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Spinal Pain: Surgery or Tough It Out
Spinal Pain: Surgery or Tough It Out
Nov 14, 2024
Spinal Pain: Surgery or Tough It Out

Back pain can be debilitating and it can occur at any age and at any time. At times, the pain is a direct result of a traumatic incident, like a car crash, a fall, or even pregnancy. Oftentimes, back pain starts without any perceivable correlating or causative event. You can suffer with back pain at a young age or it can start later in life. Research has shown that about 41% of adults with back pain are 18 to 44 years old1.

No matter when or how back pain appears, it can severely impact your quality of life. Recent studies have shown that 8.2% of American adults have chronic severe back pain, and nearly 75% of those with chronic severe back pain have difficulties with mobility, social participation, self-care, or work participation2. An estimated 75-85% of Americans experience some form of back pain during their life and 50% of patients who suffer from episodes of low back pain will have recurrent episodes within one year3.

Battle of the Scanners: MRI vs. CT
Battle of the Scanners: MRI vs. CT
Oct 14, 2024
Battle of the Scanners: MRI vs. CT

Imaging techniques operated by skilled professionals has revolutionized the way we diagnose almost all major types of medical abnormalities and illnesses, from chronic conditions to neurological disorders to advanced cancers.

Computed tomography (CTs) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) are some of the most commonly used diagnostic imaging tools. Almost 80 million CT scans, and an additional 80 million MRI scans are performed in the United States annually1.

A Breast MRI Could Be Your Best Ally
A Breast MRI Could Be Your Best Ally
Sep 10, 2024
A Breast MRI Could Be Your Best Ally

1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the United States, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, as well as 56,500 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer1.

Mammograms have long been the standard bearer for breast cancer screening, but breast MRIs are emerging as a vital tool because it offers a more detailed view of breast tissue.

Breast MRIs are particularly valuable for certain groups of women, like those with a high risk for breast cancer, those with a strong family history or genetic predisposition (like BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations), dense breast tissue, or those who previously hadf breast cancer. The American College of Radiology recommends women with 20% or greater lifetime risk of developing breast cancer be screened annually with MRI. In some situations, breast MRIs (magnetic field imaging) can help clarify mammogram results that might be inconclusive2.

The Life-Saving Power of Second Opinions for Mammograms
The Life-Saving Power of Second Opinions for Mammograms
Aug 06, 2024
The Life-Saving Power of Second Opinions for Mammograms

1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the United States, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, as well as 56,500 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer1.

Chances are, you know at least one person who has been personally affected by breast cancer.

But there is hope. Approximately 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, before cancer has spread outside of the breast, when it is easiest to treat. Today, there are currently more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States2.

According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5 year relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes monthly breast self-exams and annual mammograms.

Think Twice: Benefits of Second Opinions in Neurology
Think Twice: Benefits of Second Opinions in Neurology
Jul 03, 2024
Think Twice: Benefits of Second Opinions in Neurology

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the past 30 years, the absolute numbers of deaths and the number of people with neurological-related diseases have risen substantially1.

If you have been referred to a neurologist, it’s because you have demostrated sympoms that point to a disorder of the nervous system.

We tend to assume that neurology only relates to the brain. Yet neurologists diagnose and treat a wide range of neurological conditions that have their origins in the brain or the spinal cord.

Harnessing AI for Second Opinions: help identify early signs related to cardiovascular disease
Harnessing AI for Second Opinions: help identify early signs related to cardiovascular disease
May 29, 2024
Harnessing AI for Second Opinions: help identify early signs related to cardiovascular disease

If you are skeptical of a second opinion rendered by AI technology, consider it’s another tool in the toolbox of the radiologist during the diagnostic evaluation of the exam.

Think of an AI rendered second opinion as indicating and measuring findings for the radiologist to pay attention, a kind of another pair of glasses for the radiologist, not as a replacement for it.

Seeing Beyond the Scan: Second Opinions in Radiology
Seeing Beyond the Scan: Second Opinions in Radiology
Feb 01, 2024
Seeing Beyond the Scan: Second Opinions in Radiology

Radiology is a cornerstone of modern medicine and plays a crucial role in diagnosing medical conditions. With non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques, radiology charts a path to the most effective treatment plans while also monitoring disease progression.

Radiological imaging, include X-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasounds and PET scans. Collectively, they help identify organ abnormalities, fractures, tumors, and other internal medical conditions that are not visible to the naked eye.

Radiologists undergo specialized and extensive training. They are often the first clinician to find and confirm the presence of disease and use multiple scans over long periods of time to determine how much a disease has responded to a course of treatment.

The Unfamiliar Terrain: It’s Cancer, Now What?
The Unfamiliar Terrain: It’s Cancer, Now What?
Jun 21, 2023
The Unfamiliar Terrain: It’s Cancer, Now What?

Cancer. You can never prepare for it.

There is nothing more frightening than a cancer diagnosis. It shatters your day-to-day existence and you emerge into unknown, uncertain, and unpredictable terrain. Nothing prepares you for the roller coaster of medical jargon, doctor’s appointments, and treatments options.

A cancer diagnosis is well beyond a “a medical journey.” It’s more like an odyssey that needs advanced navigational equipment.

Our website content is posted for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used for primary diagnoses-making and should not replace a consultation with a professional health care provider. If you have any health issues or complaints, please consult your primary physician. Healthcare data provided for informational purposes is not an alternative to an in-person physician consultation.

This website is an informative site that aims to offer its users find helpful information regarding a second opinion services that will be suitable for their medical condition. The content provided in this website is not and shall not be taken as expert or professional medical advice for any matter and is not an alternative to an in-person physician consultation. Our services are different from the diagnostic service typically provided by a physician, as the physicians do not have the benefit of information that would be obtained by examining you in person, observing your physical condition, or conducting diagnostic testing to the specifications of the physician. Therefore, the physician may not be aware of facts or information that would affect the physician ́s medical opinion of your condition. In some cases, these facts may be critical to the opinion. USARAD is not responsible for potential errors in opinion resulting from missing, incomplete, poorly translated or illegible records, or poor-quality images