As we progress in life both physically and emotionally, we are responsible for addressing the needs of our health care for our children, our aging parents, and ourselves. As a woman and a retired athlete, each year, I must see my general practitioner (family doctor), my gynecologist, and my orthopedic. I must also get any diagnostic imaging that correlates with these health visits. Diagnostic imaging services such as but not limited to the following based on my individual healthcare needs:
- Mammogram
- MRI on my knees
- Xray on my knees
- Ultrasound on my pelvic floor
- Colonoscopy
Below are some diagnostic imaging tests friends and family have experienced:
- Fluoroscopy
- Nuclear medicine
- Medical imaging
- DEXA scan
- Radiography
- Nuclear imaging
- Arthrogram
- Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiography
- Myelography
- Radiology
According to John Hopkins Medicine, here is a brief definition of diagnostic imaging examples, “Imaging tests are common tools used by health care providers to screen for medical problems, diagnose diseases and conditions, monitor existing conditions, and assess whether treatments are effective. Often, imaging tests are done as part of regular wellness screenings, for example with mammograms to detect breast cancer or calcium scoring to assess risk for heart disease.
Imaging can also be used to guide the medical team during a variety of different procedures, including stent and catheter placement, needle biopsies and cancer treatments that target the tumor(s) directly.
Common imaging tests include X-ray, computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET scan) and fluoroscopy,”.
Diagnostic colonoscopy vs screening colonoscopy
Some might argue that a colonoscopy is not a diagnostic test unless it is performed when symptoms or signs of gastrointestinal distress are present. For example, during this last year, I had an emergency colonoscopy done at the hospital my family doctor sent me to as a direct result of the acute diverticulitis flare-up I was experiencing.
Medical News Today defines diverticulitis like this:
Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches form in the intestinal lining and become inflamed whereas UC (ulcerative colitis) is a type of IBD (irritable bowel disease) where an overactive immune response causes inflammation and ulcers in the intestinal lining.
Symptoms for diverticulitis can include:
- abdominal pain on one side
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- fever
- chills
- rectal bleeding
Unfortunately, I experienced all of the above symptoms except for constipation, with the addition of severe abdominal pain and dehydration. So, the type of colonoscopy I received was a diagnostic imaging colonoscopy.
American Gastroenterological Association cites the following differences between a diagnostic colonoscopy and a screening colonoscopy, “A screening test is a test provided to a patient in the absence of signs or symptoms. A screening colonoscopy is a service performed on an asymptomatic person for the purpose of testing for the presence of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps. Whether a polyp or cancer is ultimately found does not change the screening intent of that procedure.
Diagnostic colonoscopy is a test performed as a result of an abnormal finding, sign or symptom (such as abdominal pain, bleeding, diarrhea, etc.). Medicare and most commercial payors do not waive the co-pay and deductible when the intent of the visit is to perform a diagnostic colonoscopy,”.
To date, in the last fifteen years since I was diagnosed with diverticulosis, I have had two screening colonoscopies and two diagnostic colonoscopies. Diverticulosis is the condition, and diverticulitis is when the condition is flaring up, or as my doctor would say, “your colon is angry.”
In addition to routine diagnostic imaging and emergency procedures, it’s also essential to consider preventative imaging, which may not always be at the top of mind but can significantly impact long-term wellness. For example, cardiovascular imaging—like a coronary calcium scan—can be crucial for women approaching or beyond menopause, as heart disease risk increases with age.
Similarly, a thyroid ultrasound may be recommended if there are unexplained symptoms such as fatigue, weight fluctuations, or neck swelling. For athletes or those with a history of high physical activity, imaging to assess bone density and joint health beyond a basic DEXA scan can help identify early-onset osteoarthritis or stress injuries.
These types of diagnostic imaging tests, while sometimes overlooked, can provide critical insights and help detect issues before they become more serious.
What is fluoroscopy used to diagnose?
There was one diagnostic test that I have never heard of nor do I know anyone that has received one. That is a fluoroscopy. Apparently, a fluoroscopy test diagnoses a wide range of conditions by providing real-time images inside the body, mostly for the gastrointestinal, heart, and musculoskeletal systems. This type of diagnostic test allows healthcare practitioners to assess organ function, identify abnormalities, and guide minimally invasive procedures.
I have something similar to this type of diagnostic imaging service, and that was a TENEX ultrasound-guided procedure (removed scar tissue in my right shoulder rotator cuff). The Tenex procedure, a type of arthroscopy, was on my right shoulder.
Tenex is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a scope guided through a small 2-3 mm incision, where ultrasound imaging is used to see where the damage is on the tendon to break down and remove any of the damaged tissue with the suction mode. Once the procedure is completed, only a small bandage is needed to cover the point of entry, with no sutures or stitches typically required for most.
Emerging technologies in diagnostic imaging are enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of healthcare delivery. For instance, 3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis, offers clearer and more detailed views of breast tissue, which can improve early cancer detection and reduce false positives.
Another advancement is functional MRI (fMRI), which maps brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, aiding in the diagnosis of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, and brain tumors.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also making its way into imaging analysis, helping radiologists interpret scans faster and with increased precision.
Diagnostic imaging examples
In conclusion, diagnostic imaging services play a vital role in proactive, preventive, and emergency healthcare. Staying informed about available options empowers us to make better decisions, advocate for ourselves as well as our loved ones, and support lifelong wellness through early detection and effective treatment.