Diagnostics & Pathology Laboratory - HOD

A Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography ( PET CT scan ) is a nuclear medicine-based imaging modality that can help evaluate diseases like cancer, brain disorders, and heart diseases. It basically combines two different imaging techniques – PET and CT scans and delivers highly detailed 3-dimensional color images of what is happening in a patient’s body at the molecular and cellular level. In this imaging procedure, a radioactive dye is injected or swallowed into the bloodstream, which emits gamma rays, and helps differentiate between healthy and diseased cells. A PET scan helps study the metabolism of a particular organ or tissue to get information regarding the physiology (functionality) and anatomy (structure) of the organ or tissue. This procedure is most commonly used by oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons. This scan helps evaluate patients with cancers such as thyroid, prostate, lung, breast, colon and lymph nodes. It is also suggested for patien...

FibroScan testing is a quick and non-invasive imaging technique that measures liver scarring or fibrosis caused by various liver diseases. In addition to evaluating fibrosis, it also quantifies the amount of fat in the liver. The imaging modality offers a non-surgical alternative to the traditional liver biopsy to assess liver damage. How is a FibroScan performed? Before the test, your healthcare provider may ask you about your medical history, including any allergies or medications you are taking. During the procedure, the patient is asked to lie on their back (supine position), and the probe is placed on the skin over the liver area, typically on the right side of the ribcage. The probe sends out sound waves that passes through the skin and bounce back from the liver. These vibrations create a mild sensation but it is generally painless. The sound waves penetrate the skin, tissues and muscles of the abdomen to assess liver stiffness. Depending on how fast the ultrasound waves pass th...

The liver is an essential and complex organ in the human body that performs many different jobs including metabolism, immunity, digestion, detoxification, and vitamin storage. It provides energy to nearly every organ in the body and interacts with the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems. Besides storing iron and copper, it also assists in hematology with clotting factors and protein synthesis. Moreover, Kupffer and pit cells in the liver act as a first line of defense against pathogens, providing immune surveillance and cytotoxicity.  The doctor may prescribe liver function tests (LFT) to assess the liver’s health and evaluate any damage. These tests find out certain proteins and enzymes in the blood which helps determine inflammation, damage, or diseases affeMost commonly used liver function tests:cting the liver, such as cirrhosis, fatty liver disease and hepatitis. For instance, while acute hepatitis is the sudden inflammation of the liver, chronic hepatitis happens when infl...

Positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the most promising medical imaging technologies currently available in the medical world. It uses a small amount of radioactive tracers or radiopharmaceuticals to visualise molecular processes in the body. By measuring changes at the cellular level, the modality may help evaluate the disease before other imaging tests. It is an accurate imaging method that helps in the diagnosis, staging, restaging, and therapeutic monitoring of many common cancers. What is PET/CT scanning? PET imaging or a PET scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. It combines computed tomography (CT) and PET in one single imaging method and presents results that help doctors in making treatment decisions. While the PET image reveals the functioning of the body, the CT image tells about the anatomic structure. If you live in Delhi-NCR, you can do an online search to know PET CT scan price . How does a PET-CT work? For this test, a PET radiotracer 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose...

Ultrasound, also known as sonography, is a non-invasive imaging test that is widely used for diagnostic purposes. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of internal organs and soft tissues, such as blood vessels. The images are created by a computer that captures and processes the echoes returning from the body. Unlike x-rays and MRIs, ultrasound does not use radiation, making it completely safe and a commonly used diagnosis procedure. Why do you need an ultrasound scan? Your doctor may recommend ultrasound to have an overview of the body area they will be checking. There are many reasons why you may need to take up ultrasound scan. The two major types of ultrasounds recommended include: Pregnancy ultrasound Doctors may recommend it for reasons such as: Confirm the pregnancy Assess the baby’s size and position Find out if you are pregnant with more than one baby Estimate gestational age or duration of the pregnancy Screen for Down syndrome Evaluate birth ...

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a non-invasive imaging method that uses powerful magnets, radio waves and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body. These scanners are often used to examine various body parts, such as joints, breasts, heart, blood vessels, brain, spinal cord, bones, and internal organs, to detect anomalies and other conditions. How MRIs work MRI scanners use powerful magnets to align water protons in the body with the magnetic field during the scan. During the realignment, protons emit radio signals that get translated into detailed images by a computer. These images provide crucial insights into the body area being examined. Contrast vs. non-contrast MRI: To create better images, sometimes the doctor may order a contrast scan. For this, a contrast dye, typically gadolinium, is injected before an MRI to enhance the visibility of internal structures or detect subtle tissue variations. The injectable dye helps highlight areas of inflammati...