If you have ever undergone medical imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, chances are good that you received contrast. MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) are types of medical equipment that creates image of internal organs and structures. Contrast material enhances and improves the quality of these images. Contrast material...

The results of a new study suggests that PET/CT imaging may do a better job of helping doctors diagnose dangerous blood clots than several other methods used today. Blood clots are normally a good thing – the formation of blood clots stop excessively bleeding. Sometimes, though, blood clots can pose a health hazard and can even be life threatening....

Women at average risk for breast cancer should begin annual mammograms at the age of 40, according to new guidelines issued by the largest organization of breast surgeons in the United States, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS). These new recommendations are different from those offered by other medical organizations. The American Canc...

You probably already know that varicose veins are those twisted and enlarged veins that can appear on the lower legs. You might have already noticed that varicose veins are extremely common too – more than one-third of people in the United States have them, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery. If you are like many people, though, you may ...

Mammography is an effective breast cancer screening method for women ages 65 and older, but the results of a new study show that older women benefit significantly with the addition of a three-dimensional (3D) technique, known as tomosynthesis. The American Cancer Society says that doctors will diagnose more than 268,00 new cases of invasive breast ...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), claiming approximately 610,000 lives each year. Doctors use a variety of tests, such as stress echocardiograms, catheterizations and stress nuclear exams, to detect heart disease, assess its severity...

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancers that affect both males and females in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is also the fourth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the nation. Colorectal screening can accurately detect colorectal cancer long before the disea...

Tattoos are gaining in popularity these days, with four in ten Americans sporting at least one tattoo, according to Statistica. People are more likely to get ink nowadays because tattoos do not carry the taboo they once held. Many people avoided tattoos because they worry that such body art might prevent them from getting a job. Today, some people ...