 scan provides similar benefits, with a focus on broken bones, cancer progression, blood clot detection,){kind=link}
For patients who are unfamiliar with medical imaging, being referred for a scan can feel uncertain or stressful. Damon Deteso, M.D., is a diagnostic radiologist who has practiced with Millennium Medical Imaging in Saratoga Springs, New York, since 2004. His expertise spans computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, and nuclear medicine, and he holds staff positions at five area hospitals, including Saratoga Hospital. Damon Deteso also served as a medical advisor with Imagen Technologies for three years and remains engaged in professional development through radiology specialty organizations. His clinical experience informs this overview of what patients should understand about the imaging process—from the types of technology their doctor may order to what they can expect during and after the procedure.
The United States Food and Drug Administration describes medical imaging as a group of similar but distinct technologies that allow medical professionals to produce and examine visualizations of the inside of a human body. Patients may feel confused or stressed after a doctor determines that they require medical imaging services, but this imaging is a critical phase of identification of health issues and treatment.
To begin, patients should know that doctors can order a wide variety of medical imaging services, all for different reasons. X-ray technology is the most common form, but medical professionals routinely use CT and MRI scans, ultrasound images, and other techniques, depending on a patient’s medical needs. When it comes to understanding a doctor’s reasoning for scheduling a patient to undergo medical imaging, it is important that patients maintain an open dialogue with their care provider and ask questions until they feel comfortable and informed about their situation.
Doctors rely on medical imaging for a broad range of diseases and health conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to identify or track the progress of a condition, such as the appearance or growth of a tumor. MRIs can help medical professionals assess a patient’s rate of healing following a sports injury or explore many different parts of the body, including the pelvis and the digestive tract. If a doctor cannot determine the cause of a patient’s spinal pain, they may turn to a radiologist for an MRI scan. Such scans can also provide vital information regarding a patient’s heart and brain.
A computed tomography (CT) scan provides similar benefits, with a focus on broken bones, cancer progression, blood clot detection, and monitoring internal bleeding. As is the case with MRIs, doctors can use CT scans to explore virtually any part of the body, such as the appendix, the kidneys, and the brain. CT scans can also help detect and monitor heart disease, the leading cause of death in America.
Several medical imaging procedures can enhance a patient’s health screening experience. A mammogram, for instance, can improve a medical team’s ability to learn about potential abnormalities in breast tissue that may indicate cancer or another health condition. In some cases, doctors order mammography for female patients over the age of 40 as part of regular health-screening services.
Ultrasound, meanwhile, is a standard part of prenatal health. Doctors usually perform two ultrasounds over the course of a normal pregnancy to monitor the development of the fetus, once between six and 13 weeks and again between 18 and 22 weeks. Doctors may order additional ultrasounds to check for specific concerns or abnormalities.
Regardless of the particular medical imaging technology, patients can expect their care provider to work alongside a board-certified, fellowship-trained radiologist. These doctors implement medical imaging procedures with minimal risk to patients. While individuals may feel anxious about undergoing a medical procedure, imaging processes are simple, pain-free, and sometimes take only a few minutes.
Often, medical imaging reduces the need for patients to undergo invasive exploratory surgery. Patients also benefit from reduced cost, fewer health complications, and shorter hospital stays when doctors identify diseases and other health issues early in their development. Medical imaging technology improves every day, further mitigating risk and introducing new benefits for doctors and patients alike.
About Damon Deteso
Damon Deteso, M.D., has served as a diagnostic radiologist with Millennium Medical Imaging in Saratoga Springs, New York, since 2004. His expertise spans CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, and nuclear medicine, and he holds staff positions at five local hospitals including Saratoga Hospital. He served as a medical advisor with Imagen Technologies for three years and is an active participant in radiology professional organizations.