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Cardiovascular diseases have become one of the main reasons of death in the world. In several countries, according to data from the Ministry of Health, they are the first cause of death among the population. Computed tomography equipment can help doctors establish an early diagnosis to prevent circulatory system pathologies.

What is a CT scan?

A CT scan is a procedure that uses an x-ray source that revolves around a circular structure called Gantry. Each time a complete rotation is performed, a computer constructs a 2D image cut, repeating the process until the desired number of cuts is obtained. In each image cut, the thickness of the tissue to be checked is represented; this thickness can vary between less than 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters depending on the type of equipment used.

The images can rotate in space or see the cuts successively, generating a 3D image showing the skeleton, organs, and tissues of the patient simultaneously. Thanks to this, it will be more precise to locate the point where any anomaly is occurring.

CT scans are used to detect tumors, infections, fractures, hemorrhages, among other pathologies. Despite its versatility in clinical diagnosis, its use should be limited since exposure to X-rays is high (although it does not leave remains in the body after the end of the test). Special care must be taken with children, who are more sensitive to ionizing radiation.

Contrast for a CT

In soft tissues, the ability to retain radiation is variable and, therefore, more complicated to visualize inside. Therefore, contrast media have been developed, which makes these tissues highly visible in a CT scan.

In contrast, media the patient is injected with a substance rich in iodine that circulates to the organs, changing the way they look through the x-rays. In the case of the circulatory system, the contrast will illuminate the blood vessels in search of possible obstructions. It is essential to know contrast CT scan cost in Delhi first.

There are other types of contrasts, such as barium compounds that are used to examine the digestive system.

How can a CT diagnose circulatory diseases?

Angiography performed with computed tomography or Angiotomography (ATC) equipment analyses blood flow in different parts of the body, such as the brain, heart, abdomen, legs, and arms.

CT scan serves not only to assess the proper functioning of blood vessels but also to diagnose diseases related to circulatory problems such as:

• Alterations in arteries or veins (aneurysms).
• Atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries.
• Obstructions in the blood vessels.
• Congenital disease in the arteries.
• Ischemic accidents or cerebral hemorrhages.
• Arterial disease in the blood vessels of the heart.
• Pulmonary embolism in the arteries etc.

Also, the ATC through computed tomography equipment are used by surgeons to see the result and evolution of an intervention performed or to plan a future surgery using it for example to:

• Guide in a reconstruction of blood vessels.
• Evaluate coronary veins after the placement of a pacemaker.
• Review the efficacy of an angioplasty or stent placement.
• Evaluate the need for a bypass.
• Perform a tissue biopsy.

Angiography with computed tomography is a faster, non-invasive type of test that has fewer complications for the patient than is traditionally performed using a catheter.

Doctors are concerned about the active appointment of an examination using computed tomography (CT) in paediatric traumatology. With this diagnostic method, the child is exposed to x-rays, which in the long term increases the risk of cancer. Therefore, CT should be prescribed in case of emergency. Before going for a CT scan, it is suggested to first know the CT scan cost in Noida.

A group of American scientists from the University of California School of Medicine at Davis conducted a study to determine the feasibility of appointing a CT scan in cases of suspected abdominal injury. Researchers studied data from a little over twelve thousand patients aged 5 to 16 years who were admitted to the hospital with suspected abdominal injury as a result of an accident or for other reasons from 2007 to 2010.

It turned out that 45% of CT patients were prescribed in the emergency department. In 6%, abdominal injuries were recorded, which could be detected using the method of computed tomography. Only 25% of these patients needed emergency surgery, such as surgery or a blood transfusion.

After analysing the data obtained during the study, experts identified seven main signs indicating a small probability of trauma to the abdominal cavity. They believe that a child should not be sent to a CT scan of the abdomen if:

• On the stomach there are no traces of the seat belt or other visible damage;
• No evidence of chest injury;
• The patient does not complain of abdominal pain;
• No breathing difficulties;
• No vomiting.

According to researchers, the predictive value of these rules is 99.9%, sensitivity - 97% and specificity - 42.5. In practice, among patients whose condition was assessed taking into account these signs, in one case out of a thousand, acute abdominal trauma was identified, requiring medical intervention.

How accurate is it to get body scans with high-tech CTs for early diagnosis? Is it possible for any health damages to repeat these examinations every year (even almost every six months)? Are these tests a significant benefit in terms of health protection and early diagnosis of diseases? Let's continue to ask: How accurate is it to perform a CT scan for every headache, neck stiffness, pain in the waist, numbness in the leg?

There is a significant increase in unnecessary CT scans. Due to some unimportant images detected in these scans, people are unnecessarily worried and re-subjected to new CT scans. It is also important that the method is expensive. There is a serious economic loss. There are radiologists who say that no country in the world has as many CT devices as in our country (for example, in Istanbul).

'Needs' should be questioned well

Even if different and new CT scanners have been developed in recent years to help expose them to a lower dose of irradiation, those who plan to have these scans (whether doctor or patient does not notice) need to question the “need” well. When used correctly, it is very important to determine who should perform this screening and how often, under what conditions and the CT scan cost in Delhi. Otherwise, our bodies could become radiation dumps.

Computed tomography is a non-invasive x-ray diagnostic method that can serve as the basis or an additional source of information when making the correct diagnosis and prescribing the necessary treatment.

Is computed tomography safe?

Yes, CT is considered a safe method. X-ray dose is relatively low. There is a small risk in the presence of concomitant pathology of the kidneys, thyroid gland, bronchial asthma, if the use of contrast agents is used. It is good to know the CT scan price in Delhi before undergoing one.

The patient should warn the doctor if he is allergic to drugs, iodine, seafood, if he suffers from diabetes, bronchial asthma and thyroid diseases and about the drugs that he takes.

During pregnancy, the question of conducting a CT scan is decided by the attending physician; a woman must inform about the presence and timing of pregnancy!

Information for patients:

1. As a rule, computed tomography is performed without preliminary preparation.
2. With the use of intravenous contrast agent on an empty stomach.
3. In chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys without exacerbation, moderate fluid intake is recommended 6 hours before the study.
4. The study time is 15-25 minutes; scanning itself from 4 to 20 seconds.
5. During the scan, you need a stationary body position on the table and the ability to carry out breath holding commands for 4-20 seconds.
6. Before the study, clothing with metal hooks, buttons and zippers should be removed; jewellery in the form of chains and earrings.
7. With the introduction of a contrast medium, the patient may feel a passing wave of heat.

To undergo research in the CT-MRI department, you should have:

The passport- A referral for the best CT scan in Delhi from a doctor, which indicates:

1. Name
2. No. of medical history or outpatient card
3. The diagnosis
4. The field of study with the formulation of a specific task (identification, exclusion or confirmation of the presence of changes on the part of the examined organs and systems)
5. A note on the absence of contraindications for intravenous administration of a contrast medium (if the study is conducted with contrasting). When recording a patient, he is informed of the time of arrival at the department (and not the time of the start of the study)

Relative contraindications to the administration of contrast medium:

• Pregnancy
• Allergy to iodine-containing contrast agents
• Severe hepatic and renal failure
• Decompensated diabetes mellitus
• Myeloma
• Decompensated thyroid disease

Recommendations after computed tomography using a contrast agent:

* It is very rare for patients to have a rash on their skin, etc. - side effect of injection of iodine solution. Therefore, the outpatient should be under the supervision of a doctor in the CT-MRI unit for 2 hours, so that in case of a skin reaction he can receive timely medical help.

* If you have been given a contrast drug intravenously, it is recommended that you drink clean water within the amount allowed by your doctor for a day (1-3 l) in order to speed up the removal of the contrast drug from the body.

Regardless of the context of discovery, a number of investigations must be performed to confirm the diagnosis of lung cancer and evaluate its stage.

The diagnostic balance is based mainly on:

• A clinical examination- The objective of the clinical examination is to make an assessment of your general condition using various means such as performance status, to identify your medical history and the pathologies you suffer from, to list your current treatments, your risk factors and your smoking addiction, if you smoke, to assess the possible frailty of elderly patients using specific questionnaires and scales.
• A chest x-ray- The purpose of this examination is to reveal the presence of abnormalities in the lungs. However, the X-ray does not make it possible to determine whether an abnormality discovered is benign or malignant. And, moreover, it does not always detect an anomaly, even if it is actually present in the lung.
• A chest scanner- It is a question of identifying the presence or absence of an anomaly and, if so, its size and location. This examination detects anomalies even of very small size (less than or equal to 3 millimeters). The scanner gives no indication of the type of cells in question. In the case of lung cancer, the CT scan done by the best CT scan centre in Delhi can identify if the nearby lymph nodes are abnormally large. But it does not make it possible to specify whether or not they are affected by cancer cells. Before going to have a CT scan, it is important to know the chest CT scan cost in Delhi.
• Biopsy. The biopsy makes it possible to recover tissue samples that seem abnormal for analysis and to determine whether they are of a cancerous nature or not. These samples can also be stored after the operation in a tumor library (tumor library) for further research.
• In some situations, it is not possible, before treatment, to obtain a histological diagnosis, which requires an analysis of tissues taken from the tumor. This is then performed during the surgical procedure. The operation then has a diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.

Bronchial fibroscopy

The bronchoscopy is the key diagnostic for lung cancers. It allows doctors to observe the inner wall of the trachea and bronchi, as well as to take samples at the level of suspicious lesions (biopsy).

These tissue samples are then analyzed under a microscope to confirm or deny the nature of the lesions. In the case of proven cancer, it is then possible to determine which tumor subtype is detected and thus to choose the most appropriate treatment.

Specifically, a flexible tube containing a miniature camera and sampling instruments is introduced into the bronchi, via the trachea and the patient's nose.

The examination is unpleasant, but it is not painful because it is performed under local anesthesia. It lasts 10 to 20 minutes. It is necessary to be fasting for at least two hours before the beginning of fibroscopy.

Due to the (low) risk of hemorrhage associated with the examination, it is recommended that you do not take aspirin within 10 days of the exam. People on anticoagulant therapy should report it.

It is more of a common problem that we face these days irrespective of what age bracket we come under. Waking up after a good night's sleep, we experience a certain kind of stiffness in the leg muscles in areas like ankles, calves and even knee caps. Commonly known as leg cramps, the pain is also known as “charley horse. The pain can be and can happen when a muscle gets involuntarily stiff and can’t relax. The condition is more of a nuisance as we age. If the pain gets to the unbearable ranges, a CT scan must be obtained to check what the condition and bone health are.

The reasons for leg cramps are quite a lot. Some of the common ones include:

• Lack of hydration- We have seen many a time an athlete is down on the ground due to a sudden leg cramp and muscle pull. This point to nothing but hydration. The liquid flow in the body is needed to keep the muscle's constituent's intact.
• Lack of adequate nutrition- It is a necessity to have a balance of electrolytes (calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium) for the contraction and relaxation of a muscle. But the same should not be done by self-treating with supplements. If you take an excess of food supplements, it can be harmful. Hence, you must focus on the simplicity of the food eating whilst maintaining an intake of mostly complex nutrients which are not processed.
• Side-effects due to medication- Some medications such as statins and furosemide can also cause muscle cramps. It has been frequently observed among the suffering people that they complain of cramps in the legs when they begin taking a new medication. If the problems persist, consult your doctors immediately.
• Poor blood circulation- A certain amount of daily activity can improve the circulation of the entire body including that of the legs. Lack of walking or even excessive leg activity for that matter can cause hurt in your legs. Therefore, the initial bout of pain in the legs should not be ignored and must be consulted with an orthopedic doctor.
• Ignoring exercises like stretching- After a long hour of sleep, the body does tend to develop uneven postures that can add to the problem of leg cramps. One should not start off without a stretching exercise to ease the muscles before a strenuous day.

One of the most important things that we tend to forget is the fact that our muscle for legs does most of the balancing act. It is the legs that carry the weight of the entire body. Therefore, even a bit of discomfort in the leg muscle must not be ignored. For the problems that are impending for long should be tested in an MRI scan to figure if these are ominous signs to something threatening. Seek the services of the MRI scan centers in West Delhi which can obtain clear images of the concerned area.

Thoracic Pathologies and Radiation Problems

The scanner is the reference diagnostic tool for thoracic pathology. Unlike a standard X-ray, sectional images help to avoid the appearance of shadows. Thanks to the air in the lungs and the contrast media, the resolution is ideal for lung parenchyma examination. In addition, the thoracic scanner has a very high spatial resolution, exceeding the performance of the MRI as part of a health check.

Fast and easy to perform (4 to 5 seconds), CT scan significantly reduces movement artifacts. In addition, the various filters, the software and the 3D reconstructions make it possible to improve the interpretation of the images obtained. Unfortunately, the CT scan shows a very high level of radiation. The low dose chest scanner has been developed to work around this problem.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE TECHNIQUE

With the low-dose chest CT scan, the primary goal is to obtain usable images with a radiation level equivalent to that of a standard X-ray. The dose is then adjusted according to the age and body size of the subject. The examination thus displays a radiation rate in the order of 1/10th to 1/20th of the 25th percentile of the reference level. Set by the ASCN (Nuclear Safety Authority), this value corresponds to the average dose used in hospitals.

At its lowest level, the low-dose chest CT scan by the best CT scan Centre in Delhi provides satisfactory images for nodule observation or monitoring of problems such as pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, etc. With a slightly increased dose, it can serve as a first-line examination for the management of certain diseases. The examination has been particularly successful in the early diagnosis of bronchial cancer in the context of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST).

The lung scan may be useful for detecting blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), but it has largely been replaced by CT angiography in the diagnosis of this condition. Pulmonary scintigraphy can also be used as a preoperative assessment in people with lung cancer. Pulmonary scintigraphy uses small amounts of a half-life radioactive substance to measure air and blood flow throughout the lungs. In general, the exam is done in two stages.

In the first step (pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy), a radioactive substance is injected into a vein, and the scanner produces an image of the diffusion of this product into the pulmonary bloodstream. If perfusion scintigraphy reveals abnormalities, it is necessary to proceed to a second step (pulmonary ventilation scintigraphy).

INDICATIONS AND DISADVANTAGES

The low-dose chest CT scan is particularly interesting because of the quality of the images obtained, its speed and the significant reduction of radiation risks. The technique is mainly used for the early detection of bronchial cancer in a population at risk and the follow-up of various thoracic disorders. Thus, doctors can quickly adjust the treatment of patients, case by case. However, computed tomography poses a significant problem because of CT scan price in Delhi.

Currently, low dose CT screening for lung cancer is four times more expensive than for breast cancer and ten times more expensive than for colon cancer. As a result, it is currently inconceivable to use it for repeated checks. The latter can indeed take several years and generate excessive expenditure for patients and care organizations.

A low-dose helical computed tomography (CT scan center in Noida) scan is a type of medical test. It is used to detect early signs of lung cancer. If the test detects cancer, treatment can start early.

However, the test is not beneficial for people who smoke little or those who quit smoking more than 15 years ago and is generally not recommended for people under 55 or over 80 years of age. Even people who smoke a lot receive only a small benefit from the test, so you should think twice before taking the test.

Who should consider an analysis for detection?

The CT scan cost in Delhi for lung cancer is usually reserved for people who have the highest risk of developing this cancer, such as the following:

·        Older adults who smoke or were smokers. The analysis for the detection of lung cancer, generally, is offered to people of 55 years or more who smoke or were smokers.

·        People who have smoked a lot for many years. You can consider an analysis to detect lung cancer if you have a history of smoking 1 packet per year for 30 years or more. The pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of packets of cigarettes you smoked per day and the number of years you smoked.

·        People who once smoked a lot but stopped smoking. If you smoked a lot for a long time but have quit smoking, you can consider an analysis for the detection of lung cancer.

·        People with good health in general. If you have serious health problems, you are less likely to benefit from the screening test for lung cancer and are more likely to experience complications in follow-up testing. For this reason, the screening for lung cancer is offered to people who are in good general health.

·        In general, screening is not recommended for those who have poor lung function or other serious conditions that could make surgery difficult. This could include people who need continuous oxygen administration, who have suffered thinning without apparent cause in the past year, who have recently shed blood when coughing or who have undergone chest computed tomography screening in the past year.

·        People with a history of lung cancer. If you have been treated for lung cancer for more than five years, you may consider having an analysis for lung cancer screening.

·        People who have other risk factors for lung cancer can be those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, those with a family history of lung cancer and those who are exposed to asbestos at work.

How long the analysis for detection should be continued?

Not all medical groups agree on how old you can consider stopping the test for lung cancer. In general, continue to perform the annual analysis for the detection of lung cancer until the time when you do not benefit from it, as when you manifest other serious conditions that may leave you too weak to undergo cancer treatment.