Diagnostic screening programs help catch cancer, abnormalities or other diseases before they reach an advanced stage, saving lives and healthcare costs. Screening programs include, lung, breast, prostate, and cervical cancer, among many others.
New research could provide useful information for cancer registries and potentially help policymakers better evaluate screening outcomes to develop more effective guidelines.
Former SCCT president Ed Nicol, MD, knows there has been interest in the potential of automated CT exams. However, he isn't so sure they are possible at this point in time for a number of reasons.
The sonographer's experience level is "critical" in screening patients at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, doctors reported in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Using CT to assess muscle mass may be particularly useful for spotting asymptomatic individuals at risk for arterial plaque buildup, experts explained.
“We expect that we’re going to see increased morbidity and mortality due to the fact that these patients weren’t able to get their routine imaging,” MGH experts cautioned.
"By looking at the mammograms from the perspective of the radiologist, the technologist is more likely to obtain an additional image to avoid an unnecessary recall," experts explained this week.