December 2007 Blog Archive
Monday, December 31, 2007
Top Preventive Imaging Stories of 2007
The year is about to come to a close. There will be a lot of new preventive imaging news in 2008 but let's take a look back at the important stories of 2007. Here are some of the favorities:
- Starting in January, there was important news about a new
virtual colonsocopy procedure that has the potential to be life-saving. Later in the year we saw technological developments in another area of imaging: the
3D brain scan.
- Stories about the importance of heart health screenings have been important all throughout the year. Some examples of these include
information on how heart screens save both lives and money,
true stories about people saved by heart screens, and
news about how lung scans could be important for heart patients.
- In news that's a little bit more on the fun side, a
favorite story was the one about how MRIs might be able to be used as lie detector tests. And in related news that's a little more serious, we learned that MRIs might be able to provide us some insight into the minds of
pedophiles.
Those are just a few of the interesting stories that took place throughout the year. (You can check our archives for others.) Now it's time to get ready for news in 2008!
Question of the Day: What was your favorite preventive imaging story in 2007?photo link
Friday, December 28, 2007
Commit to Getting a Preventive Scan in 2008
It's almost the end of the year. People are busy planning their New Year's Eve events and making resolutions for the year to come. Have you thought about what you're going to resolve to do differently in 2008?
For many people, New Year's Resolutions revolve around health concerns. We want to eat better, be more fit, and take more time to relax. We may not think about it too carefully but these are all goals that are related to
preventing health problems and improving the overall quality of life.
Why not take things a step further this year and really commit to preventive health care? When we prevent problems instead of waiting for them to develop and treating them at a later stage, we improve the quality of our lives. We reduce the amount of money and time that we have to spend on health care and open our days up to more fruitful endeavors.
A preventive imaging scan can assist you in seeing what's going on inside your body. A total
body scan will check everything out for you. Or if you're concerned about certain areas of the body, a
heart scan or
lung scan might provide the information (and peace of mind) that you're seeking.
There are many resolutions to be made that can improve 2008. But how many of them will improve both your day-to-day life and the longevity of years to come?
Question of the Day: What's the first step you would take in committing to reaching a goal of better preventive health?photo link
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Researchers Recommend Improved Imaging for Beating the Blood-Brain Barrier
A group of medical researchers has made some forward motion in treating brain disorders by reocmmending a series of steps to be implemented. These steps are designed around tackling an area of brain disease research that has been plaguing medical researchers for some time. That area is the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is basically what it sounds like; a barrier of cells designed to protect the brain. On the plus side, it keeps damaging substances out of the brain so that it can work properly. On the negative side, it makes it difficult for doctors to treat brain disease because it blocks out medicine.
The researchers have come up with a series of suggestions geared towards beating the blood-brain barrier problem. If accomplished, this would allow doctors to treat numerous disorders affecting the brain (such as Alzheimer's). The suggestions are based on six different areas of damage to the brain, including such things as brain tumors and brain injuries.
What was determined was that in order to treat many of these six areas, it is necessary to develop better
imaging techniques. For example, when it comes to brain tumors, advanced imagine that can better delineate the tumor's size, type, and location would better determine treatment. Furthermore, they suggest that imaging should be able to track the progress of treatment.
You can learn the details of this research
here.
Question of the Day: Is imaging the problem when it comes to beating the blood-brain barrier?photo link
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Pregnant Woman's CT Scans Used to Make Advances in Pregnancy Radiation Treatments
Medical imaging can be used for many things. However, typical medical imaging is not used for treating patients who are pregnant. That's because the fetus is highly sensitive to all medical treatments and no one wants to use unnecessary medical technology on a growing baby. In addition to imaging, there are other procedures which are rarely done on pregnant women. For example, radiation isn't done during pregnancy because of the risk that it would expose the baby to damaging radiation.
However, there have been advancements made that may allow women who absolutely need radiation during pregnancy to unergo the treatments with reduced harm to the baby. That's because a new study made use of
CT scan images of a pregnant patient to create an imaging model which more accurately shows where the radiation treatments of a pregnant woman should be done. The CT scan images were obtained accidentally when a woman who didn't know she was pregnant had a scan done several years ago. This accident was able to provide important information about the body that was used in the development of the new technology.
You can learn more about this interesting study
here.
Question of the Day: In what circumstances can you see getting radiation while pregnant?photo link
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Scan Your Community for a Charity to Support
It's Christmas Day. What does that mean to you? For many people, this is a time of appreciation for the people who are here to celebrate the season with them. And for many of those people, that celebration is due at least in small part to the preventive imaging scans that they have gotten throughout the year. Tumors and diseases caught by
full body scans have allowed many people to take measures to improve their health before something drastic happens. And as those people celebrate with loved ones today, they are thankful for the trauma that they didn't have to go through as a result of their early treatments.
But some people aren't so lucky as to be able to afford to get preventive screening done. For that reason, there are charities out there which work to raise money to assist people in need with getting the scans that can save their lives. There are also charities and organizations out there which raise awareness of the importance of screening for different diseases. Moreover, there are non-profit organizations which are committed to raising funds for research to improve preventive health screening.
In the spirit of the holiday season, you might think about giving to some of these charities. There are a large number of them to choose from. The area which has the most charities to choose from is prevention and screening for cancer. The
American Breast Cancer Foundation,
The American Brain Tumor Association and The
American Heart Association are a few of the recognizable names doing this kind of work.
However, there are also a significant number of local organizations which are committed to providing community assistance in preventing disease. As a Christmas gift to your community, take some time this week to find an organization near you which needs your help. In the spirit of the season, consider giving some money this year to helping others in need. Saving lives and saving spirits is a gift that can't be bought or sold.
Question of the Day: Which preventive health organization needs your help?photo link
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Wishes for your Preventive Health Doctor
Merry Christmas!
When you're sitting around the dinner table with friends and family tomorrow, you're probably not going to be thinking about your doctors. However, those doctors might have played an important role in allowing you to be with your loved ones this Christmas. Those doctors who provide
preventive health scans often catch diseases in the early stages and prevent terrible outcomes for individuals. If you were one of the people who got help from such a doctor this year, take a moment to brighten up his Christmas.
Here are a few things that you can do today to give back to the doctor who might've given you a better quality of life:
- Start a blog. Blogging about your experiences in preventive health will allow you to spread the word to others about the good work that your doctor is doing. Sending new patients his or her way is a great Christmas gift.
- Write a letter of appreciation. It won't take you long to do it, but it will make his or her heart warm every time it's read. Be extra special and frame it so it can hang in the office.
- Call and leave a Merry Christmas message on the office answering machine. If you're pressed for time but want to make sure that your doctor knows you remembered him this Christmas, call right now and leave a nice message. The secretary will pass it along and everyone will feel the lingering Christmas spirit when the office re-opens after the holiday.
Your doctor isn't someone you're likely to think of at the holidays. However, you just might owe your life to her. That deserves some warmth this holiday season.
Question of the Day: Which other doctors are you going to call and thank this Christmas?photo link
Friday, December 21, 2007
Give a Gift that Can Save a Life
Is there someone on your Christmas list who has health concerns that worry you? If so, you might be able to give them a gift this year that will improve their health and give you peace of mind at the same time. Consider paying for
preventive imaging scans for the people in your life that are really important to you. These scans can identify major health problems and catch them in time to be treated efficiently and effectively. By footing the bill for such scans, you increase the likelihood that your loved ones will take advantage of them and can give the whole family a gift that will last a lifetime.
Preventive scans are used to detect all different types of diseases and health problems. Many people don't bother to get these scans because they don't want to pay for them. While body scans can get pricey, it's possible to find a doctor that will work with you to offer affordable preventive health options. This is done by assessing the history of the patient and determining which scans are actually needed. To give this as a Christmas gift this year, you'll want to
find a doctor and set up a payment plan in advance for the person that you are gifting.
This is a gift that is ideal for parents and grandparents. There are probably very few material things that you can think of to buy these people that you've been shopping for your entire adult life. A gift like this resolves that problem and also offers something to everyone else in the family who loves this older adult. Spouses also sometimes appreciate this gift, although you'll have to think about whether or not they'll be expecting something else in addition to the scan!
Question of the Day: What scan would you get if you were gifted with one?photo link
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Scans Could Find More Victims of McCullom Lake Cancer Suits
The Northwest Herald is in the midst of a six-part series reporting their six-month investigation into an Illinois cancer lawsuit. Part One of the series was
released on Sunday and gives an overview of the history of the litigation which is being brought by area residents who believe that toxic chemical pollution has caused their loved ones to die of rare cancers. The article profiles a few of the litigants in the case who suffer from rare brain cancer tumors which were discovered too late by
brain scans to save their lives.
The belief is that toxic chemicals contaminating villages and well water in the area are the cause of the cancer. This has led to individual lawsuits against the companies which are polluting the area. It has also lead to a class action lawsuit which is still pending court review. The Northwest Herald is bringing the issue to the attention of area residents with its in-depth report.
Those people who live in the affected area have good reason to consider getting a
brain scan or even a
full body scan to determine whether or not they have been affected by the pollution. These scans could assist residents in litigation against the defendants. More importantly, these scans could save lives. Catching the problem early on is crucial to treating it.
Question of the Day: What role do you believe preventive imaging should play in litigation such as this?photo link
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
When Your Breast Scan Reveals Only Tiny Tumors
Do you have a reason to worry if you get a breast scan and only tiny tumors are found? Maybe. A
new study reveals that even tiny tumors (less than one centimeter in size) may be devastating to your health and could require aggressive treatment as soon as they are discovered. Previously, tumors of this size were not studied extensively and their treatment has been left up to the discretion of individual
doctors. The study suggests that perhaps a more extensive treatment plan is necessary for small breast tumors.
The study found that the amount of devastation that breast cancer tumors wreak on the body is related not only to the size of the tumors. Following breast cancer patients for three years, researchers were able to determine that two different types of breast cancer are affected by other indications within the body. Those indications, when present, could require more aggressive treatment. However, the study was small and researchers say that additional research is necessary before clear guidelines on treating these cancers may be recommended.
One thing that you can do if your breast scan or mammogram reveals small tumors is to get a breast MRI. It has been
shown recently that the
breast MRI is crucial in helping you and your doctor determine the right type of treatment for your cancer. With additional information, your doctor is better able to advise you about the right course of treatment for problems discovered during preventive scans.
Question of the Day: Would the discovery of a small breast tumor cause you to panic?photo link
Monday, December 17, 2007
Colon Screening Recommended For Obese Patients
People who are suffering from obesity are general recommended to get preventive imaging for certain health problems that are likely as a result of their excessive weight. One type of preventive screening that has recently been found to be particularly important for obese people is
screening for colon cancer. A
recent study completed in Australia has determined that there is a link between colorectal cancer and obesity. This link suggests the importance of screening for people with this problem.
The study found that persons with obesity were twenty percent more likely than persons of average weight to develop colorectal cancer. The likelihood was greater for obese men than it was for obese women although both genders saw increased likelihood. Additionally, it was discovered that the amount of weight carried does have an effect on risk so the heavier that someone is, the more important it is that they get screened for colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer is a serious problem. The report mentions that it is the second most common form of cancer in Australia. As you know from
our website, it is also the second most common cause of cancer here in North America. One method of screening for colorectal cancer is through the use of the virtual colonscopy. If you have concerns about your weight and your increased risk of colon cancer,
find a doctor who can assist you in alleviating these concerns by checking you out.
Question of the Day: Do you know what the most common form of cancer in North America is?photo link
Friday, December 14, 2007
Brain Scan Program Among New Mexico Senator's Achievements
Last week,
The Albuquerque Tribune honored Senator Pete Domenici with a lengthy article about the accomplishments that he has made while in office. They had a lot of great things to say about this New Mexico senator who has spent such a significant amount of time in office. And among those things was mention of a
brain scan program that he helped to put into place years ago.
"Phil Eaton, vice president emeritus of the University of New Mexico Center for Health Sciences, tells of another initiative that was solely Domenici's initiative. At Los Alamos, Domenici saw a brain-scan technology, magnetic encephalography, which can map when there is activity in parts of the brain. "It was obvious to the senator that something had to be done to see how this could affect an outcome for treatment," said Eaton. Domenici came up with a proposal and $10 million a year in funding to link researchers at Harvard, the University of Minnesota and UNM Health Sciences into a joint research project using magnetic encephalography. It's now called the Mind Network."
This is one example of how someone that isn't necessarily directly related to the medical industry can have a direct effect on the technology that is used for preventive health. The actions of politicians can significantly impact the research and treatment that a community sees.
If you are interested in a brain scan or other preventive health treatment in New Mexico, start by finding a doctor
here. If you're elsewhere in the U.S., use our
online tool to find a doctor near you.
Question of the Day: In what ways do politicians affect our health?photo link
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Research Emphasizes Importance of Colon Cancer Screening
Nobody wants to go to the doctor to get a
colonoscopy. But
recent research completed in the UK suggests that the effectiveness of colon cancer screening should outweigh the minor discomfort of having it done. The study was completed in the United Kingdom over the course of five years to determine whether or not
bowel cancer screening was effective. It found that it is not only effective as a tool for identifying bowel cancer but that it also significantly reduces the devastation of the disease.
The most important finding of the study was that the screening reduced the number of emergency room patients undergoing operation by fifty percent. In other words, if you were to go into an emergency room presenting with symptoms of bowel cancer, you'd have a fifty percent chance of not needing emergency surgery if you instead got appropriate screening. This is important because the study also found that the number of people who
did undergo the surgery were significantly more likely to live if they had been screened.
There are several different ways to screen for colon cancer. The virtual colonscopy is one method that is commonly used. Screening is regularly recommended as a preventive tool for people age fifty or older. By using such screening, you can reduce the spread of the disease through early detection. Sure, the colonscopy isn't the most comfortable procedure in the world but it's a lot better than emergency surgery for colon cancer, isn't it?
Question of the Day: If you have ignored your doctor's recommendations to screen for colon cancer, what were your reasons?photo link
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Concerned About Your Heart? Get a Lung Scan.
If you're concerned about the health of your heart, you have probably considered getting a
heart scan. That's important, especially for people with a history of heart disease in the family. But what if you get the heart scan and it reveals that there's nothing wrong with your heart? Your
doctor might tell you that you are more or less in the clear but you could have a nagging suspicion that something is still wrong. If the little voice in your head is saying that you still think that your heart is at risk, you may want to consider getting a
lung scan.
A recent study shows that respiratory infections in the lungs increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study confirms what doctors had previously thought to be true which is that weakening of the lungs due to respiratory disease or infection is directly correlated with an increased likelihood that the individual will suffer from heart problems. Specifically they found that an infection in the lungs doubles the risk of strokes and heart attacks in the first week. The risk stays high through one month following the onset of respiratory infection. (You can read about the study in full
here.)
Although the study is specific to respiratory infections, it demonstrates a link in the body between the lungs and the heart. When the lungs are weakened, the heart is put at risk. If you've got a history of respiratory problems in your family, a lung scan could reveal vulnerabilities. This information can assist you in preventive treatments not just for your lungs but also for the health of your heart.
Question of the Day: Did you previously know about the link between respiratory infection and heart attacks?photo link
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Adrenal Masses found by CT Scans usually Benign
If you get a
CT scan, there's a good chance that your doctor might find that you have adrenal masses. And if that's the finding, you mgiht panic thinking that something is terribly wrong with your health. However, that's frequently not the case. A recent study showed that the majority of adrenal masses which are found by CT scans are not malignant.
"Adrenal masses are common and are frequently found incidentally on CT. Our study has shown that the overwhelming majority of these masses are benign when found in patients with no known cancer. The implications of this study may save many patients from further exams," said Song, who's also an assistant professor of diagnostic imaging (clinical) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. (Source)
Of course, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't get checked out. There's always the chance that a mass that's found is indicative of a larger problem, a problem that you'd probably want to know about sooner or later. This is particularly true for people who have a known malignancy, as the study was focused on people who did not have a known malignancy and so doesn't necessarily apply to that group. You should
ask your doctor about the importance of preventive imaging in your case specifically.
What the study does suggest is that you should be cautious about assuming the worst when your CT scan (or any other preventive imaging you have done) comes back without a clear bill of health. Rather than panicking, you should work with your doctor to determine what additional scans are needed to see what's really going on below the surface.
Question of the Day: Would this information make you feel more calm in the face of news from your doctor that your CT scan showed an adrenal mass?photo link
Monday, December 10, 2007
Breast MRI Crucial for Determining Cancer Treatment
Most women who have been diagnosed with cancer don't get a
breast MRI. That could be a problem.
Recent studies have shown that women with breast cancer who do get a breast MRI done receive additional information about their illness which can significantly alter the appropriate course of treatment. Approximately two out of every ten women who choose to get breast
magnetic resonance imaging before treating their cancer discover that important details about their bodies were missed during the standard imaging (such as mammography) which initially detected the cancer.
Most commonly, women with breast cancer who get the breast MRI will find that there is more cancer than they previously thought. Additional cancer in the same breast, cancerous tumors in the second breast or tumors that are actually larger than they appeared in initial screening are all changes that might be seen with the breast MRI. Early detection of this information can help doctors and patients to make informed decisions about treatment. These decisions have the potential to be life-saving.
For example, a patient may discover that additional cancer is present and should be treated immediately. This prevents the need for further treatments down the line which would have been the case if no breast MRI was done to reveal this cancer. In other cases, the treatment may be more aggressive or more widespread across the body in order to get rid of the cancer before it spreads.
The more information that we have about our bodies and our illnesses, the better prepared we are to make decisions that protect our health. Most women know that they should be doing breast self-exams and getting annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer. These recent studies have demonstrated the importance of continuing to look deeper using the breast MRI if indeed cancer appears to be present.
Question of the Day: If you were diagnosed with breast cancer, would you ask that your doctor take the extra step and order a breast MRI?photo link
Friday, December 07, 2007
Doctors May Now Be Able to Use fMRI on Kids
In the past, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has only been useful in studying the brain function of adults. This has not been because doctors weren't interested in what the fMRI could tell them about the developing brains of children. Rather, it has been because the developing brain's fMRI signal in children has not been understood. New research has made some headway into understanding this area so that doctors may be able to make use of fMRI technology on children's brains in the future.
Neuroscientific researchers at MIT determed that the fMRI signal changes during the early part of life. They have now been able to make corrections to the technology to adapt to those changes so that the technology can be used on younger subjects. The hope is that this will allow doctors to use the fMRI to better understand childhood development. This could also make it an important tool in the future for better understanding psychological disease in the brains of children. (Learn more about the MIT study
here.)
While we're on the subject of the fMRI ... it's a procedure which has been mentioned here in the past and you might be wondering how it differs from a technology that we cover more often: the
MRI. There's a great description of the difference between the two located
here. It sums up that the major difference is that the MRI is used to capture an image of the brain's structure while the fMRI is used to capture an image of the brain's function.
Question of the Day: What is your opinion on the importance of scanning technology for children?photo link
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Heart Health Screening Saves Time and Lives
There are good reasons to get almost any type of
preventive imaging scan. If you have health problems or a history of certain diseases in the family, a preventive scan related to those problems could save your life. But in the case of heart health, preventive imaging may save more than just your own life. It could actually save the lives of others.
This point was made in a
recent article which highlighted a new heart test that can be done in hospitals. The test can be done on emergency room patients who are presenting with problems that may or may not be signs of an impending heart attack. The test shows which people likely have other (less serious) problems. That allows doctors to focus on those folks who have immediate heart health problems and therefore to save more lives.
This same basic formula can be applied to the importance of
heart scans for the general community. People who get heart scans can prevent problems associated with heart disease. This helps to limit the number of people who are going to heart doctors for emergency treatments. That means those doctors have more time to treat the patients who do come in with heart attacks and other serious health problems.
Of course, a heart scan alone isn't going to stop you from having a heart attack. However, it can help you to identify your level of risk and to provide you with information that will allow you to act more preventatively to protect your heart. It's something that can save your life. And if it can save someone else's in the meantime, that's all the better.
Question of the Day: Do you think the cost of a heart scan is worth the money saved on future heart treatment?photo link
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
MRI, MRA, MRE
You're familiar with the term "
MRI". Even the most non-medical person has heard of magnetic resonance imaging which is a form of scan technology often used in place of the CT scan to determine what is going on inside the body. If nothing else, you've heard it mentioned on television doctor dramas. But what you probably haven't heard mentioned there are the other MRs: MRAs and MREs.
The
MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) is related to the MRI in that it uses MRI technology. The MRA itself is a minimally-invasive procedure done not just to identify problems in the body but also to treat them. You can learn more about the MRA
here.
So what about the MRE? If you haven't heard of this one yet, you shouldn't be surprised. Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a new imaging technique which is just beginning to be explored by research doctors at the Mayo Clinic. It differs from the MRI in that its purpose is to measure tissue elasticity. The equipment is similar to that used in MRI scanning but has been tweaked to allow for vibrations of the muscles which are read by the machinery. The most recent study that it was used in was to assess muscle information for the purpose of improved diagnosis of myofascial pain. (You can learn more about that
here.)
Question of the Day: What could you tell another person about an MRI?photo link
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Get Timely Cancer Scans Using Online Reporting
If you have had any type of cancer in the past, you are probably concerned about staying on top of the treatments that are recommended by
your doctor. You are probably also concerned about making sure that any warning signs that the cancer has come back are noticed and taken seriously right away to prevent the cancer from spreading. For that reason, you probably use preventive imaging techniques to periodically scan for signs that the cancer has returned.
If so, you might be interested in a new online reporting system that has been shown to be beneficial for cancer patients. Basically it's a system that allows cancer patients to update their doctors about symptoms and problems from the convenient location of their own home. Often what happens with patients nowadays is that they will experience symptoms for a few days but then forget about them before their next doctor's appointment. The online reporting system lets you sign in at any time to report problems as they arise. This allows your doctor to pay closer attention to what's going on with you and to let you know if a scan for the return of cancer is in order.
The study specifically
tested lung cancer patients who were receiving outpatient chemotherapy treatments. However it can be applied to a broader group of patients in the future. As more and more information is transmitted through the Internet, this "real time" self-reporting could be a way for patients to communicate more effectively with their doctors. By detecting symptoms early on, you can make important scanning appointments early and catch problems before they spread.
Learn more about the study
here.
Question of the Day: What concerns would you have about online self-reporting of your symptoms?photo link
Monday, December 03, 2007
Unique Imaging Technique Gives Insight into Autism
Research doctors from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania have recently gained insights into autism after using a unique imaging technique that combines two imaging techniques and applies them in a manner not used before. The researchers used diffusion tensor imaging (
DTI) combined with a new method called ABM and applied it to studying the gray matter of a set of autistic patients.
"DTI is traditionally used to study the brain's white matter, as well as the brain fibers. However, Dr. Ashtari's team applied it to the assessment of gray matter by employing apparent diffusion coefficient based morphometry (ABM), a new method that highlights brain regions with potential gray matter volume changes. By adding ABM to DTI, the researchers can detect subtle regional or localized changes in the gray matter." (source)
Through the use of this unique imaging approach, the researchers were able to identify that autistic brains appear to have different amounts of gray matter (in comparison with the average brain) in the areas which control observational learning and social processing. They further determined that an "abnormally functioning mirror neuron system" may be responsible for the symptoms of social awkwardness that are seen in people with autism.
This research is important to two different medical communities. First, of course, it is important to people who are studying autism. Secondly, it is important to
doctors who use DTI and other imaging because of the unique approach that was used in the study. Additional exploration of the use of DTI scanning on the gray matter of the brain could be seen in the future as a result of this study.
Question of the Day: How familiar are you with DTI imaging?photo link
