More and more, medical advances are cutting down on cutting people open. Improved imaging procedures make diagnostic and even surgical procedures less invasive.
Medical imaging enables a range of less-invasive, highly targeted medical therapies that translate into better and more comfortable care for patients. Because they are less invasive, these treatments mean fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and, in many cases, no incisions or surgery.
Physician specialty groups, independent organizations and peer-reviewed journals agree that medical imaging is one of the most important parts of modern medical care. In fact, many renowned medical experts believe that without imaging to guide diagnosis and treatment, patient safety would be compromised and quality of care diminished.
Doctors have long used surgery for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes, looking inside a patient to see what’s causing his or her symptoms. Now, improved imaging procedures mean this is often unnecessary, saving patients discomfort, time and money. Here are some of the ways imaging has improved health care:
• Image-guided biopsies allow doctors to remove...