Tag Archives: Nuclear Medicine

The branch of medicine that deals with the use of radioactive substances in research, diagnosis, and treatment.

CDI Miami | Monday August 16, 2021

Should Patients Fear Radiation Exposure from Diagnostic Imaging?

nuclear-medicine-symbol-and-stethescopeNuclear medicine, ionizing radiation and radiopharmaceuticals are all terms that patients hear when their doctors order diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and bone scans.
 
Nuclear medicine uses radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. These substances can include ionizing radiation – from a PET or X-ray machine for example – or radiopharmaceuticals, which are injected into the body and emit ionizing radiation. Continue reading →

CDI Miami | Tuesday May 24, 2016

Nuclear Medicine – New World of Diagnosing and Treating Illness

Over the past century, radiology has evolved into more sophisticated forms of medical treatment. One of these forms is nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine features the ability to search for an array of diseases in multiple areas of the body. From heart, brain, lung and bone to different types of cancer, this new and improved medicine can correctly diagnose many diseases. Now, more and more medical professionals along with the Center for Diagnostic Imaging are adopting nuclear medicine for a painless and far more accurate scan.

 

Nuclear medicine is unsurpassed in accuracy by any other form of radiology, it is noninvasive and painless medical procedure used by physicians to help diagnose medical conditions. “During the first part of the test the patient will have to walk on a treadmill to increase the patient´s heart rate. Then, the patient will be injected with a thallium solution that will travel through the heart vessels and work as contrast. The heart will be scanned using a “gamma” camera that will track the injected solution and create a picture of the heart vessels. After the patient´s blood pressure has lowered, more images of the heart will be taken. The patient should expect to be in the office for at least four hours.” Says the Miami Center for Diagnostic Imaging.

 

There are a number of bodily functions, diseases, and cancers that can be identified through the use of nuclear medicine. Abnormalities of the brain, respiratory health, and blood flow can be properly visualized inside out. Not to mention bone scans are made possible thanks to nuclear medicine. Additionally, transplants in the previous body parts can be identified for rejection.

 

Diagnosable diseases include coronary artery disease, metastatic bone disease, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer disease. Of course, cancerous tissue can be detected in nearly all parts of the body, even rare tumors of the pancreas and adrenal glands. Other evaluations for hyperparathyroidism, lymphedema, spinal fluid and possible bleeding in the bowls are achievable through nuclear medicine.

 

One significant advantage nuclear medicine can provide in the evaluation and diagnosis of the patient is the ability to fuse images from both full body CT and MRI scans in order to create more precise measurements of the patients systems. This is called a PET/CT scan. The precision and accuracy provided by these scans is unparalleled.

 

While non-invasive there is preparation on behalf of the patient that must be taken. This can sometimes be up to a week ahead of time for the patient to be ready. Preparation can include stopping a medication regimen in which it is patient responsibility to consult their physician before doing so. All in all, though the patient should not experience any discomfort from nuclear medicine.

 

For more information about CDI Diagnostic and Preventive Services please call 1.800.371.0002 or contact us.

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 | Tuesday August 25, 2015

PET Scans are safe.

Your doctor might recommend that you undergo a positron emission tomography (PET) scan if he or she suspects that you may have certain medical conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, or a brain disorder like Alzheimer’s disease. A PET scan is a nuclear medicine exam, which means that it uses a radiopharmaceutical to allow healthcare providers to examine the metabolism of organs and tissues. If you’ve been asked to undergo a PET scan in Miami, you may have some concerns about potential health risks. However, you can rest assured that PET scans have an excellent safety record.

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CDI Miami | Friday July 25, 2014

Thallium Stress Test

A thallium stress test is an extremely common procedure that allows a doctor to monitor the electrical activity in the heart while the patient walks on a treadmill with a continuous EKG to take “before and after pics” of the heart. Pictures are taken before and after walking to see if there is an area of low blood flow, which suggests blockage in a coronary artery.

In order to scan the heart, an isotope called thallium will be added to an I.V. Thallium is a special tracer that when injected gets to the heart through the bloodstream. A patient will normally walk on a treadmill during the test. Upon completion of this exercise, the patient will then be scanned for around twenty minutes. When the scan is complete, the I.V. will be removed.

The patient will be scanned again during a “resting” test. This test is administered while the patient lies under a scanner for approximately twenty to thirty minutes while pictures of the heart are obtained. If the thallium has arrived at all parts of the heart muscle, then the images will look normal. If there is a blockage present then the thallium will not arrive to that portion of the heart muscle and it will be reflected on the heart images.

Exercise testing is a cardiovascular stress test using EKG and blood pressure monitoring. Stress testing, established after exercise testing, is a diagnostic procedure in which cardiovascular stress is induced. Thallium stress testing is a nuclear medicine study which evaluates the blood supply to the heart. Information about the heart function can also be obtained. The study mainly involves imaging the heart at rest and after the patient’s heart has been stressed.

The main purpose of the stress test is to increase the blood flow to the heart. Differences in blood flow to different parts of the heart are more obvious when the blood flow is increased. Thallium stress tests allow radiologists to determine whether or not there are significant blockages in the arteries that may cause a decrease in blood flow.

Thallium stress tests are performed on patients when there is a need to evaluate the strength of the heart, find the cause of chest pain, check the severity of coronary artery blockage, and condition the heart after cardiac arrest and the tolerance level of the heart for physical activities. Basically, a thallium stress test is a method for nuclear imaging to check the flow of blood in the heart muscles, while resting and during activity.

The digital medical imaging center, CDI Miami, offers thallium stress testing as a preventative treatment option for patients who need to evaluate heart strength. They are also known for their reputation as one of the best full body PET scan Miami facilities in the state; they are owned and managed by physicians, radiologists, technicians, and other highly trained and qualified staff.

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging offers many preventative scanning options, including CAT scan, CT PET scan, MRI MRA, and X-ray options. In addition to their diagnostic services, CDI Miami is also known as one of the most preferred ultrasound Miami facilities.

CDI Miami | Thursday December 19, 2013

New Technological Advancement in Radiology Diagnosis

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) has announced new breakthroughs for diagnosing and treating medical conditions through nuclear medical imaging. Nuclear medical imaging is a painless technological advanced radiology scanning process used by radiologists, physicians and medical staff.

This newer, highly sophisticated technological advance allows doctors and radiologists to better identify and diagnose medical conditions without surgically opening up patients or trying to interpret potential medical conditions with standard X-rays.

Unlike other types of radiology, nuclear medicine imaging is a medical scanning machine designed to reveal how certain parts of the body are functioning opposed to only reviewing bone, tissue and organ physical images.

CDI medical professionals can now get a closer look at a patient’s organs, tissues and bones. This latest advancement can more efficiently identify if certain body parts are functioning correctly and, if not, diagnose and determine appropriate treatment options as necessary.

Nuclear medicine imaging scanning can better diagnose a variety of diseases including, but not limited to, heart disease, aneurysms, thyroid problems, irregular or inadequate blood flow. Most importantly, nuclear medicine imaging is capable in spotting different types of cancers, which is vital in terms of the type and level of treatment services the patient will need. In many cases, the sooner cancer is discovered within a patient, the odds of treating and beating it increase. Another version of nuclear medicine imaging available at CDI is Positron Emission Tomography, also known as PET scans.

In certain centers, nuclear medicine images incorporate PET scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because together, both scanning processes can better pinpoint diseases or other medical conditions and provide radiologists with higher-definition images.

 

In addition to nuclear medicine imaging, CDI also provides:

  • • Full body computerized tomography scans (CT Scans) – uses a computer which takes data from several X-ray images of structures inside a patient’s body   and converts them into a 3-D image for a physician to review.
  • • Full body computed tomography angiography scans (CTA Scans) – uses special X-ray equipment designed to create multiple images of certain internal      body parts. Used primarily to examine blood vessels, however can also be used to examine internal organs and bones.
  • • Ultrasounds – medical scan which helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Ultrasounds capture the size, structure and shape of portions    of the patient’s body which cannot be seen using standard X-rays. It is the perfect medical technology for detecting potential complications in organs,    tissues, and vessels. It is also the ideal machine in identifying tumors, gallstones, kidney stones, or liver disease.
  • • X-rays – CDI’s bone scan is Miami’s first choice when identifying bone structure abnormalities or fractures. In addition to reviewing bone structure,    CDI’s professional staff can also use X-rays in detecting signs of lung disease, intestinal obstruction, gallstones, and kidney stones.
  • • Breast care – Part of CDI is the Comprehensive Breast Care Center. The Comprehensive Breast Care Center’s breast ultrasound is known as Miami’s          first choice when it comes to early detection of breast cancer. The center offers the most advanced and latest 3D mammograms technology in diagnosing   cancer cells early.
  • • PET Scans. Based on hundreds of comments from satisfied patients, CDI is the first choice for pet scan in Miami when it comes to diagnosing or ruling out signs of potential diseases or medical conditions.

The center is owned and operated by a team of board-certified physicians and staff determined to be South Florida’s premier imaging series. CDI is dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the community through the use of the most highly advanced technology and techniques currently available within the imaging industry.

 

For more information on, or to set up an appointment with The Center for Diagnostic Imaging, call 1-800-371-0002.

CDI Miami | Wednesday December 4, 2013

Nuclear Stress Test—A Heart Saver

 

One of the most effective considerations of preventative care in both men and women is in diagnostic imaging—that is, nuclear, x-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic imaging scans, to screen for possible malign growths or other serious conditions that, if caught early, can be stopped or greatly reduced in severity. Heart disease, the #1 killer of Americans, can be diagnosed early with a “nuclear stress test,” using a small amount of a radioactive substance called thallium.

 

CDI Miami, an MRA/MRI provider in Miami, announces that they now provide this incredible diagnostic tool to determine patients’ risk of heart disease. A thallium test is performed by having a patient exercise or take a supplement for increasing heart rate, and then inject a small amount of the harmless radioactive chemical thallium. A radiation-sensitive scanner will then be used to determine the quality of blood flow to the heart.

 

X-ray computed tomography, or CT scanning, uses computer-processed X-rays to produce images of body tissues without having to cut them open. The technology has progressed to the level where 3D models of human structures, including the heart, can be generated from the data and studied for abnormalities or damage. According to a medical journal published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, CT scans are used in up to 15% of injury-related hospital visits for accurate diagnostic purposes. This technology has enabled thallium stress tests, and other types of CT scans.

 

A nuclear stress test can help determine how well is the heart pumping, diagnose coronary heart disease, the proper treatment for said heart disease, and whether a heart is too large or small.

 

It is a very low-risk procedure, but possible complications include an allergic reaction to the radioactive dye, or, if a patient is not used to exercise, low blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms can occur. Patients having a scan or test may also experience a flushing sensation or chest pain, but these are usually brief and benign.

 

For more information and to book a consultation, call toll free on 800-371-0002 or visit cdimiami.com.