What does early detection mean for your patients?

• Detect critical illnesses at a curable stage.
• Detect illnesses when they are least costly to treat.
• Molecular imaging detects disease at the cellular level, before any signs or symptoms are noticeable.
   

Diagnostic Outpatient  imaging places it's focus at prevention and early detection. Molecular imaging allows physicians to go even further, detecting disease at the cellular level, before any symptoms or signs are noticeable. CT scans can detect lung cancer at its initial and most treatable stage. A New England Journal of Medicine study says CT screening could eliminate 80% of lung cancer deaths in high risk patients. Molecular imaging holds the promise of identifying disease at the earliest possible time, even before symptoms are apparent. Ultrasound scans can detect dangerous abdominal aneurysms before they burst—and the scans are cost-effective. Imaging identifies stroke rapidly, aiding physicians in fast treatment that can save lives and reduce disabilities. Digital Mammography identifies breast cancer one to three years before a lump can be felt, thereby saving lives. Early detection reduces the risk of death in women 50 to 69 years of age by 30 percent; in women in their 40s, the risk can drop by 17 percent. The Lancet reports that earlier diagnosis through mammography is a factor in the dramatic improvement in the 15-year survival rate during the 1990s among breast cancer patients in the US and Europe. Virtual colonoscopy using 3-D imaging identifies colorectal cancer when it is still highly treatable – and it's faster and more comfortable than traditional exams.

MRI and Cancer - An MRI is a diagnostic image technology used pinpoint cancer cells (and other abnormal cells) within your body. Studies have shown that an MRI is remarkably sensitive in finding some cancers that other diagnostic tools may simply miss.  An MRI helps to locate those hard to find and possibly hidden cancers and is particularly useful in diagnosing and staging of cancer. When the stage of cancer is correctly identified, a physician is better able to recommend the treatment plan that is likely to be the most effective in treating the cancer.

Image Guided Biopsy vs. Exploratory Surgery -  Image Guided Biopsies are minimally invasive procedures that are guided by fluoroscopy, CT, ultrasound and MRI imaging have virtually replaced exploratory surgery of the chest, breast, abdomen, pelvis, and bone as the standard in medical diagnostics. These image-based procedures are anywhere from three to seven times more cost-effective, are less risky and require less recovery time than exploratory surgery (open surgical biopsies). A 2002 study in Radiology found that image-guided percutaneous biopsy of bone tumors is safe and accurate, but also that it represents important savings and efficiencies for patients and employers.  Among them: shorter procedure time, fewer infections, easier wound healing, and earlier start for treatment when cancer is found. "With a definitive diagnosis,… therapy can be started the day after core-needle biopsy. After a surgical approach, a delay of 10 days to 3 weeks is required to allow wound healing and prevention of infection and bleeding."
 

Digital Mammography - Breast cancer is one of the most easily treated forms of cancer if caught early enough. Studies show that when detected early, the chance for successful treatment of breast cancer is nearly 100%.  Death from breast cancer is preventable, especially when detected early.  Studies have shown that Digital Imaging can increase early detection by up to 30% over analog imaging or screen film imaging. Widespread use of mammography to detect lumps and even pre-cancerous cellular changes is regarded as one of the most successful innovations in modern public health. An important study called DMIST (Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial), sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine showed that 65% of women would benefit from the use of digital mammography over the tradition film screen mammography (see DMIST). These women are;

• under age 50 (regardless of level of breast tissue density)
• of any age, with heterogeneously (very dense) or extremely dense breast tissue.
• or pre or perimenopausal women of any age (defined as women who had a last menstrual period within 12 months of their mammograms).