Archive for the 'Diagnosis & Tests' Category

If there are any problems seen in the vagina or cervix during the pelvic examination or if there is any abnormal Pap smear, colposcopy is performed to know the reason of abnormalities.

Colposcopy helps the physician to closely examine the genitals, vagina, and cervix. Colposcope is an instrument used for this procedure.

This instrument consists of magnifying lens and light to look for the abnormalities of cervix and vagina.

The magnifying lens magnifies the image so close that the physician can be able to see the tissues of vaginal wall and cervix clearly. If the physician finds anything suspicious, a small sample of tissue will be taken from the cervix for biopsy for additional information.

You might feel painful with some pinching and cramps during the time of taking biopsy sample.

Colposcopy to see any problem in cervix!

The physicians suggest colposcopy when they find any abnormal cells in Pap smear test or if they see any problem in the cervix or vagina during pelvic examination.

With the help of this colposcopy, the physician can be able to see the changes in the tissue like tissue color, structure, and its pattern and abnormal blood vessels.

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Have you ever undergone a pap smear? Pap smear test is extremely effective in detecting the cancerous cells present in your cervix and it is very essential in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Detecting the presence of cancerous cells in your body in early stages can be the first step in stopping the development of cervical cancer in your body.

It has been predicted that, almost 90% of the cervical cancer cases are prevented with the regular Pap smear test.

If you get regular pap smear test done, then the chance for getting cervical cancer in your body substantially decreases. Even if you get positive results for the development of cancerous cells, then the chances for curing the cervical cancer are as high as 90%, provided they are detected in early stages.

What is the right time to have pap smear test?

It is recommended that you can have your first pap smear at the age of 21 or about three years after having sexual relations and from then you need to follow these guidelines.

• From 21-29 years of age, you need to have pap smear once in a year or for every two years, you can get it tested with liquid based pap test.

Cystoscopy is a procedure of detecting your bladder tumors in which a tube or an instrument is inserted into the urethra to see inside the bladder.

In cystoscopy, an instrument called cystoscope is inserted into the bladder from urethra.

It allows looking the tumors which are present inside your bladder that are not identified in X-rays.

Many other surgical instruments are also inserted with the cystoscope which allows the doctor to remove the tissues.

Fluorescence cystoscopy shows enhanced results:

For detection of early stages of bladder tumors, fluorescence cystoscopy is best suited. This kind of cystoscopy with photosensitizing agent gives better results in detecting bladder cancer.

Bladder cancers or bladder carcinoma is difficult to identify with normal cystoscopy procedures. So fluorescent techniques are used, which will help in identifying flat lesions and advances the detection.

Does cystoscopy supports stone formation in bladder?

Formation of stones in bladder after cystoscopy is a very rare case. Detection of the bladder puncture and proper insertion of the sling may avoid such complications.

Meticulous cystourethroscopy with 70 degree cystoscope can be most favorable way to identify the bladder perforation. Rarely cystoscopy will fail to recognize the damage of bladder.

A colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the colon (large intestine) using an instrument called a colonoscope, a small camera attached to a flexible tube.

According to Frederick Cason, MD, associate professor of surgery at The University of Toledo, the best way to check for colorectal cancer is through colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer is also known as colon cancer or bowel cancer.

It is one of the most common cancers in the United States affecting 140,000 people every year. This type of cancer usually develops in the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum are the parts of the digestive system, which is called the gastrointestinal (GI) system.

A colonoscopy is normally performed to visually check the entire colon and rectum for the presence of any abnormalities.

“Colonoscopy enables the physicians to check for and remove potentially cancerous polyps or tumors and to locate the invasive cancers at an early stage” says Dr. Cason.

According to Isam Daboul, MD, chief of gastroenterology, the patients can fall into one of the three categories: average-risk, moderate-risk or high-risk.

The American Cancer Society recommends everyone to begin routine colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer at age 50 or earlier.

A minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure which is used to asses the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a tube in to your body is know as endoscopy.

The instrument which is used for endoscopy may have a flexible or rigid tube and it provides an image for photography and visual inspection.

Other than the production of the image for visual inspection and photography, it also enables to take biopsies and retrieval with foreign objects.

The procedure of endoscopy is painless, except in some cases it leads to mild discomfort. Most of the patients tolerate this procedure of endoscopy with topical anesthesia of the oropharynx only. This anesthesia will be given by using lignocaine spray.

There are fewer chances for obtaining complications in endoscopy. Out of 100%, only 5% of operations have the chances to attain complications. In rare situations, the complications which have occurred by this process will be solved by performing open heart surgery.

The endoscope consists of some components such as

• A flexible or rigid tube
• For illuminating the object or organ which is under inspection, a light delivery system is used.

Women are at lower risk of recurrence of cancer whose breast cancer is detected by mammography compared to those who discover a tumor by other means.

Women who are detected with cancerous tumors outside of the mammography, usually manual breast exam had a ninety percent of chance of recurrence of cancer elsewhere in their bodies.

Breast cancers are mostly detected by mammography screening and the procedure is becoming more common and the tumors found are often smaller.

The choice of breast cancer treatment, whether to skip the treatment depends on the age and severity of the cancer. So, correct diagnosis is essential to find the size of the tumor and mammography helps in finding the size.

Should all women in their 40s screen for breast cancer routinely?

There are many benefits to screening mammography, but the decision should be based on the conversation between a patient and the physician. Screening mammography in women in their 40s provided a reduction in breast cancer mortality, but with any regular screening, there will be potential harms.

There are few guidelines from which women can go for screening: individual assessment of risk of breast cancer and informing women ages 40 to 49 of the benefits and harms of mammography.

Samir Taneja, MD., Director of Urologic Oncology is the Primary Investigator on a clinical trial in order to test Envisioneering Technologies’ new mechanical device called TargetScan, which preliminary tests indicate can improve doctors’ ability to detect cancer and could lead to more targeted treatments—reducing life-altering side effects like impotence and incontinence.

TargetScan is the latest device in detecting prostate cancer. In this technology, 3-D image acquisition is combined with stationary probe which helps the physicians plan and execute targeted prostated biopsies.

The TargetScan device is fixed and it allows making more accurate scan of the prostate gland. For patients with prostate cancer, TargetScan device allows precise treatment of an infected area. The common treatment side effects like sexual function and incontinence can be avoided when patients are diagnosed with Target Scan.

MRI or magnetic resonance imaging scan is useful at imaging the augmented breast, staging breast cancer, and determining the proper treatment. MRI scan images the breast implant and breast tissue surrounding the implant. Abnormalities or breast cancer signs are sometimes hidden by the implant on mammogram.

With MRI exams, the breast cancer can be detected early and therefore the chances of survival are greatest. As MRI is more sensitive than mammogram, it helps in detecting breast cancer that may be missed by mammogram.

MRI procedure:

Without using radiation, the detailed picture of areas inside the body is created by computer, which is linked to the magnet in MRI scan. Hundreds of images of the breast are produced by each MRI from top to bottom, front to back and side to side.