Body scans are extremely useful in diagnosing health conditions, but many work better with a contrast dye or other substance. If you ever had to have a CT scan, X-ray, or ultrasound, you may have been required to use a contrast agent. So, what are contrast agents and how are these substances used ... [Read More]
imaging
Intravascular Ultrasound
Current advances in medicine have vastly improved the prognosis for a lot of patients with cardiovascular diseases or blocked arteries. The key is early detection. An accurate diagnosis paves the way to more effective treatments. An intravascular ultrasound allows doctors to see inside the blood ... [Read More]
Ultrasound and Pregnancy
An ultrasound is a big step for expecting parents. Knowing that the mother is carrying a little bundle of joy, an ultrasound is an opportunity parents have to get a glimpse of the unborn baby. There are various reasons for having an ultrasound. A pregnant woman can expect to have several ... [Read More]
Angiography and Heart Treatments
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]
What is a DEXA Bone Density Scan?
Our bones weaken with age – especially for those at risk of osteoporosis, in which bones become more porous and fragile, increasing the likelihood of fracture. A bone density scan can assess the strength your bones and the likelihood of stress fractures due to osteoporosis. A simple, ... [Read More]
Diagnostic Tools to Fight Cancer
The successful treatment of cancer rests heavily on a comprehensive evaluation and an accurate diagnosis. An evaluation would include a physical exam, an analysis of the patient’s health history, and diagnostic testing. Accurate diagnostic testing is necessary to confirm the presence of cancer ... [Read More]
How Artificial Intelligence Will Change Medical Imaging
MRI machines, X-ray machines, and CT machines allow doctors to see the organs, bones, and tissues in your body. Yet, one of the biggest challenges that faces the medical community today is the rapid accumulation of data – and the time-consuming task of sifting through, documenting, analyzing, and ... [Read More]
What is a PET Scan?
A positron emission tomography, or PET, scan is a type of imaging test that a doctor may prescribe to search the body for evidence of certain diseases as well as to see how far any of those diseases may have progressed. A special dye with radioactive tracers is injected, inhaled, or swallowed ... [Read More]
What are the Different Types of Imaging Exams?
Diagnostic imaging tools reveal with certainty what is happening inside the body, and can help confirm conditions a doctor may suspect. If your doctor recommends imaging, he may order any number of exams to gather the data required to diagnose and treat you properly. Here is more about the different ... [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]