Interested in Ultrasound-- then visit our sister web site:
Diagnostic ultrasound gallery
You'll find loads of ultrasound images with a brief description of each case, links etc.
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The crisis facing the small clinic in India:
The small, friendly neighbourhood clinic has for long been the backbone of medical practice in India. But of late, the arrival of large hospitals or multispeciality hospitals is rapidly changing the scenario.
In Cochin, where I work, many of the smaller and even midsized hospitals are feeling the heat, as large hospitals mushroom all over the place. The situation in the field of radiology is also undergoing rapid change. Until 5 years back, independent diagnostic centers ruled the turf of radiology. There were diagnostic centers with CT scan and ultrasound facilities “under one roof”. Then MRI scan was also added to the range of services. When even that was not sufficient, pathology labs were added to these “centers”. Even large hospitals would refer cases to these diagnostic labs. But, soon, these same hospitals decided that, rather than buy the cake, they might as well make it. The result, almost all the major hospitals in town have their own complete diagnostic facilities. The situation is so bad, that some of the independent labs have shut shop or shifted their equipment to greener pastures.
So, what does the future hold for medical practice here. Obviously, many of the numerous labs (and also the smaller hospitals) in this part of the world have to adapt to the changing times; many might simply close shop. Others would merge with the large mega-hospitals, to survive. The friendly neighbourhood clinic, or lab might operate on a part- time basis, with the radiologist operating part time at a number of labs.
The trends one sees in the corporate world will be mirrored in the medical field also.
Kerala, with its high literacy rates (almost 100%) and consequent health consciousness, coupled with inflow of petro- cash (from overseas Indians in the Arab countries), has an abundance of private healthcare facilities. In fact, it is estimated, that, Kerala has one of the highest number of CT scan machines, per unit population in the world. The changes in this microcosm will reflect those in the West and elsewhere.
In Cochin, where I work, many of the smaller and even midsized hospitals are feeling the heat, as large hospitals mushroom all over the place. The situation in the field of radiology is also undergoing rapid change. Until 5 years back, independent diagnostic centers ruled the turf of radiology. There were diagnostic centers with CT scan and ultrasound facilities “under one roof”. Then MRI scan was also added to the range of services. When even that was not sufficient, pathology labs were added to these “centers”. Even large hospitals would refer cases to these diagnostic labs. But, soon, these same hospitals decided that, rather than buy the cake, they might as well make it. The result, almost all the major hospitals in town have their own complete diagnostic facilities. The situation is so bad, that some of the independent labs have shut shop or shifted their equipment to greener pastures.
So, what does the future hold for medical practice here. Obviously, many of the numerous labs (and also the smaller hospitals) in this part of the world have to adapt to the changing times; many might simply close shop. Others would merge with the large mega-hospitals, to survive. The friendly neighbourhood clinic, or lab might operate on a part- time basis, with the radiologist operating part time at a number of labs.
The trends one sees in the corporate world will be mirrored in the medical field also.
Kerala, with its high literacy rates (almost 100%) and consequent health consciousness, coupled with inflow of petro- cash (from overseas Indians in the Arab countries), has an abundance of private healthcare facilities. In fact, it is estimated, that, Kerala has one of the highest number of CT scan machines, per unit population in the world. The changes in this microcosm will reflect those in the West and elsewhere.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The future of MRI scan- Functional MRI:
Functional MRI scans – the future of MR imaging:
The latest in imaging has arrived, in the form of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or F- MRI scans.
Imaging remained largely a means to study anatomical lesions of the body, such as tumours, infections etc. But now, F- MRI is set to change all that. F- MRI is a technique that actually maps hemodynamic changes (read blood flow changes) in response to
neural stimuli or neural activity, in the brain and spinal cord. This is based on the fact that that there are changes in blood flow patterns in regions of the brain that are active; for example moving the fingers would produce more blood flow and oxygenation in the region of the brain called the motor cortex. The MR signals of the blood vary according to the degree of oxygenation. This fact is made use of to color code the brain’s activity. F- MRI can thus non-invasively detect human brain tissue activity, without the fear of radiation.
I had the chance to see a slide show, where an F- MRI scan of a patient with anxiety disorder, was displayed. Multiple areas (colored red) were seen along both cerebral hemispheres. After making the same patient relax, listening to gentle music, a repeat F MRI scan showed a near normal appearance. Thus, the role of this technique, in neurology and psychiatry is obvious. A more controversial use of the technique in comatose patients, found that in some such cases, in so called minimally conscious states,
the brain showed responses to speech and external stimuli, similar to those in normal persons. This raises many questions, indeed a Pandora’s box of legal and ethical issues regarding the conventional definition of death.
The latest in imaging has arrived, in the form of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or F- MRI scans.
Imaging remained largely a means to study anatomical lesions of the body, such as tumours, infections etc. But now, F- MRI is set to change all that. F- MRI is a technique that actually maps hemodynamic changes (read blood flow changes) in response to
neural stimuli or neural activity, in the brain and spinal cord. This is based on the fact that that there are changes in blood flow patterns in regions of the brain that are active; for example moving the fingers would produce more blood flow and oxygenation in the region of the brain called the motor cortex. The MR signals of the blood vary according to the degree of oxygenation. This fact is made use of to color code the brain’s activity. F- MRI can thus non-invasively detect human brain tissue activity, without the fear of radiation.
I had the chance to see a slide show, where an F- MRI scan of a patient with anxiety disorder, was displayed. Multiple areas (colored red) were seen along both cerebral hemispheres. After making the same patient relax, listening to gentle music, a repeat F MRI scan showed a near normal appearance. Thus, the role of this technique, in neurology and psychiatry is obvious. A more controversial use of the technique in comatose patients, found that in some such cases, in so called minimally conscious states,
the brain showed responses to speech and external stimuli, similar to those in normal persons. This raises many questions, indeed a Pandora’s box of legal and ethical issues regarding the conventional definition of death.
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