MRI shows benefits of Mediterranean diet on the brain

A study that appears in February 2012′s issue of Archives of Neurology suggests that eating a Mediterranean-style diet may offer protection against small-vessel disease.  Damage to small blood vessels can cause damage in the brain and other organs. 

The study included performing brain MRIs on the participants.  The researchers noted a correlation between the participants’ diets and the amount of white-matter hyperintesity (“WMH”) volumes in their brain.  WMH are markers for small-vessel damage and are associated with vascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure.  The more closely a person followed a Mediterranean-style diet, the less WMH they had.

The study findings might also help explain recent studies that have linked consumption of a Mediterranean diet with lower incidence of neurological conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. 

What is the Mediterranean diet?  Think: olive oil, fruits and vegetables, fish, whole grains, legumes and nuts.  Try to limit the amount of red meat, saturated fats and refined grains you eat.  If its in a can, a box or a jar – don’t buy it!

While you can’t get an MRI of your brain to see how your diet is working, it might be appropriate to get one if you are experiencing some cognitive difficulties.  Talk to your doctor, and together you can come up with a game plan.  If your doctor thinks an MRI might be appropriate, give us a call at 1-877-709-8522. 

 

MRI shows fish-filled diet helps lower Alzheimer’s risk

A study presented at last months Radiological Society of North America’s annual conference suggests that that eating baked or broiled fish weekly can reduce the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, done by University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre researchers, included MRI imaging of the brain’s grey matter volume over a 10 year period. The study established a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure, and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Grey matter volume is crucial to brain health; when it increases, brain health is maintained.  Decreases in grey-matter volume indicate that brain cells are shrinking. 

Scientists think that the omega-2 fatty acids in the fish are benefitting the brain.  Baked or broiled fish deliver more omega-3′s to the brain than does fried fish.  Sadly, fish & chips aren’t the way to improve brain health!

The scientists found that having fish as little as once per week can increase brain grey-matter volume.  The main message of the study is that the more baked or broiled fish you eat, the more grey-matter volume you will have as you age.  Having more grey-matter in the future, will lessen your risk for Alzheimer’s.

Visit our website to find out more about MRIs, CTs and Ultrasounds.  http://www.canadadiagnostic.com/content/services/T_Scans.php

or call us at 604-709-8522

The benefits of CT Calcium Scoring keep making news!

American Heart Association:  CT Calcium Scoring broadens heart attack risk prediction – November 2011

Lancet:  Coronary Calcium Scores are best for guiding statin therapy – August 2011

Journal of the American College of Cardiology:  MESA results confirm prognostic value of CT calcium scoring – July 2011

Journal of the American College of Cardiology:  Coronary Artery Calcium progression predicts mortality – December 2010

Journal of the American College of Cardiology:  Adding CT calcium scoring to traditional risk factors increases accuracy in determining which risk category a patient should be placed in – October 2010

If you are age 50+, consider a CT Calcium Score to help you and your doctor determine your best course of action.  Call us today at 1-877-709-8522 or email us at info@canadadiagnostic.com

 

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

This month, the spotlight turns to Lung Cancer.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deathfor both men and women.  In 2011, an estimated 25,300 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 20,600 will die of it.  Up to 85% of all lung cancers are attributable to smoking.

If you are a smoker, or smoked in the past, you should consider a Lung scan at Canada Diagnostic as a screening test for the early detection of lung cancer.

Contact us today to book your scan.

Daily Aspirin May Help Prevent Colon Cancer

In big news last week, results of a study suggest that taking aspirin daily, may help prevent colon cancer in people who have a known genetic predisposition for the disease.  After five years of taking the aspirin, high-risk patients in the study had their cancer risk reduced by 50%.

Aspirin alone – whether a person is high-risk or not – is not the entire solution. Regular screening for colon cancer is a MUST.  There are several types of screening tests available including CT Colonography (“Virtual Colonoscopy”) which the American Cancer includes as one of its recommended screening exams.  As part of his health check, President Obama underwent Virtual Colonoscopy last year.

Canada Diagnostic has been offering Virtual Colonoscopy since 2002.  All of our Radiologists have full College of Physicians & Surgeons of BC Certification to read Virtual Colonoscopy.  To learn more about Virtual Colonoscopy, please take a look at our info sheet:  QA – Virtual Colonoscopy.

Contact us to learn more about Virtual Colonoscopy and other screening exams available.  1-877-709-8522 or info@canadadiagnostic.com.

CT Lung Cancer Screening – Named one of the Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2012

World-renowned Cleveland Clinic just held their annual Medical Innovation Summit and have announced their Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2012- the technologies and innovations that will have the biggest impact on healthcare next year.

Did you know that Lung Cancer is the #1 cause of cancer-related deaths in North America?  Lung Cancer accounts for more deaths each year than Breast, Prostate, Colon and Pancreatic  cancer combined.  And now we have a tool that has been shown to help reduce the number of deaths each year from lung cancer.

The #2 Innovation is CT Lung Cancer Screening  which the Medical Innovation Summit says:

This high-tech scan generates a series of detailed cross-sectional images of the lungs that are used to create a three-dimensional image. These scans can not only identify tumors earlier, but also spot them when the tumors are smaller and more treatable by surgery. Surgery is the best treatment for most types of lung cancer. 

If caught earlier through screening, the potential to save lives is great: Upwards of 60 to 90 percent of lung cancers are curable in the early stages. Screening for colon, breast, and cervical cancer has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from these cancers compared to those who are not screened.

 Find out more about CT Scans for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer at  Canada Diagnostic Centres.  Call us for more information, or book your Lung Cancer Screening with us today at 1-877-709-8522 or 604-709-8522

CT Lung Cancer Screening Cuts Deaths

Lung cancer screening by CT, or computed tomography, can reduce lung cancer deaths by detecting the disease at early stages, a new study from the National Cancer Institute says. It was the first time researchers saw a reduction in death as a result of lung screening, experts said.

In the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), more than 53,000 current and past heavy smokers between the ages of 55 and 74 were screened for lung cancer by either low-dose CT scan or standard chest X-ray. Researchers found 20 percent fewer deaths in those screened by CT scan. The data were so statistically convincing the trial was stopped and the results released.

The results demonstrate that such CT screening could benefit older, high-risk patients, aid Dr. Denise Aberle, NLST national principal investigator for the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN).

“We have the potential to save thousands of lives,” if low-dose screening is implemented responsibly, and people with abnormalities are closely followed, Aberle said.

Trial participants smoked at least a pack a day for 30 years and had no symptoms or history of lung cancer. They were screened once a year for three years and followed for an additional five years.

“This is the first time that we have seen clear evidence of a significant reduction in lung cancer mortality with a screening test in a randomized controlled trial,” said Dr. Christine Berg, NLST project officer for the Lung Screening Study. “The fact that low-dose helical CT provides a decided benefit is a result that will have implications for the screening and management of lung cancer for many years to come.”

For more information on this visit:  http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/qa/2002/nlstqaQA

Interested in getting your own lung scan.  Call us for more information at 1-877-709-8522 or 604-709-8522.  Or visit our website.

Improve your heart disease risk

A new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC, April 12, 2011, Vol. 57:15) found that patients who had a screening CT scan of the heart which showed evidence of calcium in their coronary arteries made important lifestyle changes that helped lower their risk of having a cardiac event in the future.

A large number of studies have now shown that a Coronary Artery Calcium Score or CACS improves assessing a patient’s actual risk factors for heart attacks.

Canada Diagnostic has been providing Coronary Artery Calcium Scores since 2002.  This exam is quick, painless and provides some very important information that just might save your life.

Interested in learning more?  Click here or give us a call at 1-877-709-8522 or 604-709-8522.

If its good enough for the President of the U.S……..

As part of his first annual comprehensive physical exam as Chief Executive, U.S. President Barack Obama underwent a Virtual Colonoscopy (VC) exam as a screen for colon cancer. 

Why did the President’s medical team choose a VC over a traditional colonoscopy?  The exam is safe, effective and does not require sedation or pain medication.  Because there was no sedation, the President was able to maintain presidential authority.  In contrast, when President George W. Bush had a traditional colonoscopy in 2007, because he had to undergo sedation, he had to transfer presidential authority for several hours to his Vice President.

You may not be governing one of the most powerful nations in the world, but knowing that a VC is the test of choice for someone who does carries a pretty strong message!

The Canadian Cancer Society advises that the death rate from colorectal cancer can be reduced significantly if patients get screened!

Colon cancer and cancer of the rectum usually begin as a small polyp. While most colon polyps are benign, some do become cancerous. Colon cancer symptoms may include a change in bowel habits or bleeding, but usually colon cancer strikes without symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get a colon cancer screening test, such as a Virtual Colonoscopy. If the cancer is found early, the doctor can use surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for effective treatment.

For more information on Virtual Colonoscopy, click here QA – Virtual Colonoscopy  or call us at 1-877-709-8522

What to look for in a Diagnostic Imaging Centre

We understand that you have choices when it comes to deciding where to go for your scan.  What should you consider when you are looking for an imaging centre?

Experience

Canada Diagnostic Centres opened the first private MRI in Canada in 1993.  Our Vancouver clinic has been open since 2000 and since that time we have scanned over 35,000 patients.  Our facility and our radiologists are well known in the medical community.

Medical Team

Radiologists are the specialists who interpret, MRIs, CTs and ultrasounds and provide your doctor with the results. 

Our clinic’s five radiologists are led by Dr. Bruce Forster, a Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine at UBC and a practicing radiologist at UBC and VGH.  Dr. Forster is also head of the MRI fellowship program at UBC Hospital and Regional Head of MRI for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

 Our radiologists also bring a variety of sub-specialty skills to the clinic relating to musculoskeletal, neurologic and abdominal diagnostic imaging.  They use a team approach and are able to consult freely with each other in the event of challenging or difficult cases.  This depth and breadth of knowledge is a real benefit to our patients and their physicians.

Our entire team of radiologists actively participates in teaching of radiologists-in-training in the UBC Faculty of Medicine and is engaged in cutting edge imaging research.

The Right Exam for the Right Reasons

There are many considerations as to which exam is most appropriate for each individual case, and even how to structure each exam.  For that reason, our radiologists review and protocol all exam requests before we call you to book a scan.  If a different exam than the one ordered by your doctor would be more appropriate for you, our radiologists will let you and your physician know.  That way, we maximize the likelihood that we will get the answers you need and minimize the likelihood that you will need an additional, different kind of exam down the road

Equipment

Just like cars, advanced medical imaging equipment comes in different makes and models.  With MRI for example, there are many different configurations as to the size, shape and strength of machine. 

The strength of the magnets in an MR machine is measured in Tesla.  The most common strength machine is a 1.5Tesla and it is what you will find in hospitals and medical teaching facilities throughout Canada.  At our clinic, we operate a GE Signa 1.5T HDx(High Definition) MRI. 

CT scanners are described by the number of “slices” they have.  These are the number of simultaneous images the machine takes during one split-second rotation around the patient.  Our CT scanner is a 64-slice Aquilion 64-slice by Toshiba Medical.  64-slice scanners have made  high resolution visualization of the heart and coronary arteries possible.

Information

When you call an imaging clinic, is the staff helpful and informative?  Are they able to answer all of your questions?  Are you comfortable with what they are telling you?  If you need more information, are they able to provide it for you?  At Canada Diagnostic Centres, our staff is happy to answer all of your questions or provide you with information or materials you may find helpful.  If you prefer online research, our website is an excellent source of information.

 

 

Wait times

Do you need your scan done as soon as possible or would you like it next Tuesday afternoon to better fit your schedule?   At Canada Diagnostic Centres, we will do our absolute best to schedule your scan for a time and date that fits with your needs.  We will also be happy to coordinate the timing of your scan with specialist appointments or treatment you have scheduled. 

In addition, your scan will be reviewed and reported quickly.  You doctor will receive a report within one working day of the exam—in many cases, your doctor will receive the report within a few hours of your scan.  If your doctor requires results immediately, our radiologist will be happy to call and give a verbal report right away.

 

Cost

Prices for different scans vary depending on the complexity of the scan being done and the type of machine it is being done on.  A complete fee schedule is available on our website.  If you have any questions about what an exam would cost, please give us a call.

Our promise is to provide our patients and their physicians with the best in patient-focused, medically-principled diagnostic imaging.