Tag Archives: Screening and Prevention

A preliminary procedure, such as a test or examination, to detect the most characteristic sign or signs of a disorder that may require further investigation, and the steps you can take to avoid unpleasant medical consequences.

CDI Miami | Tuesday September 22, 2015

5 Interesting Experiments Within MRI Scanners

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines are extremely sophisticated. They can detect tumors, see bone fractures, and examine electrical activity in the brain. You can conduct them in all sorts of positions: standing up, lying down, or when dancing a jig. It’s no surprise, then, that MRIs have been used for all sorts of off-the-wall experiments. Here’s some examples of the coolest types of MRI scanning:

  1. While Playing Jazz

Charles Limb, a hearing specialist at Johns Hopkins and a faulty member of the Peabody Conservatory, wanted to know hope some musicians are able to produce concert-length pieces of music that are entirely improvised, from beginning to end. So, he conducted MRI scans on the jazz pianists and rappers inside an MRI and had them perform. The imaging showed that the improvisers managed to shut off parts of their brains that handled self-monitoring.

  1. While reading T.S. Eliot

When an MRI scans an actor’s brain, it noticed a particular area of the brain – the infraparietal sulcus – light up. This area is important because it handles spatial memory.

A British researcher who was working on the project, commented: “I think actors’ brains are like musicians’ brains, in that they’ve been trained to learn enormous sections of language – not by rote, but by matters of association.”

  1. While giving birth

A woman in Germany gave birth in an MRI, giving viewers a rare glimpse into the inner-workings of the birth canal. Doctors could even watch the baby’s head change shape during the process.

  1. While playing video games

Researchers at the University of Illinois researched educational science by having test subjects play a game in various positions:

“We built in aspects of shifting your attention around to different objects in the display, remembering different pieces of information, using different rules depending upon the context and the changes in the game. There’s also a very complex psychomotor control in which you use a joystick to control a spaceship. We designed a somewhat entertaining task that was complex to learn, but built in various aspects of memory and decision making and control and attention. It was used very productively in studying learning and studying strategies that might be applied to enhance ideas about how we learn and how much and how quickly we learn.” – University of Illinois

  1. When introducing snakes and spiders

Bringing snakes and spiders in the room can definitely evoke the desired effect – fear.

“We are very grateful to Nachshon for inducing intense fear in the participants of our study,” deadpans Yadin Dudai, one of the lead researchers, in a video explaining the results.

 

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.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

CDI Miami | Tuesday July 21, 2015

MRIs and Peace – One Scan at a Time

At MIT, a collaboration is underway making the MRI scanner a new tool for resolving war and conflict. The goal of the lab is to use current knowledge of neuroscience to develop innovative, science-based conflict resolution strategies.

Continue reading →

CDI Miami | Monday June 1, 2015

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Current diagnosis of Alzheimer’s relies largely on documenting mental decline. Individuals who are diagnosed in this manner have already suffered severe brain damage. Neuroimaging is among the most promising areas of research focused on early detection. Today, a standard screening for Alzheimer’s includes structural imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). These tests are used to screen for diseases similar to Alzheimer’s that require different treatment methods. Structural imaging can reveal tumors, head trauma, or strokes.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first molecular tracer for use of patients being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease. This tracer is radioactive allowing it to be seen during a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan, broadening the scope of treatment.

A task force of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the Alzheimer’s Association recently published criteria dictating when certain diagnostic imaging procedures for Alzheimer’s evaluation was appropriate.

Structural Imaging

Structural imaging studies have revealed that the brains of people with Alzheimer’s shrink significantly as the disease progresses. Research has increasingly determined that shrinkage of specific areas of the brain – such as the hippocampus, may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s. However, scientists have yet to agree on standardized values for brain volume that would establish the significance of a specific degree of shrinkage for anyone person.

Functional Imaging

Functional imaging research with positron emission tomography (PET) and other methods suggest that people with Alzheimer’s have less brain activity in certain areas. Alzheimer’s often parallels deficiencies of glucose in areas known for processing memory, learning and executive function. However promising these studies may be, research is still in its nascent stages and no conclusive patterns can be established for diagnostic information about individuals.

Molecular Imaging Technologies

Molecular imaging technologies are on the forefront of new approaches to diagnose Alzheimer’s in its earliest stages. Molecular diagnostics may be able to detect biological cues long before the disease causes permanent damage to the brain’s structure or function. Molecular imaging offers a new strategy for monitoring disease progression and assess next-generation disease treatments.

Fortunately, the strengths and weakness of available imaging technologies are complementary. This has led to multi-modal imaging studies in which several techniques are simultaneously or sequentially applied to the same subjects for the same period of time. The value of any imaging technology will be determined by its efficacy in finding and implementing therapies. The value is inclusive of contributions to diagnosis. Because imaging technology’s most effective use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s has been early-stage evaluation, there has been an interest in “prevention” studies. Research is being done to see whether therapies are having a disease-modifying effect that could potentially translate into a delay in clinical onset.

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

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 | Wednesday May 13, 2015

MRI’s and Tattoos: Possible Side-Effects

According to the FDA, more than 45 million Americans have a tattoo somewhere on their bodies. A tattoo is usually a form of self-expression, creates a fashion statement, or helps remember a special place or person. So, how do an MRI effect tattoos?
images

MRI’s have an effect on the iron within tattoos, as an MRI uses strong magnets along with radio frequency waves to gather data. Combined, they create an electromagnetic pulse that send signals from the MRI machine into our bodies. On the lighter side of the spectrum, tattoos can merely distort the images obtained from the scan. However, tattoos containing a high level of iron can heat and cause burns because of the magnetic field within the tattoo. During the imaging process, the current flowing can cause that metal within the iron to get hot enough to burn your skin. The inflammation can be anywhere from mild irritation to a second degree burn.

To make sure that you are safe, consult with your doctor prior to examination and discuss any concerns you may have. Your doctor will be able to evaluate the risks and provide suitable alternatives should a risk present itself. Some people are prohibited from having an MRI procedure done, especially if they have metal implants, such as cardiac pacemakers. Moreover, if you got your tattoo recently, such as the last 20 years, you won’t feel anything in the scan, as tattoo ink is metal-free. Previous to that time, tattoo artists were more prone to use ink that had metal filaments. These are the incidents that reported the negative side-effects from the scans, such as burns and blurred images.

Prior to getting an MRI, it’s important to remove all metal items you may have on you, such as: body rings, keys, paperclips or even hairpins. With magnetism, any metal object can quickly become a projectile missile. Not getting an MRI for fear of complications is much riskier than avoiding one, getting an MRI when you have a tattoo is safe as long as you take the necessary precautions as outlined above.

CDI Miami | Tuesday February 17, 2015

Health in the 21st Century: Wearable Technology and Smartphones

Medicine has advanced exponentially since the industrial revolution. Infant mortality has decreased. Diseases, like polio and measles, that were deadly and debilitating 80 years ago, have been largely eradicated, thanks to the mass production and availability of vaccinations.

So what’s next?

Thanks to digital technologies, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the smartphone is going to upend everything you think you know about the future of healthcare. The result? A patient-centered information universe. Continue reading →

CDI Miami | Wednesday February 11, 2015

Ultrasounds Prevent Heart Attacks and Stroke before Symptoms Appear

A study published in the World Heart Federation’s journal, Global Heart has revealed the potential of portable ultrasound technology to detect plaque in peripheral arteries. This early detection allows doctors to employ preventative treatments that can stop heart attacks and stroke before symptoms appear. 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 →