Iowa Radiology Blog

A brain MRI (also known as a head MRI) allows a radiologist to examine not only the brain itself but also the bones of the skull, the optic and cranial nerves, the blood vessels connected to the brain, the muscles, fat, and connective tissue in the head, and the structures of the inner ear. As a result, a brain MRI can help identify a host of issues, including structural abnormalities, inflammation, masses, fluid leakage, or damage to nerve fibers. In this article, we’ll examine why your doctor might order a brain MRI, how it’s done, and what it can reveal.

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 10.2 million people over the age of 50 in the US. The condition causes bone fragility due to deterioration and loss of density, resulting in fractures for approximately half of women and a third of men. While breaking a bone might not seem like a big deal when you’re young, it can be devastating for older adults. Research suggests that after sustaining a fracture due to osteoporosis, 10% of patients suffer another fracture and 20% die within one year. Within five years, more than 30% experience an additional fracture, and mortality risk is three to four times higher than normal.[1]

A chest X-ray can provide valuable information about the condition of your heart, lungs, and surrounding structures. Doctors often order them to investigate respiratory or cardiac symptoms or to check for damage after a chest injury. Chest X-rays are also useful for monitoring progress after surgery to the chest and ensuring proper placement of medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators. Below are some of the features radiologists examine in chest X-rays and the conditions they may shed light on. Depending on the results, a chest X-ray may be followed up with additional imaging such as MRI, ultrasound, or CT.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common type of cancer in the U.S.[1] One of the reasons lung cancer is so deadly is that symptoms often don’t appear until the disease has reached an advanced stage. Fortunately, low-dose CT lung screening (LDCTLS) has emerged as an effective screening tool to detect early-stage lung cancers, increasing many patients’ chances of survival. While LDCTLS isn’t appropriate for everyone, it has the potential to save lives among high-risk patients.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently used by medical professionals to visualize internal body structures. Both technologies are capable of producing detailed three-dimensional images, and both play vital roles in patient care. While CT uses X-rays to create images, MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves. Which type of imaging a doctor chooses depends on what information they’re seeking, how soon they need it, and the patient’s personal medical history. Below are a few considerations doctors take into account when deciding which to use.

Both men and women experience pelvic pain for a variety of reasons. In many cases, pelvic pain goes away on its own. Sometimes, however, it can be a sign of a serious or chronic condition that needs treatment. Below are some of the most common reasons for pelvic pain as well as signs that it’s time to see a doctor.

When should mammography begin?

In recent years, differing guidelines for mammography screening offered by various groups of medical professionals have sparked confusion among patients. With a range of professional opinions, it can be hard to discern which advice is best. When weighing advice on breast cancer screening, it makes sense to look to leaders in breast cancer detection and treatment.

Fertility Changes Over Time

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant, you may be surprised at how long it can take. While women tend to be most fertile in their 20s, many in the U.S. have been waiting longer to start their families. Census data show that the median maternal age at birth rose to 30 in 2019, up from 27 in 1990. Births to women in their 20s fell dramatically during that period, while births to women aged 30–44 rose even more sharply.

Menopause and the years of shifting hormone levels that lead up to it (called perimenopause) cause changes in the body that affect both mental and physical health. Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone influence not just the reproductive system but also the nervous system, urinary tract, circulatory system, bones, muscles, hair, skin, and more. 

If you’ve had X-ray imaging done in the past, you may remember having a lead shield laid over part of your body to prevent radiation from reaching areas that are not being imaged. In the 1950s, radiologists began shielding patients’ reproductive organs as well as the wombs of pregnant patients because they were unsure what long-term effects X-ray exposure may have on reproductive cells or a developing fetus.