Coronary Calcium Score

Coronary Calcium Score

In today’s post, find out how your coronary calcium score can help your doctor to determine the health of your heart.

Medical imaging procedures and radiation concerns: are you safe?

For a number of years, the media did extensive coverage from time to time on radiation exposure from medical imaging procedures. When our patients come in, that was often a topic that we get asked about. Patients want to know how much radiation they’ll be exposed to during their procedure, and how that might affect them in regards to their … Read More

Proposed new guidelines recommend lowering lung cancer screening guidelines

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently recommended an update to lung cancer screening guidelines, with screening being performed through a low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) exam. According to the medical imaging community website, Aunt Minnie, “The move would bring Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement in line with recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which itself lowered … Read More

CT screenings can cut lung cancer deaths according to study

According to a study conducted in the Netherlands and published in the January 2020 New England Journal of Medicine, annual Computed Tomography (CT) screenings of former and current long-time smokers have been proven to reduce deaths from lung cancer. “Wonderful News” Dr. Debra Dyer, a spokeswoman for the American College of Radiology and chair of radiology at National Jewish Health … Read More

Why would someone be told they needed a CT scan?

CT (Computed Tomography) scanning is a noninvasive way to study all parts of your body. The technique itself is painless and can provide extremely accurate images. In many instances, a CT scan can decidedly decrease the need to perform surgery and CT scans have vastly improved the ability of doctors to diagnose many diseases earlier in their course and with … Read More

Learn more about CT scans

A computerized tomography (CT) scan is a type of medical imaging test that combines several different x-rays to produce cross-sectional images. Your physician may advise you to undergo a CT scan for a variety of reasons. CT scans are helpful for evaluating soft tissues and bones, which means they may be used to diagnose bone tumors, fractures, heart disease and … Read More

Health insurance company begins shopper program

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is rolling out a shopper program that “allows members to choose, based on quality and cost, the diagnostic imaging facility where their services are rendered.” Beginning July 1, 2017, the AIM Specialty Care Shopper program introduced to their individual Preferred Care PPO and HMO Louisiana, Inc. members for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and … Read More

The difference between CT and MRI

CT (Computed Tomography) scans and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans both provide diagnostic images of the inside of your body. However, they accomplish this important task in very different ways. Here are a few key differences between CT and MRI scans. The use of radiation CT uses x-ray technology to produce diagnostic images. These x-rays require a small dose of … Read More

Millions at high risk for lung cancer should be screened yearly, panel says

Barbara Mantel, NBC News — In a move that could affect millions of current and former smokers, a highly influential, independent panel of medical experts is recommending yearly screening for healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 80 at high risk for lung cancer. The screening would be done with low-dose computed tomography, commonly known as CT scans — … Read More

When is a CT often recommended by a physician?

CT (Computed Tomography) scanning is useful to get a very detailed 3-D image of certain parts of the body, such as soft tissues, the pelvis, blood vessels, the lungs, the brain, abdomen, and bones.  Documented common reasons for a CT include: It is often the preferred method of diagnosing many cancers, such as liver, lung, and pancreatic cancers. The image allows … Read More

CT lung cancer screening: the advantages it provides to the patient and physician

In an update to the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), which was launched in 2002, researchers from the United States are reporting a sustained reduction in cancer deaths from Computed Tomography (CT) lung screening over a decade later after the initial screening exam. The research findings were recently published for medical professionals online in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Among … Read More

Study shows value of calcium scan in predicting heart attack and stroke

A November 2018 study showed that coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening, an assessment tool that is not currently recommended for people considered at low risk, is a better predictor of blocked coronary arteries at risk for a heart attack and the need for revascularization than standard risk-assessment equations used in medical practice today. CAC screening provides a direct measure of … Read More

Diagnostic Imaging Services renews Image Wisely Pledge

In 2011, Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services, became the first independently-owned imaging organization to join the national Image Wisely campaign that promotes patient safety in medical imaging. This year, we renew that pledge. This pledge addresses concerns about medical facilities providing maximum patient safety when undergoing a test that involves ionizing radiation. Most often, this involved Computed Tomography … Read More

What is sinusitis?

Particularly in the early part of the year, flu season is in full swing. Many people will experience nasal congestion, cough and facial pain or pressure. These maladies are often associated with a condition known as sinusitis. According to Medical News Today, sinusitis occurs when mucus builds up and the sinuses become inflamed. It also notes that physicians may refer to … Read More

Why a doctor would order a CT of the abdomen and pelvis

Capitol Imaging Services answers the question, “Why would a doctor recommend a CT of the abdomen and pelvis?” This type of CT (Computed Tomography) scan is typically used to help diagnose the cause of abdominal or pelvic pain and diseases of the internal organs, small bowel and colon. According to the American College of Radiology, possible diagnoses include: infections such … Read More

Lawmakers urge Medicare coverage for cancer test

More than 130 lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to expand coverage for a lung-cancer test under Medicare that could cost the program billons, calling the screening important for vulnerable seniors. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the lawmakers called for a timely decision on coverage for low-dose CT scans for older patients at higher … Read More

CT lung cancer screenings to be covered by Medicare

Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a story about Medicare’s decision to cover annual low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for high-risk individuals, albeit with restrictions. The announcement is in contrast to the recommendations of the agency’s advisory panel, which had voted a lack of confidence in sufficient evidence for benefit over harms, citing the high false-positive rate of CT screening, indication creep … Read More

Fewer lung cancer patients meet CT lung screening criteria

The success of public health efforts to get people to stop smoking is resulting in fewer individuals being eligible for CT lung cancer screening. In fact, some people are continuing to smoke just to be eligible for CT scans, according to new research in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It’s the ultimate irony. As a result, researchers and … Read More

What is the role of Computed Tomography?

A computed tomography scan—otherwise known as a CT scan—combines a series of x-ray images taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside a body. The resulting image can be compared to a slice of bread. Each slice can be viewed individually from the whole “loaf” to get a better … Read More

Medical scans and radiation: be informed and know before you go

Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a Reuters news story about medical scans. This topic is visited nearly annually, discussing the “increased risks” of getting scans that involve ionizing radiation, such as x-rays or Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The important point is this. The medical community needs to, and has in our opinion, been much better at understanding the appropriate use of imaging … Read More

Computed Tomography: the latest upgrade in technology at DIS

Throughout 2015, Diagnostic Imaging Services has continued to invest in better technology in order to best service the medical community and general public with imaging exams that provide the information needed in order to arrive at a diagnosis. To our knowledge, no other independently-owned imaging organization in southeast Louisiana has invested more in our technical services, with Computed Tomography (CT) … Read More

Intelli IP advanced CT technology installed at Diagnostic Imaging Services

The first scanner technology of its kind in the United States was installed at Diagnostic Imaging Services this week. Housed at the DIS Women’s & Advanced Imaging Center in Metairie, the Hitachi Supria 16-slice CT system, approved by the FDA last month, combines the latest dose saving technologies in a compact design with enhanced patient access features to comfortably accommodate … Read More

We are really low on the totem pole in Covington

In this case, being low is a very, very good thing! The “pole” in this case is the measurement in which area medical imaging providers perform Computed Tomography (CT) exams. As many know, CT is one imaging technique that often causes concern for people as they are very worried about the exposure to medical radiation. Of course, DIS advocates the … Read More

New campaign launched to help medical providers perform head CT scans in children

© www.news-medical.net; www.imagegently.org The Image Gently Alliance, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery and allied medical organizations have launched the “Think A-Head” campaign to help providers appropriately obtain and perform computed tomography (CT) scans in children with minor head injuries. The effort will also equip providers and parents with … Read More

What do people who choose Diagnostic Imaging Services think of us?

Part of what we do daily at Diagnostic Imaging Services is to give people the chance to tell us what they thought about their experience with us. We know there are many choices when needing an imaging exam and we want to know how we are doing in terms of care and service. By actively soliciting people, we gleam information … Read More

Explaining Computed Tomography (CT) in a simple manner

A CT scan uses a computer that takes data from several X-ray images of structures inside a human body and converts them into pictures on a monitor. CT stands for computerized tomography. Tomography is the process of generating a 2-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object. Similar to looking at one slice of bread within the … Read More