What are the most important issues affecting patients that everyone is talking about? Here is the place to find out.
American Lung Association supports CT screening for smokers
With lung cancer the leading cause of cancer death among men and women, it is vital for men and women to be screened. Based on a large amount of evidence, the American Lung Association has announced that cancer screening with CT can save lives, and CT lung cancer screening is recommended for smokers and former smokers. The association's interim guidelines reflect recent evidence indicating that most lung cancer deaths can be prevented when detected at an early stage with CT.
You can find out more about the CT screening and its cost effectiveness here.
MRI Combo Improves Pulmonary Embolism Detection, Provides Alternative to CT
Pulmonary embolism is traditionally diagnosed with the gold standard CT, but usually comes with risks. A new study has found that an addition of two MRI sequences to a common MR angiography technique significantly improves detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) and only takes 15 minutes to set up and perform. The images taken from the MRI are significantly better from the previous year, with the study stating that the future for non-radiation based technology will be an alternative to the CT scan in the future to diagnose pulmonary embolism. Learn more about the study here.
Pre-op MRI Changes Surgical Plans for Prostate Cancer Patients
Researchers have found that a preoperative prostate MRI could provide additional information that could influence the extent of surgery in 27% of patients who under¬went robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Study co-author Dr. Daniel Margolis said that preoperative MRI is useful for surgeons who are uncertain whether to spare or resect the nerves. The important information gathered by the modality made it worthwhile for all patients because it lead to a change in surgical plans in almost a third of patients, compared to the clinical information alone.
Find out more about the preoperative MRI here.
CT technique predicts transient vs. persistent lung nodules
The CT lung cancer screening could differentiate between potentially malignant part-solid nodules and the transient kind that are less worrisome by using an image analysis. The problem with part-solid nodules (PSNs) detected with a CT is that they have a much higher malignancy rate -- ranging from about 63% to 90% of all PSNs that don't resolve on their own—compared with solid or ground-glass nodules. Also, approximately 50% to 70% of PSNs are transient, meaning they typically resolve on their own within a few weeks or months, which is unnecessary waiting time and time wasted.
However, a recent study has possibly found a solution: Differentiation of the two types based on using CT attenuation characteristics, which differs significantly between persistent and transient PSN. The study aims to use computer-aided analysis of nodules' pixel values to distinguish between persistent from transient part-solid lesions. Dr. Sang Hwan Lee from Seoul National University Hospital's National Cancer Center states, “Using computer-aided analysis from the whole pixel area, persistent and transient PSNs can be differentiated with high accuracy.”
Read more about the study and how the CT scan can be used here.
PET/CT prevents dissections for head and neck cancer patients
Unnecessary dissections of the neck may be prevented for patients who received chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer thanks to the PET/CT scan. Several studies have been run on various types of patients at different stages of cancer, and though more analysis is needed, it is believed that “patients with a good PET scan can safely avoid neck dissection.” Read more about the story here.
CT Boosts Prediction of Acute Stroke in TIA Patients
Combining a commonly used scale for stroke prediction, the ABCD2 scale, with the CT scan could boost the prediction of acute stroke in TIA patients—patients who have symptoms similar to a stroke. The acute changes on the CT scan could increase the scale’s accuracy and better predict a stroke within days of symptoms. Find out more about the scale and how the CT scan could aid in prediction here.
Mammography Rates for Immigrant Women Show Improvement
Mammography rates are improving among foreign-born women residing in the U.S., but remain a problem for immigrant women. Part of the improvement in mammography screening rates is due to an increasing number of culturally and linguistically appropriate screening programs, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program that encourage foreign-born women to seek a mammogram. However, a lack of access to health insurance and a regular source of healthcare are important factors related to the lower percentage of mammography screening among U.S. immigrants. Read more about the research and statistics on how those born in the U.S. and those who are immigrants affect receiving early detection from mammograms.
Stroke Screening May Have the Ability to Spot People at Risk of Stroke
A new test may be able to spot people at high risk of stroke. The study shows that the test is able to separate people with clogged neck, or carotid, arteries into those who are relatively likely to suffer a stroke and those who aren’t. This could help decide who would benefit from a controversial surgery in which doctors clean out cholesterol buildups blocking the carotid artery and eliminating unnecessary surgeries for many people. The test is based on two types of ultrasound scans that scan the carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain and one of the arteries in the brain itself. Read more about the study and statistics here.
PET Scan Provides More Personalized Cancer Care Through Non-Invasive Procedure
Personalizing cancer care through non-invasive procedures has become possible through the PET scan, which can predict how patients with lung cancer will respond to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. In a significant portion of cancers, the EGFR pathway contains a mutation and does not function normally. New medications for cancer, referred to as EGFR inhibitors, reduce or stop unchecked cellular growth through this pathway among patients with EGFR mutations. Read more about the study and research at CancerConnect.com.
Studies Show PET's Potential to Differentiate Dementia Types
According to two published studies, the PET has the potential to differentiate between types of dementia and to identify pharmaceuticals to slow the progress of the disease. With the use of F-18 florbetaben, one study shows it helps provide a longer half-life and is more affordable, making it appropriate for clinical use. In the second study, researchers developed a "PET score" that was extracted automatically from FDG-PET scans using a sample of controls, patients with mild cognitive impairment, and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Both studies concluded that "prevention of dementia by drugs applied at MCI stage would greatly improve quality of life for patients and reduce costs of dementia care and treatment." You can read more about the studies here.
Low-dose CT Scans can be a Beneficial Surveillance Tool for Patients with Stage 1 Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States between the ages of 15 to 35. In a new study discussed in CancerConnect.com, patients with Stage 1 testicular cancer can benefit from low-dose CT scans because they provide a reliable method for surveillance and reduce radiation exposure by 40-60%. The authors of the study state, “Low dose CT scans may safely reduce radiation exposure due to retroperitoneal imaging during surveillance of stage I testicular cancer with minimal loss of diagnostic quality. The use of this imaging technique should be considered in all surveillance protocols.”
Athletes Can Discover Cartilage Damage from a MRI
From diagnosing tumors to discovering cartilage damage, the MRI is a diagnostic tool that has multiple benefits—especially for athletes. In an Aunt Minnie article, a comparison of MRI techniques shows the physical impact of playing basketball may vary for different cartilage regions in the knee, and those same techniques may help detect subtle cartilage changes, say researchers from California. Using the MRI to diagnose cartilage damage can benefit not only professional athletes, but any athlete from high school to college level, and we strive to help athletes in the River Region. At Carmichael Imaging, we use the latest diagnostic tools, like the MRI, to diagnose athletic-related injuries and determine the best treatment to help the athlete fully recover.
MRI Still No Match for CT in Diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis
According to a study from Aunt Minnie, the MRI is still no match for the CT scan when diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis. Because of the radiation concerns and most Cystic Fibrosis patients being children and older adults, the MRI has been suggested as an alternative method for diagnosis. However, despite concerns and recent improvements in MRI techniques, the CT scan still provides better imaging for bronchiectasis and air trapping—the key components of cystic fibrosis of the lungs.
X-Ray Should Be First to Diagnose Chronic Rhinosinusitis
According to recent studies, a projection X-Ray should be the diagnostic tool used in diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis in children, a condition causing nasal blockage, nasal discharge, facial pain, headaches, and/or a reduced or absent sense of smell. Where the CT scans and MRIs have been the “gold standard” for diagnosis, researchers from the Aunt Minnie article say that an X-Ray is an inexpensive exam, readily available and the image produced is good enough to make a diagnosis for the majority of cases.
MRI Provides Benefits in Breast Cancer Detection
The MRI has become a beneficial tool in breast cancer screening and can find certain cancers missed by mammography in women who’ve had radiation therapy to the chest for other conditions. Women who have a history of chest irradiation are encouraged to be tested by the two modalities for a more advanced diagnosis, according to an article from Aunt Minnie. People need to be aware that MRI breast screening is an option in addition to mammograms, and Carmichael Imaging can provide this technology to patients in the River Region.
New MRI Techniques Provide Better Cartilage Damage Diagnosis
Carmichael Imaging offers state-of-the-art technology that provides a precise diagnosis of anything from cancer to broken bones. In an article from Aunt Minnie, a new MRI technique known as delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) allows for a more precise diagnosis of cartilage damage-specifically in hips. Patients with cartilage damage suffer from pain and impaired mobility, and the latest MRI technology used at Carmichael Imaging allows for an earlier diagnosis and more options to explore on how to fix the injury.
Carmicheal Imaging First In Alabama To Earn ACR Breast MRI Accreditation
Carmichael Imaging has become the first imaging center in the state of Alabama to receive a three-year term of accreditation in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Read more
Visit Our Other Care Centers: Montgomery Cancer Center / Montgomery Breast Center
Call us: (334) 387-1100 | Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 5:30PM
© 2010 Montgomery Cancer Center, 4145 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106
