Tag Archives: Miami

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County.

CDI Miami | Thursday October 7, 2021
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MRI vs Biopsy: Which is the best diagnostic tool for prostate cancer?

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Prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer in men, after lung cancer. There are an estimated 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer a year in the U.S. and 29,480 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute.

A growing body of evidence shows that MRI can help physicians detect a larger percentage of aggressive cancers than conventional biopsies. Current medical practices dictate use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which is followed up with a biopsy if PSA levels are determined to be high. Nonetheless, traditional ultrasound guided biopsies cannot always accurately target suspicious nodules, forcing patients to resubmit themselves to an uncomfortable procedure to achieve conclusive results.

MRI in Prostate Cancer Detection and Treatment

According to one study, published in July 2014 in European Urology, MRI used to detect prostate cancer can help triage patients with suspicious findings for targeted biopsy:

  • • Reduce the number of cores taken by 84 percent
  • • Reduce the number of biopsies by 36 percent
  • • Reduce detection of low-risk cancer by 87 percent,
  • • Increase detection of intermediate, and high-risk cancer by 18 percent.

 

Sumathi Reddy, consumer health columnist for the Wall Street Journal, notes in one article: “Because conventional biopsies can’t always distinguish when a cancer is clinically insignificant, patients sometimes undergo unnecessary surgery, radiation or other therapy. Such overtreatment has been a concern in the medical community for some time.”

Controversy over MRI as New Screening Standard.

A common objection to MRI screening use is that there are not many radiologists skilled in interpreting prostate MRI exams. Reddy remarks, “While it is important to note that experience matters, radiologists experienced with MRI in prostate cancer detection can offer greater clarity regarding rising PSA levels, prostate cancer diagnoses and prostate cancer prognoses.”

“Improved imaging with MRI may allow one to confidently recommend surveillance to a greater number of patients and to discover aggressive disease in areas that are not usually biopsied,” said Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute Clinical Director William Dahut, M.D. “No technology is perfect, that’s for sure. However, it is clear that our tools and ability to use these tools continues to markedly improve.”

The Center for Diagnostic Imaging is confident in the continued growth of prostate MRI exams, as it offers patients more accurate information about their disease to inform treatment decisions. MRI may well be the next frontier for cancer detection, as well as the new alternative to the current standard of care.

To learn more about our services, and to see how you can prevent disease by being screened, contact your closest Center for Diagnostic Imaging today.

CDI Miami | Thursday April 13, 2017

3D Mammography Increases Odds of Detecting Breast Cancer

Breast cancer awareness campaigns have heightened awareness of the importance of getting mammograms. However, there are big differences in mammography technology today.

Three-dimensional mammography, first approved by the FDA in 2011, known more specifically as digital breast tomosynthesis, detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers that traditional mammograms.

Benefits to Patients

With no added demand on a patient’s time during an exam, 3D imaging can:

  • Improve diagnostic confidence
  • Replace more invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures, reducing risk of complications
  • Minimize exploratory surgery
  • Facilitate non-invasive surgical planning
  • Reduce operating time
  • Minimize damage to healthy tissue by targeting the treatment area
  • Serve as easy-to-read visuals for patient education and communication.

 

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CDI Miami | Wednesday March 29, 2017

Mammography Trends to Watch This Year

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A new year brings much in tow – new ideas to share, new trends to address, new technologies to install. While it is difficult to say exactly what will affect us the most as we begin 2017, there are certain trends that seem to leap out ahead of others. Here are five trends we expect to have a vital impact on medical imaging in 2017:

1. 3D mammography. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has been a frequent topic in trade publications for a few years. As more studies are released touting the success of this technology in finding lesions and reducing recall rates, its popularity is only going to increase. Especially as media has been touting the benefits of this technology in recent years.

2. Multimedia enhanced radiology reporting (MERR). Text-only reports are fading away. A study from Emory University and the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found that 80% of respondents said MERRs “improved understanding of radiology findings by correlating images to text reports.” The study also found that the multimedia reports provided easier access to images while monitoring the progression of a condition, and saved time understanding findings without supporting images. While improving the radiology report, the multimedia-enhanced version also provides more financial value to radiologists.

3. Radiology goes to the cloud. Radiology is quickly migrating to the cloud. According to an article in Applied Radiology, the global cloud computing market in healthcare was valued at $1.8 billion in 2011, and is expected to grow at 21% at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% to $6.8 billion by 2018. While initial upfront costs can vary between the intensity of building an organization’s own private cloud, or the ease and flexibility of using public cloud architecture, the process efficiency, financial predictability of paying for only what the organization needs and long-term cost savings are making the cloud a worthwhile investment.

4. Telemedicine. The global telemedicine market was $27 billion, and the market has already surged past that number for 2017. By 2018, two-thirds of interactions with healthcare organizations will be conducted via mobile devices. Last year was an important year for telemedicine, as wearable technology become prominent. Telemedicine is expected to be valued around $3.8 billion by 2019, according to Transparency Market Research. Expect telemedicine to bring together health facilities like never before – from large systems to those located in rural areas.

5. Centralization of clinical data. Collaboration is a must for health facilities. No department can be left out of the patient experience equation now.

CDI Miami | Tuesday October 4, 2016

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month, we remind our patients to take steps to have a plan to detect breast cancer in its early stages and to encourage the women in your life to do the same. This plan can be as simple as performing regular breast self-exams and scheduling your clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history.

 

The American Cancer Society recommends that women without breast symptoms who are 40 and older should have a mammogram every year. Beyond mammograms, our CDI centers in South Miami and Aventura offer advanced Breast MRIs. MRI excels at imaging soft tissue and is therefore recommended for women with higher risk levels for breast cancer.

 

Is a Breast MRI Right for Me?

Use these guidelines developed by the American Cancer Society to help determine if you should talk to your doctor about a Breast MRI exam.

 

Recommended Annual Screening Indications

  • BRCA1 – Women with this gene mutation have a 60-80% chance of developing breast cancer over a lifetime.
  • BRCA2 – Women with this gene mutation have a 40-80% chance of developing ovarian cancer over a lifetime.
  • Women with a first-degree relative who is a CRCA carrier, but who is untested.
  • Women with a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20-25% or greater.
  • Women who have had radiation to the chest area between the ages of 10-30 (usually for Hodgkin’s Disease).

Diagnostic Indications

  • Evaluation of suspicious clinical or imaging findings that remain indeterminate after a mammogram, ultrasound and physical exam
  • Finding the extent of infiltrating ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma
  • Contralateral breast examinations in patients with breast malignancy
  • Evaluation before, during and after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy
  • Evaluation pre- or post-lumpectomy
  • Suspected tumor recurrence in patients with or without post-operative tissue reconstruction
  • Checking for breast malignancy with primary tumor unknown (MRI can usually see the exact location of a mass to save the breast)
  • Checking for leakage in silicone augmentation (verify insurance coverage prior to exam)

 

If you need a Breast MRI or 3D mammogram, take advantage of our Comprehensive Breast Care Center (“CBCC”) for the best treatment options in South Florida. We specialize in early detection of breast cancer, provided by a fully trained staff and team of Board Certified Radiologists. With locations in North Miami Beach, South Dade, and Aventura, CBCC has South Florida covered when it comes to advanced breast cancer screenings. Call us at 1.800.371.0002 to schedule your appointment today.

CDI Miami | Tuesday March 29, 2016

MRI helps predict preterm birth

MRI of the cervix is more accurate than ultrasound at predicting if some women will have a preterm birth, according to a new study from Italy appearing in the online edition of Radiology.

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CDI Miami | Tuesday February 9, 2016

Adding MRI to Mammography Could Help Detect Aggressive Breast Cancer

Breast imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect a larger tumor burden than can mammography alone, which could impact treatment decisions, according to a study published in Radiology. The retrospective study demonstrated that of 2,021 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, 285 patients (14%) had additional cancer detected by MRI, 73 of whom had cancers in a different quadrant of the breast than the index tumor.
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CDI Miami | Tuesday January 26, 2016

The Benefits of PET/CT Scans

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning adds a whole new dimension to a radiologist’s ability to diagnose and directly treat disease.  PET scans show metabolic function and abnormal molecular cell activity from anatomic structures. PET scans can detect very small cancerous tumors as well as subtle changes in the brain and heart.

It is a nuclear medicine imaging test used to diagnose a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease, etc. In PET scanning, a patient is injected with a radioactive tracer infused with simple sugars.  Cancerous cells and metabolically active organs metabolize these sugars much faster than normal cells.  As these sugars are consumed, they begin to decay and emit positrons.  These emissions collide with electrons, sending gamma rays out from the body.  These rays are captured and processed by a computer to form “hot spots” on the images.

Since the disease process begins at a chemical level long before it presents structural changes, the information from a PET scan can provide radiologists a signal that there is a problem even before anything would show up through normal examinations.

PET scans are a valuable tool; PET scans have recently been combined with computed tomography (CT) scanning technology to increase results.  CT imaging uses X-ray equipment to create detailed images of slices of the inside of the body. The PET-CT combination allows any abnormality on the PET scan to be precisely located within the body, allowing for more accurate diagnosis of any problems. Both types of scan are critical in diagnosing disease. Before the PET CT scan option, radiologists had to perform both scans separately and then compare images to determine the location of an abnormality within the body. Combined PET CT scanning provides the detailed information of CT with the “hot spot” information of the PET scan, offering more accuracy in targeting a disease site through only one exam.

These scans can often detect disease much earlier, allowing for treatment and cure with higher success. It can also show the “staging” of a disease, providing radiologists with invaluable information about the disease’s growth and progression. They can show whether a tumor is benign or cancerous and can also monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

PET scanning is a powerful diagnostic test that is having a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of disease. It provides unique information which may assist in making a diagnosis, in determining treatment or providing the likely outcome of any disease.

Nuclear medicine tests, with a full body scan through the use of PET technology can provide information on how tissue or organs are working, which cannot be obtained from other imaging techniques. PET scans may detect disease earlier than other types of scanning by identifying early changes to tissue and organs.

Radiologists at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging use this advanced technology as their preferred choice to provide outstanding patient care with preventative and diagnostic purposes.

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 | Tuesday November 10, 2015

X-Rays and MRIs

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.
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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.