Tag Archives: CT Scan

A ‘computerized tomography’ (CT) or ‘computerized axial tomography’ (CAT) scan uses a computer that takes data from several X-ray images of structures inside a human’s or animal’s body and converts them into pictures on a monitor.

CDI Miami | Tuesday December 22, 2015

3D Mammography – 21st Century Breastcare

CBCC

 

 

If caught early, breast cancer can be treated with a very high success rate. Breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers because of the advancements in lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery, and the early detection methods that have been developed in recent times.
Nevertheless, the discovery of any type of cancer is extremely distressing. It has a huge impact on people’s lives. Breast cancer is particularly upsetting for women, because their breasts are considered part of their femininity and sexuality.

 

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging always recommends that women have regular mammograms so that their physicians can detect any occurrence of cancerous cells at a very early stage. This is the stage at which non-invasive treatments can usually get the cancer sufferer into remission. In order to have the scans done, a woman must find a convenient imaging center that complies with her physician’s standards. Many women in South Florida choose one of the CDI Miami offices, conveniently located in Aventura, North Miami Beach and South Dade.

 

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging always recommends that women have regular mammograms so that their physicians can detect any occurrence of cancerous cells at a very early stage. This is the stage at which non-invasive treatments can usually get the cancer sufferer into remission. In order to have the scans done, a woman must find a convenient imaging center that complies with her physician’s standards. Many women in South Florida choose one of the CDI Miami offices, conveniently located in Aventura, North Miami Beach and South Dade.

 

Medical imaging can get expensive, so it is vitally important that patients find a center they can trust, where they know they will receive the best quality images that do not contain any errors.The South Florida CDI offices have the very latest imaging equipment available in every center. Fully qualified radiologists, experts at using the scanners and reading the results, are employed at every CDI location.The Center for Diagnostic Imaging’s facilities in North Miami Beach uses 3D mammography, an imaging technique that can detect breast cancer at a very early stage. An MRI scan can pinpoint disease centers in the body and these can be monitored on a regular basis for any changes, which could indicate future potential problems. People searching for a pet scan in Miami will find that CDI Miami comes highly recommended, based on the local popularity of the centers and the high quality of service offered at every location. CDI Miami even gives patients the option to have a full body CT scan. This will give the radiologists an entire map of what is going on inside the body so that potential disease can be detected. This information is then passed onto the patient’s physician. Any abnormalities that show up can then be treated immediately, or monitored to check for any developments. So many people who end up with life-threatening illnesses and conditions could have been saved a lot of pain and anguish if they had been able to detect problems and treat them at a very early stage.

 

About CDI Miami: CDI Miami is the Center for Diagnostic Imaging, the premier center for CT scan Miami with locations in South Florida at Aventura, North Miami Beach, and South Dade. For more information and to book a consultation, call toll free on 800-371-0002 or visit cdimiami.com

 

CDI Miami | Tuesday November 17, 2015

CDI’s Latest Technology to Help Maintain and Improve Health

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging of Miami, announces helping patients maintain their healthy lifestyles and improving chances of catching and treating severe illnesses and diseases, with their latest full body scanning technology.

The medical technology used to operate full body scans are noninvasive, painless and require low dosages of radiation.

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CDI Miami | Wednesday October 14, 2015

Saving Time and Money by Combining Diagnostic Medical Imaging Tests

Many patients do not ask questions about the types of diagnostic medical imaging tests their doctors order.  However, patients should not be afraid to start a dialog with their doctors and talk about whether it might make sense to have a second, different type of scan done at the same time.  In many cases, doing so can save the patient time and money.  Continue reading

CDI Miami | Tuesday September 1, 2015

Better Medical Imaging with CT Scans

 

CT Scans produce powerful, high resolution images that can accurately detect tumors, hemorrhages, and bone trauma, among other maladies. CT scans (computed tomography), are great at providing more detailed information of the body by scanning in cross-sections. These slices are called tomographic images and contain more detailed information than conventional x-rays. These slices are then digitally “stacked” together to form a three-dimensional image of the patient that allows for easier identification and location of basic structures as well as possible tumors or abnormalities.

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CDI Miami | Thursday May 21, 2015

Going Digital Can Help Lower Radiation Dose

Digital radiography seeks to reduce the exposure to artificial radiation through diagnostic imaging. Although digital imaging has been around since the 1970s, major advances have been made in the last decade. As technology improves, the amount of radioactive material required for clear imaging decreases.

 

Digital radiography offers increased capabilities as compared with conventional radiography, such as post-processing, electronic archiving, concurrent access to images, and improved data distribution. Operators of digital images can vary exposure level within certain parameters without influencing the visual quality of the images, thus reducing radiation dose.

 

Advantages of digital imaging include ability to “develop” images within seconds as opposed to the several hours it used to take to develop x-ray films. The speed helps patient care as well as contributes to work place efficiency. The other advantage to using digital imaging is that healthcare practitioners can view the images on any computer.

 

Images are encrypted in a “Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS),” a password protected secure system, helpful in case of a natural disaster or sudden relocation as patient medical records can be accessed remotely.

 

In addition to quick storage options, digital images are also easily shared. This can be done over a local area network (LAN) within a hospital or healthcare facility, or just as easily shared within a global network. Images can be quickly retrieved with imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop. This allows quick edits, such as the removal of dust spots or blurry areas.

 

Digital Imaging has particularly impacted the following areas of medical imaging:

Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography

 

“CT angiography is one of the greatest advances in imaging,” says Jonathan Lewin, MD, chairman of the department of radiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

 

It is only recently that Angiography – the examination of the blood vessels – can be done by injecting a contrast agent. Previous to this, a lengthy and complicated procedure that involved catheterization and several hours of x-rays was required to see anything in the veins.

 

“In the past, we had to do surgery just to see what was going on inside the body,” says Hillman, a professor of radiology at the University of Virginia. “But CT scans, MR scans, and ultrasound have become so good that they have largely done away with the need for the surgical approach.”

 

PET/CT Scans for Cancer

 

PET (positron emission tomography) has been around for several decades, however, it is only recently that it has been combined with CT scans. PET scans are designed to look at biological functions, like metabolic processes or blood flow.

 

“PET is able to pick up the metabolic changes associated with cancer much earlier than you could see tumors or other physical changes in the organs,” says Lewin. “By fusing PET and CT, you get to see both the metabolic information of PET and the anatomic detail of CT at once. It’s a big advance.”

 

Digital Mammography

 

“Digital mammography for breast cancer screening is a significant leap forward, it gives us a much higher level of detail than older technology,” remarks Dr. Lewin. According to a study published within The New England Journal of Medicine, digital mammography was found to be more accurate for some women, with immediate and accurate exams.

 

As medical imaging technology continues to advance, it is important to stay informed of the latest treatments so that your healthcare can become simpler and easier. Schedule your exam today and benefit!

CDI Miami | Thursday May 7, 2015

National Cancer Institute grants $2.88 Million for Research and Development of Breast CT Scanning

CT scan of large breast tumor

CT Scan of a large breast tumor.
Image Source: RadiologyInfo.org

The National Cancer Institute recently awarded John M. Boone, a UC Davis professor of radiology and medical physicist, with an award of $2.88 million to advance and study computed tomography (CT) as a detection technique for breast cancer.

 

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CDI Miami | Tuesday March 24, 2015

PET/MRI Better Than PET/CT for Foot Pain?

It’s true, according to a new study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicince. This study evaluated 13 men and woman who had complaints of foot pain without a clear cause. The images from the PET scan combined with an MRI were significantly clearer than those combined with the CT scan. Continue reading

CDI Miami | Wednesday January 14, 2015

Why You Should Not Fear Radiation Exposure from CT Scans

Some patients become very nervous when undergoing imaging tests that use ionizing radiation, particularly CT scans. The usual fear is that these scans will increase the patient’s risk of future cancers due to radiation exposure.

The good news for CT patients is that these fears are largely overblown. A May 2013 study from the Mayo Clinic confirmed that radiation exposure below 100 mSv (millisievert, a measurement of radiation dose) presents risks that are too low to even be directly measured. CT scans can expose patients to 2-10 msv, depending on the type of scan. Full body CT scans will obviously be on the higher end, while more targeted scans like head CTs deliver only about 1-2 msv. Even multiple CT scans add up to only 20-30 msv, which is still considered to be very low radiation exposure. Continue reading

CDI Miami | Thursday December 4, 2014

Diagnostic Imaging Services for Arthritis

Arthritis includes more than 100 different rheumatic diseases and conditions, and it is one of the most common causes of disability in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50 million U.S. adults report having doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Continue reading

CDI Miami | Wednesday November 12, 2014

Medicare to Cover Low-Dose CT for Lung Cancer Screening

In a major step forward for lung health and diagnostic screening, on November 10th, 2014 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed that the evidence is sufficient to add coverage for lung cancer screening counseling and a shared decision making visit, and a screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) once per year for qualified beneficiaries. Of course, the coverage is seen as an additional preventive service benefit under the Medicare program, and is available only if certain criteria are met. Continue reading