A Look at the Role of PET Scan in Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment

Epilepsy is commonly known as the condition wherein the patient suddenly experiences unprovoked and recurrent seizures. It is considered to be neurological in nature as the seizures are said to be a result of a sudden electrical surge in the brain.

The most obvious symptom of epilepsy is the sudden jerking movement of the limbs. Usually, however, this is also accompanied by other signs such as suddenly staring into space, temporary confusion, or even loss of consciousness or awareness.

Study Shows Diagnosing Fibromyalgia can be Possible with an MRI Scan

The truth is that you could be suffering from fibromyalgia at this very moment and you wouldn’t even know about it. This is because this condition features symptoms that could very easily be mistaken for something else.

Fibromyalgia is usually characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain. For the most part, measuring the severity of pain or discomfort felt by the patient is very subjective, which makes it difficult for doctors to have a precise gauge for it. There is no test to specifically determine the pain level, and consistency of its manifestation is also often an issue.

Should You Be Concerned When You Get Abnormal Results in a PET Scan?

PET (positron emission tomography) scans check your body at a cellular level. A wide range of health problems can be detected through a PET scan, such as cancer, diseases, heart problems, and brain disorders. Contrary to what some believe, however, abnormal results in a scan don't mean that you have a rare or abnormal disease.

How a PET Scan Works

Your doctor will give an injection that distributes a special dye throughout your body. The special dye has radioactive tracers attached that help your doctor see how your organs are functioning when the PET scanner is on. Doctors can measure oxygen use, blood flow, glucose metabolism, and other body processes through a positron emission tomography scan.

How MRIs Can Help Monitor the Progression of ALS for Better Treatment

A recent study published in "Neuroimage: Clinical" found that the progression of ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, can be monitored through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. ALS is a very rare nervous system disease that still doesn't have a cure. Scientists have been working to better understand the disease in order to develop cures. The cause of Lou Gehrig's disease is still unknown as well.

Fortunately, medication and therapy can minimize discomfort and slow down progression. An MRI test can help monitor the progression of ALS for better treatment. Here's a look at important findings from the "Longitudinal evaluation of cerebral and spinal cord damage in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" study:

An MRI Scan Can Be Used to Identify the Cause of Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a condition where a sufferer will stop breathing temporarily while sleeping. This sleep disorder can occur several times during a single sleep period, which can be dangerous. If you stop breathing, your blood-oxygen levels can get dangerously low, and potentially result in hypoxemia, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, rapid heart rate, and confusion.

CSA symptoms

The most common symptom of CSA is frequent starts and stops of breathing during sleep, which can result in regular nighttime awakening and insomnia. For some people, breathing gets very shallow instead of actual breath pauses. Thus, a CSA sufferer can feel very sleepy during the day and have trouble focusing on tasks. Headaches when waking up are another possible symptom.

Diagnostic Tests and Imaging: When Do You Need to Undergo a Knee MRI?

When you injure a joint in your body, such as the knee, you're not only looking at pain and problems associated with the knee joint, but with the rest of the body as well. After a knee injury occurs, there will be more pressure placed on the hips and the back to support the body’s weight and to keep it stable. Muscles located in the legs can also become stretched as they have to work harder to support the leg of the injured knee. 

Heart Health: Detecting Early Signs of Artery Disease with a PET Scan

A PET scan, which is also referred to as positron emission tomography, is a diagnostic tool used by doctors to see specific areas of your body without doing surgery. This important diagnostic tool can be used on almost anyone. A PET scan shows promise in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis and its importance in preventing cerebrovascular events such as stroke.