Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a procedure which widens a blood vessel that has become obstructed. A catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and with the help of image guidance, the area of obstruction is located. At the end of the catheter is a deflated balloon-like device. Once the obstructed area is located, the balloon is expanded, which opens the blood vessel and helps to regain normal flow of blood. In some cases, a “stent” is placed in the blood vessel in order to ensure that it remains open.

Embolization

Embolization is the opposite type of procedure from angioplasty, in which substances are inserted in order to stop irregular blood flow or to inhibit a non-working organ such as the spleen. Sometimes image guided technology is used to locate an abcess or an area that requires draining.

Angiogram

Some procedures simply involve using the image guided technology to assist with diagnosis. An angiogram is a procedure similar to the one described above; however, it is used solely for obtaining images and determining areas of blockage or irregularity.

Chemoembolization

Another common procedure for cancer patients is chemoembolization, which is an interventional procedure where cancer treatment agents are delivered to a tumor, then clotted so that the chemotherapy agent is not pushed from the area of concern.

Thrombolysis

Thrombolysis is a technique in which image guided technology is used to navigate and locate blood clots, which are then dissolved using either a special pharmaceutical or by using a special device to assist in dissolving the clot.

Biopsy

Biopsies from internal organs are often taken using image guided technology, which can then be examined for disease and treatment.

Becoming trained and certified to perform these procedures often involves a combination of a formal educational or certificate program combined with on the job training and job shadowing with a seasoned professional. For those who wish to begin on a path towards becoming an interventional radiology specialist, it is recommended that you start by learning how to become a radiologic technologist or diagnostic medical sonographer and getting certified. This will set the proper foundation for further studies in IR. You can learn more about interventional radiology training and a more comprehensive list of it’s uses.

Ideally the diagnosis is made prior to the onset of symptoms through screening tests such as : Stool blood test. Sigmoidoscopy -  It examines the rectum and sigmoid colon with a flexible scope that has a camera to see the inside of the sigmoid colon This test has been largely replaced by colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy is similar to the sigmoidoscopy. A flexible scope has a camera to visualize the inside lining of the entire colorectum that can also remove polyps and cauterize other lesions.  Virtual colonoscopy is a CT test similar to it’s predecessor, the barium enema. During the test the colon is filled with air and a CT is done. Treatment for colorectal involves surgery, chemotherapy and or radiation. Screening should be a high priority to promote early detection. Age 50 or older should follow these screening guides. Annual fecal occoult blood testing. Flexible sigmoidoscopy should be done every 5 to 10 years or virtual colonscopy every 5 to 10 years and others with significant risk factors should be screened more often.  Lastly, prevention involves lifestyle changes inherent in healthy living which includes regular exercise, a diet low in saturated fat, limited alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking cessation.

This information is not meant to replace consultation with your physician regarding your individual circumstances. This article is to provide useful information, not medical advice. Always consult with your doctor if you think you may have related symptoms.

Computed tomography is just one of several imaging modalities used for detection of cancer.  If you are interested in learning more about how to become a radiologic technologist and programs with Computed Tomography certificates, learn more at the radiology technician schools page in this site.

According to Cyberknife Long Island Radiation Therapy, rapid arch radiotherapy technology is a new approach to image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IGRT/IMRT) that delivers precise treatments in shorter times than conventional IMRT. The way the treatment works is that it delivers treatments using a  varian  linear accelerator, outfitted with an onboard Image System and Cone Beam CT (CBCT) for using images to guide patient placement and treatment delivery. The linear accelerator rotates around the patient to deliver radiation treatments from nearly any angle. During the treatment  radiation is shaped and reshaped as it is delivered continuously from every angle in a 360-degree revolution around the patient.

Like other radiation therapies, the treatments are planned using sophisticated computer programs that analyze diagnostic image data and calculate the best way of delivering the radiation dose to minimize impact on healthy tissues for each patient.  There is a need for a variety of specialists working together, including nuclear medicine technologists to help administer the radiation doses, Radiology Tech’s such as a CT Tech to monitor the progress, and of course radiation therapists to carry out the procedures.

Prior to treatment, the exact location, size, and shape of the tumor is visualy observed by a simple 2 minute imaging procedure using the machines on-board imager or Cone Beam CT.  After image completion they are reviewed by the therapist so the patients position can be adjusted in order for a more accurate treatment to be delivered. All adjustments are made by the treatment couch.

The treatment is delivered quickly , in less than 2 minutes and with just one turn around the patient, it shapes and modulates a highly focused beam so that it targets the tumor precisely, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. It uses pinpoint accuracy and is easier on the patient, who does not have to hold still for long periods of time.

This radiotherapy technology is a new revolution in cancer care. It can treat types of cancer in significantly less time and less damage to healthy tissues, which has been a challenge for years, and the entire treatment is completed with a single rotation of the machine.

Rapid Arch is a  new approach to delivering image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT). Image guidance tumor targeting, and IMRT shapes the radiation dose so that it conforms closely to the three dimensional shape of the tumor which means more radiation is delivered to the tumor and less to the healthy surrounding tissues. The treatments are fast and time is reduced by about 80%..

Week-end breaks allow normal cells to recover. Other factors come into the recovery time , like the total doses of radiation and the number of treatments a patient needs . All in all Rapid Arch Radiation Therapy with IGRT seems to be the one of the best new ways for cancer treatment.

Diagnostic tools for detection like MRI (magnectic resonance imaging) produce a very thorough exam for at-risk patients. The latest evolution is MRI breast coil technology.  It  allows a detailed view of the breast by gathering 1,000 images of the tissue simultaneously. This is done by a specially trained radiology professional. Breast signal receivers or coils surround the breast transforming it into digital images viewed by a computer. Images are taken before and after of a contrast material to provide a detailed composition of the tissues and map of blood flow within the breast. This further enhances the images and reduces the time required for the exam. It also is much more comfortable than the regular mammogram.  Doctors who have used the technology tout it as highly accurate compared to its predecessor.   Also, in digital mammography, the images can be adjusted and enhanced after the fact, which can help the physician zoom in on areas of interest.

Maybe new and highly accurate digital technology will solve the problem of so many misdiagnosed cases and decrease the need for further testing.  If cost is the issue, perhaps a highly accurate initial scan is the answer.

This change in position is in stark contrast to what the American Cancer Society has recommended and from what has become conventional wisdom to women for decades.  The new findings were issued by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, whose recommendations influence the coverage of mammograms in the Medicare system and several insurance companies.

Critics of this new stance say that the new guidelines are simply a symptom of the governments desperate need to cut costs in the US health care system.  It is true that there are a large number of false positives, which leads to the need for additional testing, and this of course, leads to additional burden on insurance companies and Medicare.  However, when we remember that according to American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common killer of women next to lung cancer, the decision to cut benefits for early detection seems to lose its steam under the pressure of pure statistics. If  breast cancer is such a major culprit in fatal diseases for women, why would the citizens of the United States support this change in policy?

Then, of course, there is the issue raised that those who can afford the $200 – $300 per mammogram will be able to take steps for early detection of breast cancer, while the poor will be less likely to get it done.  Also, mammogram technology has taken strides with the advent of new digital methods that are easier  for women, quicker, and less costly.  The new technology coupled with the conventional wisdom that women should get routinely checked beginning in their forties has created several opportunities in the field of radiology in the service of prevention.

The issue is not one that will go away quickly; it is sure to be one that will mount great pressure given the long standing recommendations from radiologists, researchers, and the countless testimonials from women all over the country about how early detection saved their lives.

A liquid dye is injected through a thin small flexible tube called a catheter to create the images. The catheter is then put into an access point which is usually in your groin, your arm or less commonly a blood vessel in another location. This “dye” which is properly called a contrast, makes the blood flowing inside the blood vessels visible on an x-ray. The contrast is eliminated through your kidneys and your urine later. Angiography is good for diagnosing a variety of vascular conditions such as peripheral artery diease (PAD), aneurysms, renovascular conditions, aortic arch conditions which are problems in the arteries that branch off the aorta.  Also malformed arteries and problems with your veins, such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in the lungs called pulmonary emboli.

Also a doctor can treat a problem during an angiogram like dissolve a clot that they discovered during the procedure. They may also perform an angioplasty and stenting procedure to clear blocked arteries. Angiograms can help your doctor plan operations to repair the arteries for more extensive problems as well.