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Diagnostic Tests
Cardiac CT 64 slice
This is a procedure performed using a multi-slice CT. The current multi-slice CT that exquisitely produces coronary artery images, is a 64-slice CT scanner.
This scanner has a special x-ray tube and rotation speed, capable of performing 3 rotations in a second. In each rotation, 64-slices are produced, giving us approximately 194 slices per second. This is the fastest scanner in the industry, currently. Speed is extremely important in the ability to "freeze" the heart. Since the heart is a rapidly moving structure, the only way to image structures within it, is if we can scan as fast as the heart beats or close enough.
All scans are gated to the ECG trace. This allows to position the data acquisition accurately in specific phases.
Using this modality the following procedures can be performed as part of a cardiac CT examination.
- Calcium scoring
- Coronary artery imaging ( CT Coronary Angiography)
- Functional assessment
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CA Scoring |
The applications of cardiac CT include the following:
- Detection and characterization of coronary artery occlusive lesions secondary to atherosclerosis, transplant arteriopathy, intimal dissection and vasculitis
- Detection and characterization of coronary artery anomalies
- Detection and characterization of coronary artery aneurysms
- Coronary vein mapping
- Characterization of cardiac chamber morphology and function
- Characterization of native and prosthetic cardiac valves
- Detection and characterization of congenital heart disease
- Characterization of cardiac masses
- Diagnosis of pericardial diseases
- Detection and characterization of post-operative abnormalities
Who should get a cardiac CT done!
The following are situations in which a cardiac CT is of use :
"To Rule Out Coronary Artery Disease"
The ability of cardiac CT to rule out coronary artery disease exceeds a predictive value of 99%. This means that when the study is reported to be normal, it will be normal. This makes it a more accurate test than stress-testing, stress-echocardiography, stress-thallium and stress-perfusion MRI. More importantly, the heart does not have to be stressed to get this information.
"To Rule Out Coronary Artery Disease" is an issue that often arises in the following situations:
The Patient is Asymptomatic : (i.e. there are no problems, such as chest pain or breathlessness, but coronary artery disease needs to be ruled out)
- Family history of coronary artery disease
- Persistent high triglyceride levels and other high risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, etc.
- ECG abnormalities on a routine health check-up
- Equivocal (plus/minus) abnormalities on a routine stress test, done prior to employment, insurance or as part of a routine health check-up
- Moderate to severe hypertension
- Prior to non-coronary surgery in the adult population, etc
Pre-ASD repair
Pre-valvular repair
Pre-tumor surgery
The Patient is Symptomatic : (i.e. there is chest pain or breathlessness, but the physician / cardiologist is not convinced that there is coronary artery disease)
- Atypical chest pain (right side, shoulder tip, etc.)
- Suspected syndrome X in a pre-menopausal lady
- Suspected dilated cardiomyopathy
- Anomalous coronary arteries, ectasia or aneurysms
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Other Indications for Cardiac CT test :
- Post-bypass
- Cardiac CT is an excellent tool for assessing the status of bypass grafts.
- Post-stent
- For stents larger than 3mm in size, cardiac CT is an excellent tool for assessing in-stent lumen. For stents smaller than 2.5mm, the results are still equivocal.
- Tumors
- Cardiac CT is a good tool for assessing cardiac neoplasms
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses non-ionizing radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays to provide remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues.
The strength of the magnet is very important, and high-field scanners (1.5 Tesla magnets) are generally regarded as the best magnet strength.
The machine delivers the kind of high performance technology needed for the most demanding MRI exam . Gives for the first time ever, true whole-body imaging with no patient repositioning and no coil changes.
A New Level of Clarity: Superb image quality and new level of detail not possible with older or slower MRI equipment.
| 32ChannelWholeBodyMRI - |
We Care is proud to partner a centre with India's first Whole Body MRI machine.
Now, in just 45 minutes, you can get a complete screening of your body to see if all your organs are healthy. In the Whole Body MRI test, we can identify any lesions, including cancerous lesions, in the:
- Brain
- Neck
- Chest (including lungs)
- Whole spine
- Liver
- Gall bladder
- Pancreas
- Kidneys
- Spleen
- Uterus and ovaries (in females)<
- All the limbs.
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Pathology
Apart from the routine Hematology, Biochemistry, clinical pathology and pap-smear tests our partner centres do specialized Hormone Assays, Elisa Tests, Western Blot, VMA and Specialised Cardiac Markers like Lipoprotine a, Homocysteine, CK-MB and teoponin. They also perform specialized cancer markers like CA125, CEA, etc. Besides these, protein electrophoresis, hemoglobin electrophoresis and thalassaemia studies, therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse are also carried out.
All types of X ray are carried out.
The various procedures available are |
- Barium studies (Barium swallow, Upper GI series, Small intestinal studies, IC studies, Barium Enemas) #ECF2F9
- Intravenous urographic studies, cystograms, micturating cystourethrograms, retrograde urethrograms.
- Hysterosalpingography
- Sinograms/ Fistulograms
- Arthrograms
- Sialograms
- Dacryocystorhinograms
- Cavernosography
Equipment:
At our partner centres, X-rays are taken on a high-powered, 700m A X-ray unit, which has an image intensification system. The procedures are thus carried out without the room being darkened.
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Sonography is a non invasive imaging modality using sound waves and is extremely safe even in pregnancy as it does not involve any radiation. Sonography has applications for the entire body from head to toe. Male or female, from infant to adult, throughout your lifetime, sonography can play an important role in your healthcare.
Indeed, versatile, safe, non-invasive and yet effective, the importance of ultrasonography in medicine cannot be underplayed. |
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Highlights: |
- Harmonic imaging, spectral, color and Doppler imaging, Compound Resolution Imaging
- High-resolution 2D, volumetric 3D and real-time 4D imaging
- Carotid colour doppler & Transcranial doppler
- Peripheral arterial & venous colour doppler
- Abdominal Colour Doppler
- Pregnancy Colour Doppler
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Patient Benefits: |
- More Information, Better Image Quality
- Faster Examination
- High resolution images for detection of subtle abnormalities.
- Vascular information
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Real time live 3D (4D) Sonography provides a three-dimensional view of the fetus in motion and is one of the most important modern innovations in the field of Ultrasound.
The clear view of the fetus from all angles allows doctors to detect any congenital abnormalities at an early stage and chart a course for corrective measures at an early and preventable stage. The image quality is so clear and sharp that one can get a fairly accurate impression of how the baby’s features will look upon birth. Sonography suites are equipped with high-end plasma screens to allow the expectant mother to view the baby growing inside her in the course of her pregnancy. One can view the baby yawning, sucking its thumb, kicking its feet, and moving its hands. We also provide all pregnancy sonography patients with a collection of video clips and images of the unborn child to create a lifelong memory for the mother and the child!
ECG |
An electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG) is an electrical recording of the heart and is used in the investigation of heart disease. It is a graphic display of the electrical activity of the heart.
An ECG may be done as part of a routine physical exam. It may be repeated any time there are questions about the working of your heart.
You will be brought to the ECG department in the centre. The technician will ask you to take off your clothing from the waist up, put on a gown, and lie down on a small bed. The technician will place a small electrode (a small self-sticking plastic patch) on each of your arms and legs and across six areas on your chest. You need to lie still for the minute or two that it takes the machine to make a record.
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A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps physicians find out how well the heart handles stress. As the body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen and the heart has to pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart. It also helps doctors know the kind and level of exercise appropriate for a patient. A person taking the test |
- Is hooked up to equipment to monitor the heart.
- Walks slowly in place on a treadmill, on which the speed is increased for a faster pace and which is tilted to produce the effect of going up a small hill.
- May be asked to breathe into a tube for a couple of minutes.
- Can stop the test at any time if necessary.
- Afterwards will sit or lie down to have the heart and blood pressure checked.
- Heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (E.C.G. or E.K.G.), and how tired one feels are monitored during the test.
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2D Colour Doppler
Two-dimensional echocardiography can provide excellent images of the heart, para cardiac structures, and the great vessels. During a standard echo, the sound waves are directed to the heart from a small hand-held device called a transducer, which sends and receives signals. Heart walls and valves reflect part of the sound waves back to the transducer to produce pictures of the heart. These images appear in black and white and in color on a TV screen. They're selectively recorded on videotape and special paper, and later reviewed and interpreted by a cardiologist (heart specialist).
From the pictures it is possible to measure the size of each part of your heart, to study motion and appearance of the valves and the function of the heart muscle. Your physician uses the measurements to determine how your heart is working and whether or not any abnormalities are present.
A Doppler echo is often done at the same time in order to determine how the blood flows in your heart. The swishing sounds you hear during the test indicate blood flowing through the valves and chambers. |
Highlights: |
- Carotid colour doppler
- Peripheral arterial & venous colour doppler
- Abdominal Colour Doppler
- Pregnancy Colour Doppler
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Patient Benefits: |
- Faster Examination
- High resolution images for detection of subtle abnormalities.
- Vascular information
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Mammography is important because in its earliest stages breast cancer may not be palpable; it may be too small to feel as a lump or tissue change. Mammography can help detect these changes two years or more before you would feel them. Physical examination is also important because premenopausal breast tissue is often dense and fibrous, which may decrease the reliability of mammography for young women.
If you notice any change in your breast (such as a lump or other texture change, breast pain, skin dimpling, or nipple discharge), see your doctor. Mammography or other diagnostic tests may be recommended to evaluate the changes taking place. The majority of these changes are due to benign-that is, noncancerous--conditions, but you'll be glad you checked.
If a lump is detected after the mammography is done, it may be essential to take a biopsy for the final diagnosis. |
Highlights: |
- OPDOSE optimises X-ray dose and image quality..
- OPCOMP determines the optimum degree of compression needed to produce uniform tautness, based on individual breast characteristics.
- Stereotactic biopsy attachment.
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Patient Benefits: |
- The machine gives very high resolution films so that even the smallest of cancers can be easily detected
- The machine itself decides the optimum compression to be given to the patients. This enables good quality films with least discomfort to the patient.
- There is automatic decompression so that once the exposure is done, the breasts are automatically decompressed. Thus the patient experiences discomfort only for a few seconds.
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Recommendations |
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Recommendation for Mammography: Women at Average Risk for Developing Breast Cancer |
Over50years |
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All women over the age of 50 years should have annual mammography examinations. |
40-50 years |
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The Indian Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women in this age group. The National Cancer Institute recommends that these women get a mammogram every 1-2 years. Your physician should offer appropriate guidance on this issue according to your personal medical history. |
Under40years |
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Most women under the age of 40 years do not need annual mammograms. However a baseline mammogram may be done at 35 years. |
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Special Circumstances: Women at Higher than Average Risk |
Breast changes you (or your physician) may discover :
- a change in breast texture (such as a lump
- breast pain
- skin dimpling
- nipple discharge
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Recommendation :
- Consult your doctor. A mammogram may be recommended.
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You may be at higher risk for breast cancer if :
- you have already had breast cancer, especially before menopause.
- you are genetically susceptible to cancer, i.e. you have close relatives with breast cancer.
- Those taking hormone replacement therapy
- Unmarried women and those without children are also at high risk
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Recommendation :
- Your doctor may recommend that you have mammography examinations more frequently or start at an earlier age than women at average risk. sure your physician is aware of any risk factors that apply to you.
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Bone Densitometry
DXA ( Digital X-ray Absorptiometry) Bone Densitometry is the gold standard for measuring bone mass and detecting Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that can be described as a generalized weakening of the skeleton due to loss of bone and calcium. A skeleton that has been weakened by bone loss is more likely to fracture, and people with osteoporosis have a high incidence of fractures. If all those people with osteoporosis could be identified and treated, a large number of fractures could be prevented.
Until the early 1990s doctors had to rely upon X-rays or bone biopsies to detect osteoporosis. By the time a patient was referred for these tests he or she had almost always had at least one fracture and lost a significant amount of bone. Today a bone densitometry scan can help identify individuals with osteoporosis as well as early osteopenia which would progress to the former if not treated.. This information can help the patient and their doctor make decisions that could prevent further bone loss and future fractures.
Our partner centre(s) possesses the world's latest and Mumbai's first Whole Body True Fan Beam DXA Bone Densitometry (Osteoporosis detection) & whole body fat and lean mass analysis (Obesity & Endocrinal disorders).
The unique fan beam system is 10 times faster than conventional Pencil Beam DXA. True fan beam system can perform a scan in 15 seconds. It provides increased precision & accuracy besides Paediatric Osteoporosis analysis and whole body fat analysis. It also provides lateral spine for Instant vertebral assessment study for precise fracture assessment.
When you go for a Bone Densitometry scan insist on a DXA machine since unlike cheaper portable bone density machines, DXA machines can conduct analysis at the hip, spine, and forearm as recommended by the World Health Organization.
For more information, medical assessment and medical quote
as email attachment to
Email : info@wecareindia.com
Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST)
(Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)
| Created On: August 4, 2008 |
Updated On: July 01, 2010 |
| Author : Dr. Sarita Kumawat |
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