Iowa Radiology Blog

Diane Campbell

Diane Campbell works as a copywriter and as a teacher specializing in language arts. She attended the University of Iowa, where she earned a B.A. in English in 1988 and a J.D. in 1992. She began studying education in 1999 at the Eugene Waldorf School, where she earned a teaching certificate in 2001. After spending several years at home to raise her children, she returned to Pacific University and earned a Masters of Art in Teaching in 2008.

Recent Posts

Brain MRI—Why, How, & What It Can Tell Your Doctor

Apr 27, 2023 11:00:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

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.

 

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Topics: MRI scan

What’s the difference between CT and MRI?

Jan 2, 2023 10:07:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

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.

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Topics: CT scan, breast MRI

How Do I Know If I’m Infertile?

Dec 7, 2022 10:40:25 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

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.

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Topics: Iowa Radiology, sonohysterogram, hysterosalpingogram

Life After Menopause: Coping with The Effects of Low Estrogen

Nov 5, 2022 10:15:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

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. 

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Topics: Iowa Radiology, DEXA, CT cardiac calcium scoring

Should I Be Shielded During Radiologic Imaging?

Oct 11, 2022 9:12:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

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.

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Topics: Iowa Radiology, health tips, MRI scan

Painful Periods May Be a Sign of a Bigger Problem

Aug 17, 2022 12:45:00 PM

Posted by Diane Campbell

If you’ve been suffering with painful periods, you might think your pain is a natural part of menstruation. While menstrual cramps are normal, excessive pain during menstruation can be a sign that something more is going on. Below, we discuss some of the conditions that can cause unusually painful periods.

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Prostate Cancer and PSA Follow-Up

Aug 3, 2022 1:21:00 PM

Posted by Diane Campbell

Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is very common. It affects approximately 13% and causes early death in 2% to 3% of men in the U.S. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, with 60% of cases occurring in men 65 and older. While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, men with African ancestry are diagnosed more frequently, at younger ages, and with higher-risk cancers than others. Men whose father or brother had prostate cancer are at more than twice the normal risk.

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Spinal Compression Fractures - Causes and Treatments

Jun 6, 2022 10:54:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

Spinal compression fractures affect nearly one million people in the U.S. each year. They are most common in older people, especially women who are past menopause. Experts estimate that a quarter of women over fifty and nearly half of all people ( including 40% of women ) over eighty have experienced a spinal compression fracture.
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Topics: vertebroplasty & kyphoplasty

What Should Cancer Patients Know About Cryoablation?

Apr 25, 2022 3:04:00 PM

Posted by Diane Campbell

Physicians have long recognized the value of cold for reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Over time, they found that it is also an effective way to destroy specific tissues in a targeted way, a process called cryosurgery or cryoablation. Cryosurgery has been used since the 19th century to treat a variety of conditions, including warts, shingles, boils, and tumors. Today, cryoablation shows growing potential for the successful treatment of a variety of cancers as well as precancerous conditions.

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Lung Screening Guideline Changes in 2022

Apr 1, 2022 11:00:00 AM

Posted by Diane Campbell

Expanded Medicare Coverage

In February of this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it was expanding coverage for an early lung cancer detection procedure known as low-dose CT lung screening (LDCTLS). In its official statement, the agency said the move was aimed at improving outcomes for patients with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the US. This screening procedure, which can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, is now accessible to more Medicare recipients, including those who are younger and those who have smoked less over their lifetimes.

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Topics: CT scan

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