As one of the most common and potentially deadly forms of cancer, lung cancer is problematic to treat unless it is caught in its earliest phases. The five-year mortality rate for the disease is especially high considering the problems physicians face in diagnosing the disease in early stages. While common X-rays have proven helpful in

Making sure large vessel vasculitis is rapidly diagnosed and quickly treated is critical for preventing long-term and potentially fatal damage. This rather rare condition occurs when blood vessels begin to experience inflammation. Generally believed to be an autoimmune system disorder, large vessel vasculitis can result in not only damage to the blood vessels, but also

While most people are accustomed to doctors ordering X-rays to check for broken bones or other abnormalities in the body, not everyone is as familiar with CT scan technology. This imaging technology, also known as computerized tomography, is designed to give physicians a much clearer look inside the body than a standard X-ray can produce.

Current and former smokers worried about the potential for lung cancer will find that screening exams that draw on CT scan technology can provide them more definitive information about the presence – or absence – of this potentially fatal disease. Courtesy of the National Lung Cancer Screening trail, doctors are fast finding that CT scans

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States, claiming an estimated 158,000 lives annually. Like many other forms of the disease, early detection is critical for increasing the odds of survival. Unfortunately, arriving at an early diagnosis isn’t always easy and it often results in unnecessary, invasive and potentially risky procedures for

Paving the way for better, faster and more comprehensive Alzheimer’s screening has been the focus of much research and study. The results of a new analysis by the University of California show that the tool to help see signs of the disease earlier is already available to medical professionals. Unfortunately, since the particular test isn’t

While many oncologists and their patients know that PET (positron emission tomography) scans can offer keen insight into cancer development while guiding more effective treatment, a fairly new approved medication is paving the way for more effective PET scanning in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive conditions. Amyvid is an injectable

Patients undergoing treatment for follicular lymphoma are likely to find that computed tomography (CT) scans are commonly ordered to determine response to treatment while helping doctors determine the likelihood of long-term success. New research, however, is showing that the CT might not be the best option for doing so. The positron emission tomography (PET) CT

When your doctor suspects you’ve broken a bone or there’s another issue going on that requires diagnostic testing, an X-ray might be ordered. Sometimes, however, your doctor will request that additional images be taken using a CT scan. Why is this? And, why aren’t X-rays always enough? Those are questions patients looking for answers to

If you’ve never undergone more than a blood test or X-ray, chances are hearing your doctor wants you to go in for a PET/CT scan can throw you off guard a little. This diagnostic procedure, however, is painless and it reveals a lot of valuable information about how your body is working on the inside.