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Monday, January 22, 2018

CT and PET: What’s the Difference?




To better diagnose health conditions, doctors need to see what’s going on inside the body. Of course, they don’t have to dissect the body to achieve that. All they have to do is to take pictures of it through an imaging technology.

Computed Tomography (CT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are two of the few imaging technologies available today. Although they are both tomography (meaning they use some form of penetrating wave to capture images of enclosed tissues), they have some striking differences.

CT Scan

One of the oldest imaging method, CT produces cross-sectional images of the body using x-rays. Because the machine used for this test is more common than that of PET or MRI, this test can be seen performed in hospitals and outpatient offices.

During a CT scan, an IV will be inserted in a patient’s to introduce a contrast. The patient will then be asked to lie down on a narrow table placed in the middle of the donut-shaped scanner. As the bed moves into the scanner, the x-rays the scanner produces rotate around the body. The contrast that is now inside the patient’s body helps the scanner distinguish bad tissues from good ones.

PET Scan

The process followed during a PET scan is similar to that in a CT scan in that a substance that reacts to the electromagnetic wave used for scanning is introduced to the patient’s body. There are several apparent differences though. For instance, instead of being injected into the body, the tracers are mixed with a solution that the patient will be asked to drink.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Full Recovery: What You Should Know About Knee Injuries and MRI Scans



Knee injuries are a common occurrence in the United States. In fact, ACL injuries account for over 150,000 cases in the U.S. each year. Fortunately, knee injuries are no longer the “career-ending” injuries they were in the past. This is largely thanks to improved and more accurate imaging technology in the form of MRI scans. If you experience any pain, swelling, and/or instability in your knee, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible. After all, quick diagnosis and treatment is vital in making sure that your knee fully recovers without complications.

What Your Doctor Can See

MRI scans are essential in diagnosing and treating knee injuries like a torn ACL or torn meniscus. With the help of the accurate images that an MRI can provide, doctors can easily see the extent of ligament damage to the affected knee. This is important because treating a partially torn ACL is different from the treatment needed to address a general knee sprain.