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

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