Early Diagnosis

The remarkable vision that medical imaging provides physicians has made imaging an essential tool for virtually all major medical conditions and diseases. It is a standard of modern medical care for cancer, stroke, heart disease, trauma, and neurological conditions, among others. It is not surprising that the New England Journal of Medicine called medical imaging one of the top 11 innovations of the past 1,000 years-ranking it alongside such milestones as the discovery of anesthesia and antibiotics.

Medical imaging often detects critical illnesses at their most curable stage—when they are also least costly to treat.

• CT scans can detect 80 percent of lung cancer at its initial and most treatable stage. The result: a much greater chance that lives will be saved.
• Mammography identifies breast cancer one to three years before a lump can be felt, thereby saving lives.
• Virtual colonoscopy using 3-D imaging identifies colorectal cancer when it is still highly treatable-and it's faster and more comfortable than traditional exams.
• Molecular imaging holds the promise of identifying disease at the earliest possible time, even before symptoms are apparent.

Medical imaging is one of the essential tools of modern medicine.

• Physicians rate CT and MRI as the most important medical innovations in providing quality care for their patients.
• The New England Journal of Medicine called imaging one of the top 11 innovations of the past 1,000 years.
• Medical specialty societies include imaging as a central element of provider practice guidelines.
• The federal government advisory group on preventive services recommends medical imaging for breast cancer, abdominal aneurysms, and colorectal cancer.
• The RAND Corporation says Americans receive only half the recommended care they should, including imaging for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and heart disease.

For more information, go to www.medicalimaging.org.