art
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Most doctors use CT scans as a medical diagnosis tool, however; one doctor in China has created works of art from these scans. Kai-hung Fung has found a way to combine his career as a diagnostic radiologist with his passion for digital art. One of these scans even won a creative contest by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
His winning artwork depicted a 3-dimensional scan of the human nose and paranasal sinuses, but with a rainbow coloring technique. Patrons at first did not realize that the graphic art they were judging was in fact a real CT Scan.
This type of creativity shows the out-of-the-box thinking that many doctors do have. Although this is a more creative approach to new technology, other doctors are always testing current techniques in order to improve them.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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Rapper Diagnosed with Cancer
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Member of the popular musical group Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch, was recently diagnosed with cancer in his pituitary gland. As a precautionary measure, Yauch had his body scanned to detect if the cancer had spread to other parts of his body.
"But the good news is that they did scans of my whole body and it's only localized in this one area, and it's not in a place that affects my voice" says Yauch on a video announcement released yesterday.
Although recent tours have had to be cancelled due to his surgery, the group is hopeful that Yauch will make a full recovery and be able to sing again. The body scan helped pinpoint the cancer so doctors were able to localize their treatment. A full body scan can help other patients as well detect cancer in early stages. Early detection is best for developing treatment options and can significantly raise your chances of recovery.
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Monday, July 20, 2009
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MRI Shows Brain Adjustments
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A 10 year old girl in Germany was born missing the right side of her brain, however; doctors were baffled by her ability to still see perfectly out of both eyes. This right side of the brain controls the vision in the left eye. In most cases, patients whose right brain is removed no longer have clear vision in their left eyes. The girl underwent an MRI brain scan so doctors could understand this anomaly.
The MRI showed that the retinal nerve in the brain which normally provides vision information to the right eye simply altered itself to also accommodate the left eye as well. Doctors were amazed at the brain's ability to compensate for the missing portion of the brain while she was in the womb. Besides a slight weakness in her left side, the girl leads a perfectly normal life.
Doctors were quoted in BBC news as saying, "Despite lacking one hemisphere, the girl has normal psychological function and is perfectly capable of living a normal and fulfilling life. She is witty, charming and intelligent."
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Friday, July 17, 2009
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New Scan for the Fidgety
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CT angiography scans are very helpful to diagnose coronary artery disease and lung abnormalities. During a portion of the scan, patients must hold their breath and lay still for proper results. Young children, who are known to move constantly, have difficulty performing this task. The other complication occurs in patients with a rapid heartbeat. A new scan in France has been introduced to help solve these problems.
Medical Physics web explains the new scan. "Using a dual-source MDCT scanner, the thorax can be scanned at a temporal resolution of 83 ms. The high temporal resolution stops motion artifacts even in fast hearts, while pitch values as high as 3.2 shorten the scan and reduce the dose."
This high-pitch chest scan allows for a quicker scan and a more efficient picture. The MDCT Scan allows for optimal tests to be performed on groups that have proved difficult to scan in previous years. Persons can even be scanned under anesthesia since breathing does not have to stop. As the test grows in popularity, more scanning centers may incorporate the technology into their practice.
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Thursday, July 16, 2009
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Appendicitis and CT Scans
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CT Scans can be very helpful in diagnosing problems throughout the body. One new way CT scans may be of use if for identifying appendix problems and eliminating the need for surgery.
"The CT is an excellent tool in helping to diagnose appendicitis and, on the other hand, it can potentially eliminate unnecessary surgeries," says Dr. Robert Nathan, a radiologist who aided in the study.
In the study, CT scans ruled out surgery for half of the patients involved. However, doctors warn that CT scans are not to be used by everyone. There is no need the extra radiation or expenses in those whose diagnosis is clearly defined. The scans are helpful for doctors who may be unsure if the symptoms are truly appendicitis, or a variety of other diseases with similar symptoms.
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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Brain Scan to Detect Alzheimer's Disease
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A new study is being conducted to determine if Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed early in those with mild cognitive impairment. To determine changes in the brain, researchers are using a brain scan called PET (Positron emission tomography).
CBC News reports, "It is critical to identify affected individuals while they are still relatively cognitively healthy so that future therapies can preserve healthy memory and thinking function. And, in order to develop those new therapies, we need to identify 'at risk' individuals now in order to steer them to clinical trials."
Researchers are looking for biological markers in the brain that may detect early stages of Alzheimer's. Once identified, the goal is to determine if giving a person a drug regiment will increase the efficiency of treatment prior to the appearance of more severe symptoms. If it works, the cases of severe dementia caused by Alzheimer's would dramatically decrease and scientists may be closer to finding a cure.
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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Bike For A Healthy Heart
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In order to prevent heart disease, individuals are told to watch their diet and exercise regularly as standards for preventative care. One way to help increase your daily exercise regiment is to bike to work. Not only are you saving gas, but you might also be saving years of your life lost if you were to have a heart attack!
"The researchers found that 16.7 percent of the participants walked or cycled to work (active commuting), and those men and women appeared to be more fit. Those who were active commuters were less likely to be overweight or obese and had healthier triglyceride, blood pressure and insulin levels" reports Forbes.com.
If you live close enough to bike or walk, maybe try doing so once or twice a week to start. A healthy heart and body will help prevent heart disease, increase lung capacity, and help alleviate high blood pressure.
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Monday, July 13, 2009
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Radiation in CT Test Harmful?
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There are conflicting studies being done to show if the radiation from coronary calcium scans actually increases your risk for cancer. A study by US News shows that there is no standard for the amount of radiation used by all physicians, making it difficult for a conclusive answer to be drawn.
"There has been great interest recently in computed tomography, owing to the fact that the number of CAT scans has grown tremendously in the United States. The National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurement estimates that 70 million are done per year." reports US News.
With the growing number of tests being conducted each year, researchers are becoming more aware of risks for radiation. These tests can be conducted on a variety of machines, and there is no set standard for proper radiation levels. A coronary artery scan helps determine plaque buildup on your arteries, and is important for those considered to be an intermediate risk for heart disease. Physicians should continue to help patients understand their risks and treatment options, but should aware that over-screening may actually hurt the patient's health in the long run.
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