Diagnostic imaging in Miami often involves bone scans. These tests can reveal problems in the bones caused by infection, trauma, cancer or unexplained bone pain. Continue reading
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A new report in tomorrow’s issues of the New England Journal of Medicine raises serious concerns about the use, and overuse of CT scanning. While individual risks of developing cancer from a CT scan are relatively low, the researchers ventured that repeated exposure to radiation from diagnostic imaging could potentially threaten patient populations if left unchecked.
How can you tell if it is time to get a CT scan?
In a traditional X-ray – a chest X-ray, for example – radiation goes through you from one side to the other with 3-D information ultimately projected onto a two-dimensional picture. With a CT scan, an X-ray tube rotates around the patient and presents the results to you as a three-dinensional picture. The advantage is that it’s much more sensitive, is high resolution, and offers much more anatomically specific information with great detail.
When should you get a CT scan?
If you think something is desperately wrong with you and you need an immediate answer. For example, if you have sudden severe abdominal pain or an intense headache that came out of nowhere.
CT scans are incredibly accurate, and can help you determine the source of your pain. For instance, CT scans can prevent false-diagnosis of appendicitis, having reduced false positives by nearly 20%.
Are their risks involved in CT scanning?
There is very minimal risk in CT scanning. For children, the risk of developing a fatal cancer from radiation exposure is somewhere around 1 in 500 or 1 in 1,000 – the older you get, the lower the risk becomes. For an adult, the risk is around 1 in 2,000. At this point, people believe there is a linear relationship between the dose and risk in half.
Are there alternatives to CT scanning that patients should know about or ask their doctors?
You can always ask if there are ways to find out the answer without using radiation. Using ultrasound, for example, or doing an MRI scan. Those don’t use ionizing radiation, so there is virtually no risk. If a child is getting a scan, the parent can make sure that the radiology technician is using the correct pediatric doses.
Are CT scans useful for asymptomatic patients?
CT scans are not necessary for asymptomatic patients. Scans should only be used when there is a suspicion of an illness or disorder. There are still studies determining the risk profile of scans on different populations.
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Doctors agree: prevention is the best medicine ever conceived. It is very cost effective too; a prevented disease is a prevented cost. Potential patients who smoke, who have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or anyone 45 and older can all benefit from this advanced, 21st-century diagnostic tool.
The Center for Diagnostic Imaging Miami, or CDI Miami for short, announced today that they are offering the new full-body CT scan service for any patients who would like to discover and thereby prevent a future disease. While women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use this service due to the radioactive nature of the imaging, it can help most people get a comprehensive picture of their internal health.
CT Scanning (computed tomography scanning) uses x-rays to penetrate bodily tissues and generate a computer-constructed three-dimensional model of the person’s body. This allows doctors and radiology experts to spot and identify a wide range of diseases and abnormalities.
CDI Miami’s Full-body CT scan can detect tumors, heart conditions, skeletal injuries or deformities, blood clots, and much more.
Preparation for bone scans or a full-body CT scan is simple. Usually, doctors require patients to remove loose clothing, often having patients wear a plain hospital gown. Usually, a patient must abstain from eating around 8 hours beforehand as well. When ready to undergo the scan, they are made to lie down on a narrow table that wheels into the CT machine, where a rotating apparatus beams a small amount of radiation into the patient’s body, and a conversely-rotating scanner measures the amount being absorbed throughout the body. After recording multiple radiation streams, a computer then builds a 3D model of the person’s bodily structures. Full-body scans are completely painless and take a few minutes, at most. Sometimes, a contrasting material will be used during a scan. This is a radioactive or radio-sensitive liquid, usually, that is either ingested prior to the scan or administered through an IV. This harmless chemical is to highlight certain areas of the body during the scan, and can be used to provide a more accurate image.
CDI Miami also performs MRI scans, which are a way to scan patients without any radiation. CDI Miami also offers bone scans, 3D mammography, ultrasounds, and more. If patients need help paying for services, CDI Miami offers financing options through their website: http://www.cdimiami.com/.
CDI Miami can be reached at 1(800) 371-0002, and by appointment from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM. Their address is 1380 NE Miami Gardens Drive, Suite 115, North Miami Beach, FL 33179.
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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
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 "3D Mammography – 21st Century Breastcare")
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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’s Latest Technology to Help Maintain and Improve Health")
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Technology has come a long way in the X-Ray field as traditional film is largely being replaced by digital imaging, called digital X-Ray or digital radiography. This new technology uses sensors from a digital image device as opposed to the use of traditional photographic film. Widely used by doctors, dentists, hospitals, and X-Ray centers worldwide, this new technology allows for a more cost-effective and user-friendly approach to X-Ray imaging.
A key advantage to digital radiography is an increase in overall health and well-being. By using digital imaging in place of traditional film, up to fifty percent less radiation is used to capture images. In addition, when using traditional film, costly developing chemicals are required thus increasing chemical exposure to patients and staff members. By removing the film-developing step from the X-Ray process, digital radiography provides a much safer approach and is more cost effective as well. Both material and labor costs are lowered as developing chemicals are not required and companies that pick up hazardous waste are no longer needed, thus saving thousands of dollars.
Compared to traditional film, digital radiography produces higher quality images that are ready to view within seconds allowing for quicker appointment times. They are simpler to access and easily shared via email from practice to practice. Similar to using photo edit controls on a computer, digital X-Ray images can be manipulated for clearer results by enlarging and brightening the images. This provides a clearer picture, allowing for early detection and a more proactive treatment plan. Because patients are also able to view the images more clearly, a new educational approach to diagnosis and treatment has been made possible.
Also more and more patients and doctors are choosing open MRI scan vs. traditional MRI for their diagnostic needs. In fact, there is such a high demand that an increasing number of MRI diagnostic centers, such as the Center for Diagnostic Imaging in Miami, are offering open MRI either exclusively or as part of their diagnostic imaging MRI services.
Not only does open MRI offer the same high-quality diagnostic images as regular MRI machines, but it also offers a greatly increased comfort level for patients.
There are many groups of patients in particular that appreciate the openness of the open MRI tube, including children, overweight patients and those suffering from claustrophobia.
Open MRI has been revolutionary in being able to effectively scan children. And open MRI has not only allowed overweight patients a higher level of comfort, it produces better scans for this population. The open MRI’s wider opening allows a better positioning of overweight patients, which helps improve image quality and accuracy. The open MRI table weight limits are also substantially higher than those of closed MRI machines, providing access to a greater number of patients.
Many patients actually first discover that they are claustrophobic while getting a scan on a closed MRI machine. The closed tube, with limited space is extremely frightening for those that suffer from this phobia. Open MRI addresses these fears with its open sides and flared tube opening which allows a feeling of greater freedom and space.
Our Miami-based center offers the latest in all imaging technology: providing access to the latest treatments, while minimizing radiation exposure to our clients.
At the Center for Diagnostic Imaging, a full body scan can be offered in MRI scan form and also in CTA scan and Pet CT scan forms.
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 "X-Rays and MRIs")
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Electrical engineers at the University of Wisconson-Madison have created the fastest, most responsive flexible silicon phototransistor ever made.
The phototransistor could improve the performance of myriad products – from digital cameras, night-vision goggles and surveillance systems to medical and digital imaging.
“Developed by UW-Madison collaborators Zhenqiang “Jack” Ma, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and research scientist Jung Hun Seo, the high-performance phototransistor far and away exceeds all previous flexible phototransistor parameters, including sensitivity and response time, according to the university.” – Security Sales
Similar to human eyes, phototransistors essentially sense and collect light, then convert that light into an electrical charge proportional to its intensity and wavelength. In the case of human eyes, the electrical impulses transmit the image to the brain.
“We actually can make the curve any shape we like to fit the optical system,” Ma says. “Currently, there’s no easy way to do that.”
One important aspect of the success of the new phototransistors is the researchers’ innovative “flip-transfer” fabrication method, in which their final step is to invert the finished phototransistor onto a plastic substrate. At that point, a reflective metal layer is on the bottom.
“In this structure – unlike other photodetectors – light absorption in an ultrathin silicon layer can be much more efficient because light is not blocked by any metal layers or other materials,” Ma says.
The researchers are patenting the technology through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
Original article found here.
It is well known that ultrasound technology is often used to monitor the growth of babies still in the womb; to determine due dates, prenatal health, and the sex of the child. However, ultrasound technology, which uses a transducer to transmit high-frequency sound waves into the body and translates them into images, can be also used to diagnose and prevent a wide range of conditions. Continue reading
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There is no doubt that CT scans are extremely useful diagnostic imaging tools. The pictures they provide can help doctors identify and treat various types of diseases such as cancer, vascular disease, pulmonary embolisms, aortic aneurysms and spinal problems. For patients in certain risk groups or with strong family histories of disease, doctors will sometimes order a full body scan so they can see how internal systems are functioning. These total body scans can be useful in identifying and treating diseases and abnormalities that are in the earliest stages. Continue reading
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 "Full Body Scans: The Good, The Bad, and the “Incidentalomas”")
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A computed tomography scan—otherwise known as a CT scan—combines a series of X-ray images taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside a body. The resulting image can be compared to a slice of bread. Each slice can be viewed individually from the whole “loaf” to get a better visualization of the body. CT scan images can provide much more information than plain X-rays. Continue reading
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