Every year thousands of patients are sent to diagnostic imaging centers to undergo a simple computed tomography, or CT, scan. This procedure essentially creates three-dimensional images of the inside of the body using hundreds of X-rays taken all at once. Heralded for its ability to help doctors see inside the body at things that were

An estimated 9,000 Americans are diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease each year. About 1,000 die from it annually. This cancer of the blood, although rare, can often be treated when it is caught early and the progression of the disease is well understood. Accurate staging is simply critical for ensuring the right form of treatment is

Properly managing the care of patients with high-risk prostate or breast cancer is a very real concern for oncologists. When the probability of metastatic disease is high, keeping track of any possible progression is a must for enabling the administration of potentially lifesaving treatments. Enter combined scanning technology. While whole-body MRI scans can offer incredible

Helping high-risk breast and prostate cancer patients beat the disease or at least have an opportunity to treat recurrences and detect spreading as quickly as possible is a topic of constant study. Researchers at Stanford University say that combined imaging modalities that include PET/CT scanning technology are more accurate than alternative methods of screening for

PET scanning technology is a critical part of the diagnostic and staging process in many forms of cancer. This testing procedure, however, can expose staff members and their patients to radiation courtesy of the radioactive tracers required to illuminate tumors. A new testing method, however, aims to lower exposure for all involved while keeping the

Most people have had at least one X-ray in the course of their lives. Quick, painless and actually kind of fun to watch, this diagnostic procedure enables doctors to see inside the body to gauge the health of bones and other structures. Many people, however, have never had a CT scan performed. While it’s perfect

While people with broken bones and other medical concerns may be familiar with CT scans as a powerful modern diagnostic tool, these scans can sometimes also unlock mysteries of the past. Case in point is an ongoing evaluation of the victims of Pompeii. The hope behind using advanced medical tests on the victims encased in

Positron emission tomography, or PET scans for short, can be incredibly helpful diagnostic tools for diagnosing or tracking a host of conditions. These scans generally call for the use of radioactive tracer dyes that enable doctors to “see” inside the body. This, in turn, enables doctors to see how well organs are working and if

When arterial problems are suspected in a person, doctors have a unique way for seeing inside to get to the root of the issue. Rather than having to guess at the nature and extent of arterial blockage, an angiography CT scan will likely be ordered. For those who are asked to go in for this

Prostate cancer is quite often a slower growing form of the disease that some men will find they can simply observe rather than treat aggressively. Others, however, develop a more serious form of the condition that requires swifter, more precise action. Determining which form of cancer a man has can prove problematic without the use