Articles related to MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

Results of a MEDLINE review highlight numerous studies across different cancer types indicating that ctDNA-based MRD detection predicts recurrence with high sensitivity and specificity, and with lead times that precede standard imaging by up to 12 months.

Capsule endoscopy, also known as wireless capsule endoscopy or video capsule endoscopy, is a noninvasive procedure that uses a swallowed capsule-shaped miniature camera for direct visual and diagnostic evaluation of various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Although originally intended as a tool to examine the small intestine, which is mostly beyond the reach of conventional endoscopy, capsule endoscopy is now being used to examine the entire length of the GI tract.

Of the nearly 83,000 mammograms taken among nearly 36,000 women screened, 1 in 7 cases was determined to be overdiagnosed. The information revealed in this Annals of Internal Medicine study clarifies the risk for breast cancer overdiagnosis in contemporary screening practice and should facilitate shared and informed decision making about mammography screening.

Improvements in brain imaging and a deeper understanding of the natural history of acute cerebral ischemia are erasing the concept of “transient ischemic attack” (TIA). The better imaging is revealing that symptomatic ischemic attacks – even those with quite transient signs and symptoms – leave residual damage to the brain.