Why is lymphangiography important in the diagnosis of cancer?
Lymphangiography is important to cancer diagnosis because one of the ways that cancer spreads is through the lymph nodes. Lymphangiography can be useful in the diagnosis and staging of persons with Hodgkin's disease and lymphomas and sometimes for other cancers. It is a procedure which is done in an outpatient setting or in a hospital. A blue dye is injected into the small lymph vessel after a cut is made in the big toe. The lymph system in the abdomen can then be looked at by means of x-rays. Since the lymph glands are very small, it usually takes 2 to 3 hours for the dye to reach the lymph nodes. Lymphangiography is used to localize and determine the extent of the tumors. The surgeon can use it as a guide to finding specific lymph nodes and determining the size of the tumor. The radiotherapist uses it to evaluate how a person is responding to therapy. Since the dye stays in the system for some 3 to 4 months, progress usually can be followed through x-rays without repeating the procedure.
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• Are the x-rays clearly necessary for diagnosis?
• Are there any x-rays which I have had taken recently which might be used instead of taking new ones?
• What is the approximate dose of x-ray?
• What do you think you will find out from the x-rays?
• What dosage is the particular machine giving?
• When was the machine last inspected?
• What kind of shielding will be used during the procedure?
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Do some of the parts of the body absorb more x-ray beams than others?
If you put a part of the human body in front of a beam of x-rays, some of the rays will pass through, while others will be absorbed and scattered inside the body. Bone, for example, which is more dense, will absorb x-rays more readily than surrounding tissues. It is the shadows of these denser parts of the body which show up on the developed film or screen.What kinds of contrast media are used for x-rays?
X-rays are absorbed by dense substances such as barium or iodine. These contrast media can be swallowed, injected into the bloodstream, or inserted with a plastic tube or catheter. Sometimes dye and air are both used in contrast films. For example, often both barium and air are used for gastrointestinal examinations.What kind of physician should read diagnostic x-rays?
Diagnostic x-rays should be interpreted by doctors who are board certified (or board eligible) radiologists.What kind of background does a radiologist have?
A board certified radiologist (certification is by the American Board of Radiology) must be a graduate of an approved medical school; must have four years of postgraduate training in the department of radiology, including training in pathology, nuclear radiology, and therapeutic radiology; and must have successfully completed written and oral examinations administered by the board.What is the difference between a diagnostic radiologist and a therapeutic radiologist?
A diagnostic radiologist administers and interprets x-rays used in diagnosing illness. A therapeutic radiologist (also sometimes called a radiation therapist, a radiotherapist, or a radiation oncologist) specializes in treating cancer with radiotherapy. The American Board of Radiology gives separate certification to these two specialties.How do I know where to go for my diagnostic x-rays?
This is a subject you should discuss with your physician. Ask questions. If you can, have your x-rays done in the outpatient department of a medical school or major hospital or by a private board certified radiologist.What questions should I ask before I have x-rays?
You should ask the following questions:• Are the x-rays clearly necessary for diagnosis?
• Are there any x-rays which I have had taken recently which might be used instead of taking new ones?
• What is the approximate dose of x-ray?
• What do you think you will find out from the x-rays?
• What dosage is the particular machine giving?
• When was the machine last inspected?
• What kind of shielding will be used during the procedure?
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