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 16, 2014

9 million US Smokers Should Get a Yearly Lung Screening

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Screening means testing for a disease when there are no symptoms or history of that disease. Doctors recommend a screening test to find a disease early, when treatment may work better.

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). In this test, an X-ray machine scans the body and uses low doses of radiation to make detailed pictures of the lungs.

Who should be screened?

  • • Have a history of heavy smoking, or
  • • Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, or
  • • Are between 55 and 80 years old.

Heavy smokers who are at least 55 should have an annual CT scan to check for lung cancer, a government panel says. The recommendation, which could apply to about nine million Americans, would mean Medicare and many health insurance companies must start providing the test for free to patients.

 

The screening test, which costs $250-$300, may prevent as many as 20 percent of future deaths from lung cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says in its recommendations, explained in a separate report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Other experts note that in real-world practice, the actual numbers may be much lower.

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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 | Friday May 9, 2014

Preventing Bone Cancer with MRI MRA Scan Options

The body is made up of 206 bones (we counted), and bones are made up of mineral calcium and different types of cells. These cells continuously break down and form new bone. Primary bone cancer starts in the bone, while the more common secondary bone cancer spreads to the bone from somewhere else in the body. Radiological tests to find and diagnose bone cancer include X-rays, bone scans, and skeletal surveys.

When a patient experiences pain that could potentially be the result of bone cancer, the first step in diagnosis is usually to X-ray the area near the pain. When enough of the healthy bone in any area is worn away by cancer, the damaged area will show up as a dark spot on the X-ray; these appear like holes in the bones.

A more comprehensive test used to diagnose bone cancer is a type of X-ray called a bone scan. In this test, low doses of radioactive particles are injected intravenously, circulating through the body and selectively picked up by the bones. The substance travels through the bloodstream to the bones and organs. As it wears away, it emits levels of radiation. This radiation is detected by a camera that slowly scans the body. The camera takes pictures of how much radiation collects in the bones. A high concentration of these radioactive particles indicates the presence of cancer cells that are rapidly growing.

In order to diagnose lesions where extra bone has built up, a skeletal survey, a certain form of X-ray, may be used. Normally an X-ray is selective for a particular area of concern, but with a skeletal survey, all areas are imaged with a full body scan PET scan. Patients such as those with multiple myeloma or breast cancer for example undergo these skeletal surveys to detect bone metastases that have not yet developed symptoms observable through other means. Full body CT scan and MRI Miami scan options may also be used for skeletal surveys.

In some cases it may be appropriate to take a bone biopsy for further analysis. Either a needle biopsy or an incisional biopsy may be useful for diagnosing bone cancer. In a needle biopsy, a surgeon makes a small hole in the bone and removes a sample of tissue from the affected area with a needle like instrument. In an incisional biopsy, the surgeon cuts into the affected area, removing a small sample of tissue. The tissue is then sent to a lab for further analysis to determine whether it is cancerous or benign.

Treatment options for bone cancer will depend on the type of bone cancer that is present, how far and how fast it has spread, and the patient’s age and general health. Radiologists at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging, a digital medical imaging center, will discuss all available treatment options. Three main treatment options: surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy will be discussed to find the right course of action per patient.

CDI Miami | Monday March 3, 2014

Osteoporosis Assessment and Prevention

Osteoporosis is a common problem that causes bones to become abnormally thin, weakened, and easily fractured. Fortunately, preventative treatments are available that can help to maintain or increase bone density. For those already affected by osteoporosis, prompt diagnosis of bone loss and assessment of fracture risk are essential because therapies are available that can slow further loss of bone or increase bone density.

Bone is a living tissue, comprised mainly of calcium and protein. Healthy bone is always being remodeled; that is, small amounts are being absorbed into the body and small amounts are being replaced. If more bone calcium is absorbed than is replaced, the density or the mass of the bone is reduced. The bone becomes progressively weaker, increasing the risk that it may break.

Although bone loss will occur in all persons as they age, the rate of progression and the effects bone loss has on the body can be modified with proper early diagnosis and treatment. The professionals at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging and the Comprehensive Breast Care Centers are expanding their solutions to address the continuum of skeletal health care, by offering more options in skeletal health imaging. By using MRI scan, CTA scan, and PET CT scans, the Miami Center for Diagnostic Imaging is raising its standards in osteoporosis assessment.

There are also certain at-home measures that can be taken to prevent osteoporosis. No one is ever too young or too old to begin improving bone health. There are three factors that are essential for keeping bones healthy throughout life: adequate amounts of calcium, adequate amounts of vitamin D, and regular exercise.

Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need around one thousand milligrams of calcium per day. Men and women over the age of 50 need around 1,200 milligrams. Low-fat and skim milk, non-fat yogurt, and reduced-fat cheeses are healthy sources of the calcium needed to build strong bones. Fish products, canned sardines, and salmon, eaten with their bones, are also calcium-rich. Soy products help to maintain bone density. And leafy green vegetables, like kale, bok choy, and broccoli, not only have calcium, but also have the potassium and vitamin K needed to block calcium loss from bones.

Don’t overdo protein. High protein intake can raise the bodily excretion of calcium. Around 50 grams of protein should be the daily limit for women; and around 63 grams for men. Also, try to limit caffeine intake to the equivalent of no more than three cups of coffee a day, since caffeine also causes the body to excrete calcium more readily.

Vitamin D is a necessary ingredient the body uses to absorb calcium. Vitamin D is most easily acquired through sunlight, but certain food products, like fortified milk products; have the vitamin D needed for proper calcium absorption. Fish with lots of oils in them, such as mackerel, are also rich in vitamin D. For those who cannot get enough calcium or vitamin D in the daily diet, supplements are a good idea.

Exercise is important because it can help build strong bones and slow down bone loss. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or weight lifting, keep bones healthy by working the muscles and bones against gravity.

The bones and joints provide stability and mobility, the freedom to move, and the strength to perform. Just like the rest of the body, they should be taken care of daily. The trained professionals at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging and the Comprehensive Breast Care Centers use the most advanced tools to provide patients with the very best chances of detecting and assessing osteoporosis.

CDI Miami | Tuesday February 18, 2014

Preventative Scanning for a Continued Healthy Lifestyle

Advocates promote a full body scan as a smart part of a routine physical exam. Full body scanning is a non-invasive, painless procedure that uses low-dose X-rays to screen the body for various diseases of the major organs; taking an average of around ten to thirty minutes to perform.  Computed tomography (CT) is a diagnostic, imaging procedure using these X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of the body. These scans produce images representing “slices” of the body. Each image slice corresponds to a wafer-thin section which can be viewed to reveal body structures in great detail. CT scans are a valuable diagnostic tool, able to detect some conditions that conventional X-rays cannot. The Center for Diagnostic Imaging in North Miami Beach is a premier diagnostic facility, providing patients with the best digital imaging and patient care, as well as preventive care through full body scans.

Preventative scans have become recognized as a valuable medical tool for the early diagnosis of disease, trauma, or abnormality and for planning, guiding, and monitoring therapy. Its use is virtually unlimited; it covers: the heart and arteries, identifying near microscopic amounts of plaque; the lungs at the air cell level showing the earliest stages of smoke damage, emphysema or lung cancer; the spine, evaluating for osteoporosis, disc disease and other back problems; internal organs for detection of tumors, stones and cysts of all sizes; aneurysms in the abdominal and chest cavities; thyroid and parathyroid disease; joint disease; uterine, ovarian, and prostate disease.

Full body scanning can detect heart, lung, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and prostate and ovarian disease, as well as tumors, aneurysms, osteoporosis, hernias, and kidney and gall stones. This study can provide both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images of all types of tissue, allowing for more accurate detection of various cancers and diseases before symptoms occur.

Full body screening is a useful preventative tool. Heart and lung diseases are responsible for over half of all deaths in the United States alone each year. Most of these cancers progress slowly over time causing no immediate symptoms for the patient. As a result, patients aren’t diagnosed until after the cancer has already developed. The National Cancer Institute estimates that up to 35% of cancer deaths could be avoided through preventative screening.

Full body scanning is recommended for anyone over the age of 45, as well as for patients who smoke, have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.  Full body scanning should be used as a complimentary to regular checkups with a patient’s physician.

The professional staff at the Center for Diagnostic Imaging believes that disease prevention is the first step toward a healthy lifestyle. Each component of the total body scan has been carefully selected to screen for all common diseases and more. The medical imaging experts focus on providing patients with the latest advances in medical technology while continuing in their commitment to provide outstanding patient care.