The earlier a cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it. Because diagnostic imaging produces pictures of what’s going on inside the body, it’s a vital tool that can not only detect certain cancers like breast or lung cancer, it can be utilized as the first step in preventing the spread of cancer through early detection. Should cancer be detected through diagnostic imaging, it can help to determine how advanced the cancer may be. Additionally, it can reveal the specific location of the cancer to help with surgery or other treatments, and it can monitor a treated area to determine if any cancer has returned. In many cases, diagnostic imaging makes it possible to cure or eliminate the cancer.
CT imaging is one of the strongest diagnostic tools in providing images of soft tissues. It is commonly utilized for detecting and diagnosing tumors and determining their benign / malignant status. Typically, CT imaging is one of the first resources through which to image tumors of the abdominal cavity, the pancreas, the lungs, the liver, the kidneys and the pelvis. CT imaging is also used to detect and diagnose tumors of the spine and the brain. As more advances with this technology are made, real-time biopsies can be guided through the use of this type of imaging.
Most of us are familiar with the term “MRI.” This imaging tool is one of the strongest resources for helping to show even the most subtle of issues because of its ability to provide high contrast resolution and exceptional clarity. Brain tumors and cancers of the spine are often diagnosed through MRI, as are tumors of the joints and bones. As more advances with this technology are made, cancers of the liver and abdomen are being diagnosed.
If you’ve heard the term “bone scan,” you’re at least minimally aware of nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and determine the severity of certain anomalies, including cancer. Nuclear medicine usually painless, with the patient swallowing, inhaling, or having injected the radioactive material which is designed to accumulate in the part of the body that’s being examined. It is often used to diagnose cancers of the organs, bones and joints.
You’re probably familiar with ultrasound imaging. It’s that wonderful tool that can show you the gender of your baby while it’s still in the womb. It has many other uses as well. It can be utilized to locate abdominal anomalies, and it can help to guide real-time biopsies.
If you’ve ever sprained a joint or broken a bone, you’re likely aware of X-rays. However, did you know that X-rays can play an important role in the diagnosis of certain cancers? Flouroscopy (a type of X-ray that can detect gastro-intestinal disorders) and mammography (a type of X-ray that can detecting and diagnosing breast cancer) are commonly used tools in the fight against cancer.