20 June 2018
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

When considering the detection and treatment of cancer, some of the most interesting advances have come from the area of radiology and the sub-specialty of interventional radiology. These advances have made detection of cancer easier while offering more specificity in treatments.

1. Screenings

Screening for different types of cancers has improved drastically, making it easier to accurately detect suspicious areas and lowering the rate of false negatives. One example is the screening for breast cancer. Women who are of screening age, but have dense breast tissue may not be ideal candidates for mammograms. As an alternative, some women are referred for an ultrasound of their breasts, especially if there are areas of suspicion or their breasts do not create clear images during a mammogram. The major benefit of alternative forms of screening is the potential for catching suspicious areas when they are in the early stage and minimizing the potential for more invasive procedures in the case of false negatives.

2. Diagnostic Tests

Some procedures can minimize the need for a major surgery when a person has a concerning tumor or cancer, but a biopsy is necessary for staging. Image-guided biopsies are useful in this case because imaging can prevent a traditional open surgery. This process is often used to biopsy lymph nodes that are not especially deep in the body. With imaging, an interventional radiologist can make a small incision in the skin and insert a needle to take a sample of the suspicious tissue. Similarly, breast-specific gamma imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) are used to identify cancerous areas in some people when they are initially diagnosed with cancer or to determine whether their cancer has relapsed. Since these imaging tests identify areas of increased activity associated with cancer, it is often easier to identify if and where cancer has spread.

3. Treatments

In some cases of cancer, patients are seen by an interventional radiologist for treatment. Part of their treatment might be a minimally-invasive form of internal radiation therapy. Unlike external radiation, the treatment is able to go directly to the source of cancer and possibly minimize damage to healthy tissues. The minimally-invasive aspect of internal radiation means pellets of radiation can be inserted directly where it is needed, with less risk of bleeding and infection from a traditional incision. In many cases, this means less down time for the patient who needs internal radiation.

The field of radiology has numerous advances, especially when diagnosing and treating cancer. Advances in the field can provide patients with a quicker and more thorough diagnosis and possibly less invasive treatment options. For more information, contact your local radiology services.