radiology blog
Whether you want more insight into a specific procedure, learn more about a disease, or simply find tips to live a healthier life, we're covering it all. If you have any suggestions for blog topics that you would like to see, email us here.
While the ins and outs needed to perform a mammogram and likely well-ingrained in the head of your physician, self breast exams (which are equally important) might pose some lingering questions for you: how are they done? How often should I be doing them? What am I looking for? Today, we’re answering all your questions.
When it comes to cancer, minimally invasive procedures are in high demand. While radiation and chemotherapy are common options, the side effects can be physically and emotionally draining, at best. Luckily, there are other options for cancer treatment, such as cryoablation. However, cryo treatment’s uses go far beyond cancerous tumors.
It’s much easier to prevent illness than to recover from it. Lifestyle changes you make now could mean all the difference later in life. February is American Heart Month, meant to spread awareness & action about the causes, treatment, and prevention of heart disease. That’s why we’re kicking the month off with 10 ways to keep your heart happy & free of heart disease!
Fluoroscopies may not be as well known as MRI and CT scans, but they are simple, painless imaging tests that function much like X-rays and can be used to diagnose or treat an illness. If you’re anxious about an upcoming fluoroscopy exam here is everything you need to know.
If you’re getting an imaging exam with contrast done soon, you may have heard the term “radioactive sugar”. But what is that? The use of radioactive sugar and imaging has allowed doctors to make major strides in medicine, giving us the opportunity to view inside and see what’s really going on. Let’s break down how it works.
Many people come in for their MRI appointment full of nerves. They may worry about the radiation dosage (though MRI actually uses none). They may be anxious about their claustrophobia. Whatever the case may be, BICRAD takes every step to ensure you’re absolutely comfortable during your exam— let’s walk through the procedure together, shall we?
When it comes to imaging procedures like these (as well as CT scans, ultrasounds, etc.) many patients feel a certain amount of anxiety over this radiation exposure. But did you know that you’re actually exposed to regular doses of radiation in your daily life? Let’s take a look at some of these sources and put things into perspective.
Often times, patients are a bit confused as to what a radiologist actually does. To put it in layman’s terms, Radiologists are doctors who diagnose and treat certain conditions using a wide variety of imaging techniques, like x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s. They use these imaging techniques to diagnose everything from broken bones to serious heart conditions and act as important consultants to your primary physician. Learn more:
As the end of the year approaches and deductibles are on the verge of refreshing, we want to remind our patients just how crucial these annual screening procedures are and implore you to take advantage of the end-of-year to finally schedule the appointments you’ve been putting off.
Today we’re sharing a little bit more about Dr. Gina Midmore, an incredibly talented jack-of-all-trades who holds Board Certifications in not one, but two categories: Women’s Imaging and Musculoskeletal Radiology. We sat down (virtually) and asked her a couple of questions about life as a radiologist, her professional accomplishments, and what she loves doing when she’s not in the office.
Most people have heard of ultrasound and associate this common imaging procedure with pregnancy. What many people don’t realize is that ultrasounds can be used to detect a wide variety of medical issues - in fact, ultrasound can be used in a number of situations outside of pregnancy. Today we’re going over some of the most frequently asked questions about ultrasounds!
The holiday season is a time for celebrating, a time to enjoy being with loved ones, and a time to reflect on all of our blessings. At Bay Imaging Consultants, we have so much to be grateful for. From an amazing staff to the inspiring patients we’re lucky enough to work with, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for this year.
Although lung cancer is a very deadly disease, lung cancer death rates are dropping due to early detection, education, and lifestyle changes. November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, so we’re educating patients about this dangerous condition and raising awareness about the important role that lung cancer screening plays in prevention!
There are a few different treatment options for patients with BPH, but many are highly invasive or have a high likelihood for complications. Through interventional radiology technology, prostatic artery embolization has emerged as an innovative, non-invasive treatment alternative for patients with BPH. Here’s everything you need to know about the procedure!
Many people have heard of CT scans, but not everyone has gotten one and not everyone knows why someone might need to get one. So, if you’ve ever wondered, “Do I need a CT scan?” and didn’t know the answer, here are 10 reasons you might need one:
If you are at risk for bone loss or osteoporosis either due to your age, history, or lifestyle choices, your doctor may recommend that you get a bone density test called bone densitometry. Bone densitometry testing can detect decreasing bone density much earlier than other methods of diagnosis, allowing for treatment at an earlier stage. Learn more about the procedure here:
Mammograms are the best tool for detecting breast cancer early and giving women a fighting chance to beat the disease before it spreads. Below, we discuss everything you need to know about mammograms, including answers to the common questions: “what is a mammogram”, “what happens during a mammogram”, “how long does a mammogram take”, and more.
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women across the United States and the entire world, but despite its prevalence there’s still a lot that people don’t know about the disease. Many people hear the words “breast cancer” and lump all diagnoses into the same category, but there are actually several different types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma in situ, metastatic breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, and triple-negative breast cancer.
Today we’ll explore each breast cancer type and discuss the difference between invasive cancer and non-invasive cancer.
Who doesn’t love football season? Whether it’s college football or the NFL, football season is the time to ignite rivalries and join a fantasy football team. Unfortunately, football injuries can ruin a team’s chances for a winning season and have lifelong effects on the athlete.
There are several types of procedures used for breast cancer screening, each with different benefits and different scenarios in which they might be used. Here’s an overview on three of the most common ones: mammogram, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI.
Fluoroscopy is a popular imaging technique used to diagnose diseases or to guide radiologists during treatment procedures. Fluoroscopy allows radiologists to gain a detailed look inside the patient’s skeletal, digestive, urinary, respiratory, and reproductive systems to gain insight and help diagnose illnesses or abnormalities. Below, we take a look at everything you need to know about fluoroscopy including what it is, what it’s used for, and how long it takes.
It’s National PA Week, and here at BICRAD we’re thankful to have a number of amazing PA’s on staff. This week we wanted you to get to know Hans Han, an incredibly talented Physician Assistant who is Board Certified in Interventional Radiology. We sat down and asked him a couple of questions about life as a PA, his professional accomplishments, and what he loves doing when he’s not in the office. Here are his responses!
Uterine fibroids affect a significant portion of women in the US, but until very recently the condition was very difficult to treat while maintaining fertility. In recent years, interventional radiology has been used to treat uterine fibroids in a minimally invasive and very safe way. This is done through Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), which is a safe and effective non-surgical option for women to consider when dealing with uterine fibroids. Before we explain what UFE is and how it works, it’s important to ask the question: “what are uterine fibroids?”
Not all foods are created equal, and there are certain food items that can actually have a huge impact on strengthening your heart and promoting long-term heart health! Here are some great options to incorporate into your diet:
Today we’re sharing a little bit more about Dr. Christopher Lee, an incredibly talented jack-of-all-trades who holds Board Certifications in not one, but three categories: Diagnostic Imaging, CAQ Vascular, and Interventional Radiology. We sat down and asked him a couple of questions about life as a radiologist, his professional accomplishments, and what he loves doing when he’s not in the office. Here are his responses!
Interventional radiology is a subspecialty of radiology, which utilizes imaging tests as seeing-guides to facilitate minimally-invasive procedures, such as an angiogram. What Is An Angiogram? Well, An angiogram is a type of interventional radiology procedure that uses X-ray technology to guide a small tube called a catheter through the patient’s major arteries.
Unless you’re familiar with the technology, you might not know that there are different types of ultrasounds including 2-D, 3-D, 4-D, and Doppler ultrasounds. In this article we’ll take some time to dive into the different types of ultrasounds available and the differences between them.
Undergoing your annual mammogram is the most important step you can take in monitoring your breast health, but it’s normal for women to feel nervous about the procedure. Whether it’s your first time or you are a mammogram veteran, these tips will help you prepare for your mammogram exam.
In order to better detect the early development of lung cancer, many radiology centers offer traditional CT scan screenings of the chest. Low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening are a technique specifically recommended for detecting lung cancer in certain types of patients - traditionally those that are high-risk. A high-risk smoker is classified as people age 55 to 80 who have a 30 “pack year” smoking history.