CT (Cytopathology) Scan

Went for medical appointment at Raffles Hospital on last week and the doctor, Dr Ekachai Danpanich was explaining the several tests that I will need to take to identify the cause of the constant high red blood cells found in urinalysis.

The tests are:

- Blood test (ESR-Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate & Anti-Nuclear Antibody)

- Urine test (Urine Protein, Creatinine & Urine Culture)

- CT Scan

Is my first experience with CT scan and just like X-ray scanning which will need to remove all items from the body and changed to a hospital gown. Into the scanning room, I was asked to lie still on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner with my arms holding up. Sometime, I will need to hold my breath for short periods of time. The computer workstation that processes the imaging information is located in a separate room, where the technologist operates the scanner and monitors the examination. Generally, the whole complete scans will take around a few minutes.

The result shown no malignant cells seens and no significant urographic (for discovering cysts or other internal blockages) abnormality is detected. Despite, my cancer tumor marker has went down to 43.4. PTL!

Meanwhile, still pending for the result on anti-nuclear antibody (for autoimmune disease) and urine culture (to diagnose Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)).

Well, Im not so worry about it cos at least, no cancer cells were being detected.

Here's some brief information on the diagnostic tests:

• X-rays are produced by means of a source that radiates x-rays through a particular body part (e.g. spine) and are best for looking at bone.

• The CT (Cytopathology) scanner is typically a large, box like machine with a hole, or short tunnel, in the center. It combines special x-ray equipment (uses multiple x-ray beams projected at many angles in conjunction) with sophisticated computers resources to produce multiple three-dimensional cross-sectional images or pictures of the inside of the body on a computer monitor. It diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
  
  
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan uses magnetic and radio waves (meaning that there is no exposure to x-rays or any other damaging forms of radiation) for examining the brain and spinal cord. The patient lies inside a large, cylinder-shaped magnet. Radio waves of 10,000 to 30,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth are sent through the body. It is the best technique when it comes to finding tumours (benign or malignant abnormal growths) in the brain. The MRI scan is also able to show both the heart and the large blood vessels in the surrounding tissue to examine the joints, spine and sometimes the soft parts of the body such as the liver, kidneys and spleen.

The difference between CT scan and MRI scan is that with an MRI scan it is possible to take pictures from almost every angle, whereas a CT scan only shows pictures horizontally.