Minor headaches can occur for any number of reasons and usually subside after a little bit of rest. The majority of headaches are rarely caused by serious medical problems, but a particularly bad one might make you wonder about tumors, aneurysms, mental illness, or blood clots. If you experience any of the following symptoms, your doctor may w...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive way for a doctor to examine the inside of your body. High-resolution images are produced that can then be used for medical diagnosis at diagnostic imaging centers. The machine can also be used to produce 3D images that can be viewed from different angles. The most common use of an MRI machine is to...
Unless you are a diagnostic imaging specialist, you may find all that radiology mumbo-jumbo a little confusing. One question many patients ask is, "What's the difference between a CT scan and MRI scans?" Maybe you watch a lot of medical television shows, or maybe you have been to the hospital with a friend or family member. Either way, t...
Whether we like it or not, certain medical conditions require testing and scans that can be uncomfortable or sometimes invasive. If a doctor is unable to make a diagnosis with just blood tests and a physical, they may ask you to come to the radiology department for X-ray testing, a CAT scan, or an MRI. Know your tests so you can be prepared for wha...
What is an ultrasound? For the most part, many people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy. Expectant mothers will have this procedure performed in order to find out their babies' genders and identify any anomalies or birth defects early on. But fetal imaging is only one of the common uses for ultrasounds. How does the procedure work? An ultrasound...
Imagine the following scenario: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides enough detail that the radiologist and orthopedic doctor diagnosed a 50% tear in the peroneal tendon of the right ankle. Without the results from the MRI, the college freshman gymnast would have hurt herself even more. After finishing a dose of steroids to reduce swelling an...
Breast cancer is a serious health concern that does not discriminate against age or even gender. In fact, experts expect over 2,350 cases of breast cancer for men in the year 2015. For women especially, however, the risk is exponentially greater: about 12% of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. To decrease...
If you've never had an MRI scan before, you may be a bit nervous at first. We understand that the examination can be a bit stressful, but there is no reason to fear the MRI machine. Having an MRI is a painless, completely safe procedure. You'll be much less anxious if you know exactly what to expect, and this guide will walk you through the steps o...