Cardiac MRI scans have helped many individuals in the Royal Oak, Michigan area receive a scan of their heart without exposure to radiation or the need for an IV contrast injection. The scan will capture images of a heart while it's beating with the patient lying on his or her back. The patient will lie within a tube-like camera during the scan. This scan provides the specialist with detailed information about the patient's heart's structure and its function. The scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of various conditions like coronary artery blockage, congestive heart failure, heart valve problems, tumors of the heart, pericardial sac disease or heart attacks. It may also provide the doctor to evaluate the heart.

The procedure takes about an hour to an hour and a half to perform and those who are claustrophobic may be given a calming medicine before the scan. Those who opt to take the medication to calm them during the scan will have to have a ride home from a friend or family member. Some facilities may even offer an open MRI scanner so that those with claustrophobia are not as nervous and anxious before or during the scanning process.

Before undergoing a Cardiac MRI, patients may discuss the test with a Royal Oak radiologist or medical professional to answer any questions they may have. Patients will reveal their medical history and surgical history so that the technicians and medical professionals are aware of any potential risks or complications. Patients should also tell the professionals whether they have any metal in their body like pacemakers, defibrillators, vascular clips, cochlear implants or other pieces of metal somewhere in the body such as in the eye. If metal is present in the body, MRI is not recommended. Other imaging technologies may be recommended by the specialist in these cases.

Some patients may require a contrast agent so that the images are of a higher quality and the doctor may get a better view of the heart. This may be necessary to diagnose certain heart conditions or problems. Patients will discuss these contrasting agents with the specialist before treatment. There may be certain side effects associated with these contrast agents like allergic reaction, nausea, headache or dizziness. Those who have severe kidney disease may experience serious side effects, so the contrast agent is not provided to these patients. This is an example of why it is important to be forthcoming with one's medical history and conditions.

Learn more about Cardiac MRI in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Individuals in the Rancho Mirage, California who require an accurate scan that allows the radiologist or physician to get a good look at their body or part of their body may be recommended to seek a 64 slice CT scan. Computed tomography (CT) involves x-rays that take image data from various angles in the body and process them using a computer. This provides 3D images with good resolution so that physicians or radiologists may make accurate diagnoses of various diseases or disorders in different parts of the body. However, one of the limitations was that it could not be used to take images of the heart, as this muscle is always beating.

For many years, the standard was the 16-slice CT scan, which required that the patient hold his or her breath for 25 to 40 seconds so the scan could be performed. Today, a 64 slice CT scan may be performed in only a few seconds and produces much better images. This type of scan may collect the information necessary to create a high-resolution image of the heart, brain or lungs in under five seconds. About 30 seconds may be required to perform a complete body scan using the 64 slice CT scan. This type of CT scan may even be used as an alternative to the traditional angiography or cardiac catheterization, and it is much less invasive.

While the only way to confirm the presence of coronary artery disease is through a cardiac catheterization, the 64-slice CT scan may someday replace this type of procedure in elective cases. This type of CT scan has only recently been made available, so its use to evaluate the heart has been limited. Patients are strongly encouraged to follow the advice and recommendations of their physician when choosing a scan.

Coronary vessels may be visualized using a 64-slice CT scan so the presence of any blockage may be seen. The technology allows for images of the heart to be obtained in multiple dimensions thanks to the fast speed of the scanner and the computer technology used. Doctors may provide medication to slow the heart rate just before the procedure, as the best images are typically obtained with a slow heart rate. The patient will lie down flat on the table while the CT scan is performed. The entire heart may be imaged in less than 15 seconds. The patient may go home following the scan. The images may be read about 30 minutes after the scan if arrangements have been made with the radiologist.

Before receiving this or any scan, patients should seek consultation with their physician as well as a clinic providing scanning services in the Rancho Mirage area. Candidates for the 64-slice CT scan may include those with a low risk of heart disease; young individuals with questionable heart disease; young individuals with congenital heart problems; those with an abnormal stress test as well as a low risk of heart disease; individuals with atypical chest pain and low risk of heart disease; those who have disease in their carotid arteries; those with a stroke; those with a blood clot in the lung called a pulmonary emboli; and those who have cancer. It is important to discuss these cases with a physician.

It should be noted that there are certain limitation of the 64-slice CT scan. For one, it is not the best at identifying calcium precipitates around the blood vessels and may not detect the presence of plaque. Those with a coronary stent placed may find that the CT scan is unable to detect narrowing inside the stent. Those with morbid obesity may not be able to receive the scan. There is some radiation exposure and pregnant women may not be candidates. Mechanical heart valves, pacemaker leads and other items may interfere with image quality.

Learn more about 64-slice CT scan in Rancho Mirage, California.

In the November issue of Radiology, a new study points to the benefits of ancillary findings during routine CT scans. As the image quality of CT scanning has improved over the last 10 years, incidental findings unrelated to the original purpose of the CT scan have increased, which could be used to indicate individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.

While some believe that existing clinical practices for determining risk are adequate, others argue that the ancillary findings would not require additional exposure to radiation and would come at no additional cost because the scans have already been performed. Because no further costs or exposure to radiation is required, those who performed the study believe it is a useful and valuable tool for assessing cardiovascular disease risk.

When examining the results of a CT scan, radiologists typically only consider the information that is relevant or requested to the reason for which the CT scan was performed, so the study aimed to distinguish between what information could be useful and what is not considered useful.

A prediction model used to determine risk of cardiovascular disease was developed following the study involving a sample population of 817 patients and 347 patients who have experienced a "cardiovascular event" during a 17 month follow-up period. Visual scores were assessed on a scale of 0-8 for calcifications, 0-4 for plaques and 0-4 for irregularities. The prediction model also incorporates age, gender and CT incorporation.

The study concluded that using ancillary aortic findings that are detected during a routine CT scan to assess risk of cardiovascular disease "may help to identify patients at high risk for [cardiovascular disease]," according to the article's abstract. As a result, the study argues that preventative measures taken following this risk assessment may help to reduce the risk or severity of problems and events associated with cardiovascular disease.

Here are two facts you might not know about colon cancer:

1)      Colon cancer is the 4^th most common form of cancer in the US.

2)      According to recent studies, about 45% of colon cancers are preventable.

This means that by taking actions that are 100% within our own control, we can greatly reduce our own risk of colon cancer. Many people shy away from traditional colonoscopy procedures because of embarrassment or concern about discomfort, and put themselves at risk by refusing these potentially life-saving scans. But a new option is available to patients seeking the best of both worlds: the Virtual Colonoscopy. This scan represents reduced discomfort and peace of mind when it comes to cancer detection.

Although it is a simpler procedure, a virtual colonoscopy is just as capable of detecting precancerous polyps as the traditional procedure. The virtual colonoscopy is most often performed with a CT scan. During the procedure, the patient lies on a table that moves through the CT scanner. The scanner takes several images and puts them together to form a computerized image of the patient's large intestine. The entire procedure takes just ten to twenty minutes, and no anesthesia is required—so patients are able to immediately resume their normal daily activities following the test.

Regular colonoscopies are an important tool in detecting cancer in the earliest stages. When detected early, colorectal cancers can often be successfully treated. Thanks to newer medical technology such as the virtual colonoscopy, patients can undergo this potentially life-saving diagnostic procedure more comfortably than ever before. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact your local facility for additional information.

CT Scans are a great tool to look inside the body, but in recent months the radiation levels that CT Scans expose patients to have been a concern. Researchers are now looking for ways to reduce the radiation risks using computer software and even video game processors.

Xun Jia and his group are based in University of California San Diego, and have actively been looking for solutions to reduce CT scan radiation. Jia's research was focused on cone beam scans, which can treat cancer, and used technology found in video game processors to find a solution.

Known as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), a series of scans are performed during the patient's radiation therapy to make it easier to accurately target tumors and reduce radiation affects in nearby body areas. The radiation levels can be managed by taking fewer projections and the power level used for each scan, but the images can take longer to develop.

Jia's team developed an algorithm for graphic processing unit platforms, which process the image data in parallel, which shortens the processing time to just two minutes. GPUs were created to render video games, but Jia discovered a new application for them in CT image processing.

Dr. Cynthia McCollough, who managed research in reducting CT scan radiation at the Mayo Clinic, said her team's research showed that with a more sophisticated algorithm for analyzing images, the length of time the patient is in the scanner and the radiation intensity could be reduced.

Typically, less radiation means fuzzier, lower quality images. But the software the Mayo research group is using is 'smart': it evaluates the image and if there are body structures that don't change much from frame-to-frame they are considered 'static,' allowing the machines to focus on the anatomy that is changing. The result is sharp images with less overall radiation.

McCullough said her method has so far been tested on animals, but she hopes it can be used in clinics soon.

There are even more teams around the country working on addressing this concern with CT scans. Consult a medical imaging specialist to learn more, and to discuss both the safety and benefits associated with CT scans.