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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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Using a Scan to Gauge Responses
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Not knowing the end to a scary movie increases the suspense. Going along with this idea, uncertainty about the economy can also increase a person's anxiety level. Scientists recently studied the association between uncertainty and anxiety with the use of a brain scan. A study by the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health has utilized the MRI scan to track emotional responses by participants in response to negative stimuli. Participants were told the images they were to see would be positive, negative, or unknown. Those images which directly followed an "unknown" warning showed the largest reaction in the brain.
"These results have obvious relevance to our current economic times. Expectations have a dramatic impact on many aspects of our lives, including performance at work and school, interpersonal relationships and health. Expectations can alter perceptions of negative events as well as neural and emotional responses" reports the study leader to Science Daily.
The results showed that if a person was told the image they would see was going to be negative, their response to a disturbing image was less than if they had no idea what type of image they would see next. If a person is expecting a negative outcome, they are better able to cope with less anxiety. The brain is a complex organ that is continually studied by scientists. Using scanning technology allows scientists the ability to track activity in the brain and better understand physical and emotional responses.
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Monday, August 10, 2009
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Scan for Mesothelioma
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Researchers are now saying that a combination of computed tomograph and positron emission tomography may be best for scanning for mesothelioma. The CT-PET test may help stage the disease better than an MRI or just a CT scan. By doing this, patients may be able to avoid invasive surgery that may not be necessary.
"CT and MRI scans are used to stage mesothelioma patients, but research shows they are not very accurate at determining how far mesothelioma has spread. As a result, 25% of patients undergo invasive surgery for cancer that cannot be removed surgically" researchers report to Surviving Mesothelioma.
For those with the disease, invasive surgery such as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery may be needed. During surgery, the entire lung, lining of the heart, and diaphragm are removed. Patients scanned with a CT-PET scan may allow doctors a better chance at correcting diagnosing if a patient's cancer will be cured by the EPP surgery. More tests are still being conducted to confirm the research results, however the scan is already being used by many diagnostic centers nationwide.
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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MRI Advances
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There is now hope that those with non-pacemaker-dependent implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) may be able to use an MRI scan. Up until now, patients with cardioverter defibrillators were warned against MRI scans due to the high level of magnetism. Now, a new study shows that these ICDs may be able to withstand an MRI without disruption of the heart rhythm or rate.
"The number of implanted pacemakers and ICDs, as well as the number of devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy, are going up every year. People are getting older, and the older they get, the greater the likelihood they're going to need an MRI exam" states the study leader to Heartwire.
The study still warns ICD users that extra precaution must be taken to monitor the heart during the exam. MRI exams should only be used on patients were the benefits outweigh the potential risks. Technology is growing at a fast pace to keep up with the growing demand for such tests. The baby-boomer generation is getting older, and with that comes a large demand for efficient tests that are compatible with heart monitoring implants.
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Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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Similarities and Differences Between MRI and FDG-PET/CT
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There are many different options available to imaging doctors for the use of scans for determining different types of information about a patient. A new study indicates that there may be sometimes when it doesn't really matter if the doctor chooses to use an MRI scan or an FDG-PET/CT scan because the results are similar enough between them. There are other times, however, when it is important to choose the right scan because of the differences between the two types of imaging.
"FDG-PET/CT and MRI show similar diagnostic accuracies in differentiating between malignant and benign soft-tissue tumors, but offer different attributes when imaging for bone tumors." (source)
This means that doctors who are looking at soft-tissue tumors can choose to use either scan depending on the personal preferences of the doctor and / or the patient as well as the availability of the scanning technology. However, doctors that are looking at bone tumors are encouraged to make use of the MRI because it has a better predictive results history than the FDG-PET/CT does.
Question of the Day: Does it matter whether doctors use the MRI or FDG-PET/CT for soft-tissue tumors?
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Monday, September 01, 2008
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Heart MRI Safe For Pediatric Patients
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Infants with congenital heart diseases can safely be monitored using cardiovascular MRI scans according to a new study completed in Germany. The study confirmed that the use of the MRI scan to monitor these patients caused no problems or complications for the infants including those related to blood pressure and heart rate. This is important because it means that an important diagnostic tool previously believed to be potentially unsafe for these high-risk patients can now be used to assist in the treatment of problems for this population.
"The mean time for the imaging procedures was 110 minutes, with a range of plus or minus 27 minutes. The calculation covered the time from the patient's arrival through intubation and positioning, the imaging scan, and the return to the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. The researchers reported that all exams were completed successfully with good image quality."
The majority of heart scans completed are actually CT scans. However there is a high radiation risk with CT scans which makes them undesirable for use with infants. The ability to use the MRI scan makes the process of monitoring these patients much safer.
Question of the Day: Will the MRI become a regular monitoring tool used for pediatric patients with congenital heart problems?
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Friday, May 16, 2008
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Human Imaging Technology Used on Animals
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There is an interesting cycle that takes place in the world of medicine. Much of the research that is done to create medical advances for humans is tested first on other animals. The information is then used to create safe and efficient medicine for people. But, in turn, the medical advances that benefit humans can then also be used to improve the quality of life for animals. This has been the case with advances in imaging technology.
Take, for example, the case of imaging tests that are available for horses that are involved in horse racing. This issue came to light recently when a horse competing at the Kentucky Derby suffered serious injuries that ultimately required the animal to be euthanized. People with concerns about that issue started addressing the fact that more preventive medical care needs to be used when dealing with these animals.
Just a few of the preventive imaging tools that are regularly used on humans but which can be used on horses (and other animals) include CAT scans, MRI scans, digital radiography and ultrasonography. These are tools that were designed (and are improved) for the benefit of humans. However, they can be implemented in the care of our pets. Some say it's the least we can do to give back to the animal population which has helped bring so many medical advances our way.
Question of the Day: What do you think about the use of preventive imaging technology on horses and other animals?
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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New MRI Analysis May Detect Brain Damage Caused by Car Accidents
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When you get into a serious car accident, there are any number of things which may happen to your body. One of the things which is less common but very frightening is that the car collision can cause brain damage. Even worse, it can cause damage to the nerves in the brain which is so subtle that the victim may not realize at first that there is a problem.
Traditional imaging tests used on people who have been involved in car accidents are not sufficient to notice this type of brain damage. However it may be possible to use these same tests but to look at them in a different way in order to identify the presence of this type of injury.
Research has shown that it is possible to use the traditional MRI scan to assess this type of brain injury. For the patient, the experience is the same as undergoing any other MRI. However, the doctor uses the additional assistance of a specific type of mathetmatical analysis called diffusion tensor tractography. This analysis allows the doctor to determine whether brain injury of this type has occurred.
This could be an important medical finding for society. It doesn't require the use of any expensive new technology and yet solves a problem in an area that has been medically lacking.
Learn more here.
Question of the Day: What other injuries do you suppose could be treated simply by looking at imaging technology in a new way?
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Monday, May 12, 2008
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MRI Advances Could Speed Up Technology
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The MRI is a terrific imaging tool that is able to provide important diagnostic information to doctors and their patients. Unfortunately, most patients don't like getting the MRI scan. It's not a painful procedure but it's one that requires holding still for long periods of time which can be uncomfortable for some patients, especially those who are in a position to be particularly worried about the results of the exam. New advances in the technology have now been made which may speed up the process and make it much more efficient and easy on patients.
The new technology is fairly complex but it boils down to changes in the way that the imaging process takes place. It relies on changes in temperature which ultimately allows for a much stronger signal to take place which means that imaging can occur at a significantly faster pace than before without compromising the quality of the images. To do so this, the standard MRI technology has been combined with a related field of technology (nuclear magnetic resonance, NMR) to develop a new machine.
Learn more here.
Question of the Day: Would you be more comfortable getting an MRI scan if you knew the process would be a quick one?
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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New Lung Imaging Technology Relies on Illumination
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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?
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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Prostate Cancer Treated Better with Use of MRI
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A new study has revealed that it is important for patients with prostate cancer to get an MRI scan prior to treatment for the cancer. That's because the MRI has the ability to detect the depth and spread of the disease. This means that doctors can more properly evaluate the correct treatment and can be more aggressive in their treatment approach as necessary.
Basically, it is assumed that prostate cancer is going to be concentrated in the prostate capsule. However, there are many instances in which the cancer has already spread to surrounding areas (in which case it is called extracapsular extension). An MRI can see those areas and allow doctors to determine that it is necessary to not only treat the prostate cancer but also to treat the extracapsular extension.
The MRI is a powerful tool for screening and can allow for detection of the disease in the very early stages. Catching it in time to direct treatment allows the patient the optimum health experience.
Question of the Day: If your doctor didn't recommend an MRI before starting prostate cancer treatment, would you ask about getting one done?
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