It is simple fact that coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US and even though we as a nation are more than well aware of this fact, this disease can still remain undetected for many years. When you stop to consider how technologically and medically advanced we are as a nation is a sad state of affairs With early detection thousands of lives can be saved as early diagnosis also means early treatment that can prevent the disease from becoming serious.
However coronary heart disease is only one of a plethora of diseases that can be detected using CT or CAT scan technology today. Short for computerized axial tomography, this is one of newest forms of diagnostic imaging available to the medical community today and short of actually surgery is considered to be one of the most accurate means of seeing what is going on in a patient's body.
While the standard x-ray, which has been around for over a century can highlight many problems, it can by no means detect things like plaque buildup in arterial walls. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging may be able to see the lesions of multiple sclerosis as clearly as if the doctor were looking directly at them; it cannot see the calcium scoring that is an early sign of heart disease in many patients. The only way to properly capture these images is through the use of CT imaging technology.
CT scans are considered to be one of the simplest to perform diagnostic imaging processes as unlike the MRI, the patient does not have to remain motionless for long periods of time. The patient is still required to lay on the examination table as the CT scanner rotate around taking a series of images which are transmitted directly to a computer for processing.
Here, using highly advanced and sophisticated imaging software, these images are turned into a three dimensional view of the area. Not only does the doctor now have a three dimensional image to look at, he can rotate it on screen a full three hundred and sixty degrees in any direction so that he can view the suspected area from all angles and get a much more accurate idea of what, if anything might be wrong with his patient.
For diagnostic purposes, most doctors are leaning more towards using CT scan technology as their primary choice of imaging for examining internal organs and the brain. This is because not only can they get a full 360 degree image of the suspected problem area, the images are far more detailed and of higher overall quality that other forms of imaging. This makes the CT scan an invaluable tool for help with diagnosing any number of diseases.
Cardiologists and internal medicine specialists are using this type of imaging technology to "see" internal bleeding and the buildup of vascular fluids that are known to be precursors to coronary artery disease and cardiac failure. By being able to see what is happening at a much earlier stage, it is possible to treat the patient long before the disease becomes serious enough to cause cardiac failure and in many cases death.
This type of scanning technology has also helped in the fight to diagnose and treat multiple sclerosis patients as it has made it possible for doctors to find the lesions associated with this disease at a much earlier stage. This can not only help them to start treating their patients at a much earlier stage, but to be able to understand more about how the disease develops in the hopes of finding a cure.
The latest developments in CAT scan technology now allow doctors to stream live real time images to their colleagues anywhere in the world so that they can get a second opinion or diagnostic help when they are faced with something they have not had to deal with before. The images can also be used as a teaching tool. Doctors can also use the live streaming video to help them perform certain types of surgery using the latest minimally invasive techniques.
One distinct advantage of CT scan technology over MRI imaging is that it can be used on anyone even in an emergent situation as it does not damage or destroy medical implants such as steel plates, pins and even more importantly pacemakers. At
POM Scan we provide not only the latest in CT scan technology, but the trained staff to help you with your diagnostic image needs.
