Question 1

my ear is very irritated inside for a while now - it's burny and itchy and makes a lot of wax (white and dark brown/black the deeper you go - i use a special tool to clean), but it's never really painful. my throat is getting sore on the same side no?

Accepted Answer

Doctor can examine: A person with an ear infection usually has some pain or discomfort in the ear. Changes in the amount of ear wax cannot verify if there is or is not an infection. Excessive ear wax can hold moisture in the ear canal (after swimming, after showers) and lead to a "swimmers' ear" skin inflammation of the ear canal. A primary care doctor or ENT doctor can remove the earwax and examine the ears.

Question 2

what are radioisotopes, pet and spect?

Accepted Answer

Visibility: Radioisotopes make molecules that are not typically visible on x-rays to show up.  In the example of pet, a common molecule used is a radioisotope of glucose (sugar).  Tissues that are growing rapidly would accumulate the sugar more readily, and the positrons emitted from them would show up on an x-ray.  Spect is similar, but takes more images from different angles to make 3d images.

Question 3

what are the uses of spect imaging in cardiology?

Accepted Answer

Coronary heart dis.: SPECT imaging utilizes intravenous injection of radiotracers for evaluation of heart disease. Usually it is for detection of areas of ischemia or infarction. Usually two part examination comparing rest and exercise. Sometimes if patient unable to exercise medications are used to accelerate heart rate.Can also calculate ejection fraction or muscle contraction of heart

Question 4

why arent spect scans done more often to diagnose mental illness and to provide accurate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Not a done deal.: Mental Illness is too complex to be diagnosed from SPECT scans or other single use tools.   And treatment is very complex as well, depending upon the diagnosis and the symptoms.   Mental Health diagnostics are dynamic and evolving processes and not at all definitive.  One size does not fit all, and there are some symptoms which are confounding.  In other words, it is not as useful as you hope.

Question 5

myocardial perfusion gated spect study is positive for medium size fixed perfusion defect involving the adjacent areas of inferior wall and infero- ?

Accepted Answer

Fixed: Fixed defect implies that there is a totally occluded artery

Question 6

my dr has ordered a spect scan of brain at columbia, i'd like an fmri instead.can any dr order fmri?

Accepted Answer

FMRI hard to get: Most fmri machines, including those at columbia, are booked for months ahead by researchers, since they are preferred in doing experiments to spect.  But a piecing together of spect, ct, mra, and MRI can give a doctor a very valid picture for clinical use.

Question 7

spect anterior defect - breast attenuation,what?

Accepted Answer

An  overlapping: breast can cause an artifact on a normal SPECT that causes a cardiac defect on the scan.  The photons are absorbed, or attenuated, by the breast tissue.  There is no real abnormality.    If that is what it is, the scan is essentially normal.

Question 8

can a fmri give similar information as a spect scan of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes, an fmri is more precise than a spect.  Fmri  is used more frequently to assess brain function, and is superior in it's specificity.  That's why researchers use it more than a spect.

Question 9

ive seen the spect scans of a drug addicted and healthy brain, how can one repair those damaged portions of the brain where there are holes?

Accepted Answer

Damaged brain: Firstly you have to stop using the substances that caused this. Secondly the brain will repair its self but it can take a long time.

Question 10

can you confirm a bipolar diagnosis with an imaging procedure, like a (spect) or (meg) scan?

Accepted Answer

No: Many studies are ongoing with respect to the functional imaging techniques of SPECT, MEG, PET, and fMRI, in order to better understand psychiatric condition such as bipolar disorder.  However, to date ruling in (or out) such diagnoses is not possible on the basis of any form of imaging study.

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Black spects in tools

A member asked:

My ear is very irritated inside for a while now - it's burny and itchy and makes a lot of wax (white and dark brown/black the deeper you go - i use a special tool to clean), but it's never really painful. my throat is getting sore on the same side no?

A member asked:

What are radioisotopes, pet and spect?

A member asked:

What are the uses of spect imaging in cardiology?

A member asked:

Why arent spect scans done more often to diagnose mental illness and to provide accurate treatment?

A member asked:

Myocardial perfusion gated spect study is positive for medium size fixed perfusion defect involving the adjacent areas of inferior wall and infero- ?

A member asked:

My dr has ordered a spect scan of brain at columbia, i'd like an fmri instead.can any dr order fmri?

A member asked:

Spect anterior defect - breast attenuation,what?

A member asked:

Can a fmri give similar information as a spect scan of the brain?

A member asked:

Ive seen the spect scans of a drug addicted and healthy brain, how can one repair those damaged portions of the brain where there are holes?

A member asked:

Can you confirm a bipolar diagnosis with an imaging procedure, like a (spect) or (meg) scan?

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