EULALEE THOMPSON
IN REAL time, we were being pulled into the murky tunnel. Three-dimensional. Going deeper, deeper, deeper. On the left, a button-like swelling; coming up, a little further on the right, yet another one. A few more of these aberrations, a diverticulum and faeces popped up as we went deeper into the tunnel.
This was a virtual tour of someone's colon. These button-like swellings, Dr. Freddie Clarke, consultant radiologist, said, were polyps, lying just on the surface of the intestinal wall - the first colon cancer alert. This is not-so-good news for this patient, whoever he or she is, but the clarity and precision of Dr. Clarke's new 'toy' - the Multi-Detector Row CT Scan (MD CT Scan) in diagnosing disease will soon turn not-so-good news into good news.
"With this (the new equipment) we are able to join that band of excellence in the world. You can send your images to any consultant in the world and even on the Internet ... and that is where Jamaica is now," he said with pride as he introduced his newest piece of equipment to medical colleagues at a symposium held recently at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston.
The Multi-Detector Row CT Scan (MD CT Scan) is actually cutting-edge imaging technology used to take pictures of organs and tissues, ultimately assisting practitioners to identify disease. The Computed Tomography or CT technology (previously known as CAT Scan) is medical imaging that generates three-dimensional images of internal organs from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray. The technology is rapidly turning over and is now in about its fourth generation. The clarity of, for example, sophis-ticated cardiac CT Scan, can now alert doctors to their patient's hidden heart problems, revealing major blockage in a coronary artery, long before heart problems hit.
DETAILED IMAGES
Colon cancer screening
The MD CT Scan is a further development. The technology produces much more detailed images, much faster and in a greatly improved resolution. The benefit to the patient is more accurate diagnosis when he or she is sent to the radiologist's office for a diagnostic test.
Dr. Clarke, in his characteristic upbeat style, couldn't stop singing the praises of the new technology, located at his Ripon Road, Kingston practice. Slide after slide (in his powerpoint presentation) he showed images made with the MD CT Scan versus imaging using other technology. For example, where using ultrasound and X-ray technology on a patient's abdomen produced normal results, when the same patient's abdomen was examined with the MD CT Scan technology, its superior imaging capability was able to detect 'stones' in the bladder.
"For anyone with suspected malignancy the ultrasound days are over; it is CT Scanning," he said emphatically.
SAFEST SCREENING TOOL
He also told his colleagues, by now in rapt attention, that with suspected small bowel obstruction "don't bother with X-rays anymore, it is Multi-Detector CT scanning." On the appendix, he said, "This is the nemesis of every doctor, now we can conquer this organ."
The virtual tour of the colon, which was mentioned earlier, in search of polyps, was a CT Colography. Dr. Clarke said that it is by far the safest screening tool for colon cancer, requiring no sedation, with no danger of bowel perforation and providing complete bowel visualisation. Not all doctors present at the symposium agreed.
Dr. Freddie Clarke, consultant radiologist, says that:
Colon cancer screening is recommended for persons:
Over 45 years old.
With a family history or personal history of polyps.
The CT-Colography as a screening tool for colon cancer:
Requires no sedation.
Poses no danger of bowel perforation.
Provides complete bowel visualisation.
Is not used in patients complaining of constipation or diverticulitis.
To prepare for CT-Colography (colon cancer screening):
The patient is required to go through vigorous cleaning of the bowel (make it free from faeces).
The patient is filled with air (or oxygen).
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