An angiogram is a medical diagnostic imaging exam that allows a doctor to view the blood vessels in the body. Coronary angiography – also called cardiac catheterization – is a scan of the blood vessels of the heart. A radiopaque contrast medium is first injected into the bloodstream, and this ... [Read More]
Imaging
What Are Contrast Agents?
Since the development of the X-ray in 1895, advances in technology have pushed the medical field to take great strides forward. With the advent of diagnostic imaging scans that allow doctors to “see” inside of a person’s body, technology can now diagnose conditions and pinpoint treatments to the ... [Read More]
Radiation Risks in Pediatric Imaging
Diagnostic imaging has become invaluable in the field of medicine. It not only provides a window into parts of the human body that were once an enigma but also greatly reduces the need for undue, invasive exploratory surgeries. However, every advancement comes with a bit of pushback; in the case ... [Read More]
Most Popular Studies Conducted at an Imaging Center
For a doctor to properly diagnose a condition, he needs to know what’s going on below the surface. Not so long ago, this would have a tall order to fill, however, today’s technology provides physicians the tools they need to view organs, soft tissue, blood vessels, arteries and even a patient’s ... [Read More]
Are There any Potential Side Effects of a PET Scan?
A Positron Emission Tomography – PET – scan sounds scary, but don’t worry. The nuclear medicine procedure isn’t dangerous in the least. A PET scan delivers images of the body’s biological functions and is apt to detect diseases more quickly than other imaging procedures such as an MRI (magnetic ... [Read More]
Why is My Doctor Recommending a PET Scan?
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an advanced diagnostic tool capable of revealing numerous diseases at a very early stage when they are not visible through other diagnostic methods. A PET scan is a type of nuclear medicine exam that produces a 3D image of processes that take place inside ... [Read More]
How Doctors Work Together with Diagnostic Centers to Provide Optimal Patient Care
If your doctor tells you that you need testing before they can arrive at a diagnosis, it can be nerve wracking. Where do you have to go to get the test? How do you prepare, and what will happen, exactly? And when will your doctor get the results from the imaging center? The diagnostic center can ... [Read More]
How State-of-the-Art Imaging Studies are Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease Earlier
The most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease currently affects over 5 million Americans, and is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. It claims the lives of more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. According to the Alzheimer’s Association®, the disease is ... [Read More]
What is a DaTSCAN™?
SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) scans belong to a specialized class of diagnostic nuclear medicine, or nuclear imaging scans, which provide more detailed images than either X-ray or MRI technology. Prior to the SPECT scan, a very small amount of tracer material, a diagnostic ... [Read More]
How to Handle Your Claustrophobia During Your MRI
Claustrophobia, a deep-seated fear of the dark or confined spaces is nothing to be ashamed of. Classified as an anxiety disorder, claustrophobia is more common than you might think. According to the health Research Fund, up to 5% of the US population suffers from some form of ... [Read More]