Ultrasound is a key modality in the diagnosis of many tumours arising in soft tissues in the medical discipline of oncology. The following pages will outline some of the key features of malignancies and how they relate to ultrasound and diagnosis of cancer. Included also is a specific examination of ultrasound in the case of an adrenocortical carcinoma, pictured below. Image © Dr. T.S.A. Geertsma Principal Signs & Symptoms of Malignancies: General signs and symptoms suspicious of malignancy which may lead a general practitioner to send a patient for further investigations include: malaise, fatigue, mineral and hormone imbalance, palpable mass, swelling, edema, abdominal or back pain, jaundice, fever, weakness, weight loss, and decreased immunity. Sonographic Criteria for Malignancy: Thieme says with respect to the Sonographic Criteria for malignancy: “Primary organ tumours and metastases appear as circumscribed lesions whose shape and echo pattern are characteristic of tumours. The normal architecture and echo pattern of the affected organ is altered or destroyed” (Thieme, 2007) A study by Mahira Yunus and Zeba Ahmed on solid thyroid nodules used the following criteria for ultrasound images to conclude that the lesion was malignant: complex lesions, presence of calcium deposits, irregular margins, and heterogeneity. The presence of even one of these features flagged the lesion as malignant. The absence of any of these factors led to the conclusion that the lesion was benign. (Yunus et al., 2010) Different characteristics of tumours may point to malignancy in some organs but in other locations may indicate a benign growth. For example, Thieme indicates that “an echopenic halo suggests metastasis in the liver but suggests a... ... middle of paper ... ...into surrounding tissues with the use of ultrasound imaging (Heinz-Peer et al., 2007). Conclusion: . As an aspiring radiation therapist, it is critical to be able to read an ultrasound image especially with respect to treatment planning. It is very important to be able to distinguish the features of a malignant tumour from surrounding normal tissues; to be able to look at an ultrasound image and immediately see the location of a malignant lesion is a lifelong skill. After specifically looking at the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cancer of the adrenal gland, one more readily realizes that ultrasound is in some respects invaluable, but in other respects usurped by modalities such as CT and MRI scans. Thus, one must be familiar with all of these different imaging modalities in order to be able to most effectively diagnose, plan and treat a cancer patient.
Heather Kelly is a 42-year-old female here today with pain and a lump in the left axillary area. I am also concerned for some fullness that I feel that. I talked with her about the options. I am going to have her do an ultrasound of that area and I will review results with her when available. Should her symptoms change over the weekend, she can certainly seek care if necessary, though I suspect that will be necessary. I have asked her to avoid over manipulating the area, as she may inadvertently make that worse. She was comfortable this plan. She will contact me with questions or concerns. All questions were answered in the office
One needs to recognize the combination of physical signs (thinning hair, thick tongue, excess weight, etc.) and common symptoms (fatigue, difficulty concentrating, cold intolerance, etc.).
tends to be less expensive than most other imaging methods such as CT or MRI’s. It is important for the patient to know how this procedure works and the risks involved in order to make a decision whether or not to have the procedure done. Luckily, sonography is considered one of the more harmless methods.
Ultrasound is one of the most vital inventions in women health care. The advancement of wave technology throughout history formed the basis for the ultrasound. Ultrasound history is embedded in innovations on wave technology (Woo, 2015). Earlier designs of ultrasonic devices were not in the field of medicine until in the 1950s (Woo, 2015). Even then, the devices were employed for therapy before they were improved and used for diagnosis.
The tumor may be shown by a blood test or felt in the areas of the prostate during rectal exam, but the cancer cells are only in the prostate gland.
The dream that I most desire in life is to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. I’ve always had an interest in the inner workings of the human body, but I also value life, and care for others, and my happiness is the happiness of others. Although this career has its bumps on the road just to see mothers face light up when they see the image of their unborn baby is such a breath taking experience. This all originated from going to one of my sisters’ ultrasound appointment that I ended up going to all my sisters’ ultrasound appointments. I believe becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer is something I can do because I have what it takes. Diagnostic medical sonographer is imaging modality that can work in conjunction with other imaging modalities
...pread to nearby tissue in the neck and or to the lymph nodes. Cancer may spread to the lungs and bones as well. Staging consists of more testing; ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, Chest x-ray and a whole body scan. (Thyroid Cancer, 2012)
The tumor is often difficult to see in the early stages so it is usually diagnosed when
In general, technology is an essential factor for the average person’s daily schedule, from the use of a cell phone to the coordination of a GPS in the family car. As a result of the growth in modern technology, innovations in medicine have progressed extraordinarily in the past decade alone. For example, there is an extensive variety of imaging equipment applied to generate highly reliable results, such as the perceptive CT scan or the observant MRI machine. However, Sonography has stood out from other imaging methods when seeking a safe and affordable method of visualizing the body to assist in the process of immediate care. Ultrasonography, commonly referred to as Sonography, is a diagnostic medical procedure which utilizes high frequency
The use of ultrasound has led to a considerable analysis of diverse numbers of health conditions associated with medical procedures. It is for this reason that the New Zealand Medical Journal should consider ultrasound as the best nomination for the most important piece of medical equipment in use. Ultrasound is used to diagnose many types of illnesses such as Appendicitis, Kidney Stones and a variation of cancers.
This image portrays the first radiological advancement produced and expanded to the medical field. I say this because the radiological discovery created what is today known as imaging tests and/or diagnostic tests. X-rays are known to create a clear bone/skeletal transparency of the human body. Through time X-rays as well as other radiological techniques progress into a more useful resource for professionals. Although the discovery of the different types of ionizing radiation was historical and life changing in the life of science, the high levels of energy within that radiation process was also harmful. Many people/Medical Doctors were unaware that by having X-rays tested on them, they were exposing themselves to radiations sickness and even worse, cancer. After radiology was known to be dangerous, physicians and nuclear energy workers researched and found better ways to prevent the human body from being affected by the radiation. Since then, radiology has guided practitioners when trying to determine the location from where the disease began and how much the disease has spread since its initial state. “Use of highly conformal radiotherapy techniques has heightened the need for image-based verification of treatment delivery on a more frequent basis than just the weekly portal images” (Clinic Radiation Oncology chapter 6. Radiation Oncology Physics Pg.137). Radiation oncology has served as a form of
This is just a couple places in the body that the cancer can spread there are many more places.
Nowadays, there are many different types of imaging we can do. These include fluoroscopy, CT scan, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound. Fluoroscopy’s significant use is it intensifies the image during orthopedic, vascular, urological procedures. It is also used for dynamic radiographic investigations. “CT is useful for evaluating soft tissue involvement of lesions or determining the extent of fractures. In general, CT is useful to add to the anatomic or pathologic information already obtained by conventional radiography” (Bontrager & Lampignano, 2010). “Nuclear medicine is more sensitive and generally provides earlier evidence than other modalities because it assesses the physiologic aspect rather than the anatomic aspect of these conditions. Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease” (Nuclear Medicine, 2013). “Ultrasound can be used in several different ways such as monitoring an unborn baby, diagnosing a condition or guiding a surgeon during certain procedures by using sound waves” (Ultrasound, 2011).
Tumors are abnormal growth of a tissue that is uncontrollable. There are two different types of tumors, benign tumors are always primary and only grow in one spot, never moving. Malignant tumors are considered cancerous, usually start somewhere else in the body and then spread. They also grow very fast.
All types of cancer are ranked in a similar way, depending on how aggressive or large ones cancer is depends on that ranking. The different types of cancers are put into stages zero through four, zero being a tiny lump and four being highly sever (Breast Cancer 10). Doctors will also use different terms to describe their patients cancer, this creates an easier way to keep track of the tumors activity and decide on treatment. The words benign, malignant, and metastatic are commonly used. If a mass is benign then it is not harmful and does not contain any cancer cells. These masses are usually classified as grows or cysts rather than tumors, and they do not cause any problems unless they are near the brain or brain stem (Breast Cancer 87). Oncologists will use the term malignant as a description if the mass that is detected is cancerous and can cause harm to the patient (Breast Cancer 92). Tumors are not only classified as benign or malignant because these classifications are too broad. Oncologists need a better idea of what the tumor is like rather than cancerous or not cancerous, which is why they use the term metastatic. If a tumor is metastatic or has metastasized, then it has spread throughout the infected patients body (Treatment 17). Tumors like this are extremely dangerous because they have the ability to spread into the lymph nodes that