Introduction:
Radiology involves imaging tests that help doctors observe what is happening inside the body by utilizing various forms of energy like X-rays, radioactive particles, sound waves, or magnetic fields through the body. The body tissues alter the energy patterns and provide an image. These images show how the insides look and work so that healthcare providers might notice alterations that may be caused by diseases like cancer.
What Are the Different Types of Imaging Tests Used in Cancer Diagnosis and Management?
Various scans are used to produce images for diagnosing cancer inside the body. Certain types of imaging tests include:
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
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Computed tomography (CT) scan.
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Breast MRI.
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Mammography.
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X-rays and other radiographic tests.
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Nuclear medicine scans (bone, positron emission, thyroid, gallium scans).
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Ultrasound.
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The tests recommended by the health care provider might depend on several factors, like:
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The location of the tumor and its type. Certain tests are considered better for certain parts of the body.
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Whether a biopsy or tissue sample is required.
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Age and sex.
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Overall health.
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The balance between potential side effects and the expected benefits.
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Expenses that a patient can afford.
What Is the Role of Radiological Imaging Tests For Cancer Diagnosis and Management?
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Imaging techniques are usually used to detect cancer in its early stages, and a person shows no symptoms. This is known as early detection or cancer screening tests.
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Radiological tests might diagnose a mass or lump if a person has symptoms. These diagnostic tests help determine the symptoms of cancer or some other type of disease.
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Radiology can show the tumor's location, even deep inside the body.
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Sometimes, they might help to diagnose whether it is a tumor or cancer. It helps healthcare providers decide if a biopsy is required or not.
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Radiological imaging also helps find out the stage of the cancer.
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The imaging technique shows if a tumor has reduced size, grown after treatment, or stayed the same.
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They help plan treatment, like showing where radiation therapy beams must be focused.
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It gives the cancer care team an idea about the effectiveness of the treatment.
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Radiological imaging also helps to find out if cancer has recurred after treatment.
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Radiological imaging tests constitute a part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Complete cancer management also includes:
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Medical history (questions about the symptoms and risk factors).
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A physical examination.
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A blood test or other laboratory tests.
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The healthcare providers might plan X-rays or other imaging tests before initiating the treatment. These images are used to track the progression of cancer during treatment. These X-rays are called baseline studies as they provide a picture of the cancer when it started. They can be compared with the X-rays taken over time during treatment.
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Imaging tests are often very helpful; however, they have certain limitations. For instance, in most cases, radiological tests alone cannot always show the changes caused by cancer. Imaging tests can help identify large groups of cancer cells, but a single or few cancer cells cannot be detected. In addition, it takes millions of cells to reflect in an imaging test. This is why treatment might continue even after cancer cells are not seen on an imaging test. The goal is to detect any surviving cancer cells. The cancer cells might grow and, after some time, become a tumor large enough to cause problems and be detected on an imaging test. Sometimes, the imaging tests might also show something that resembles cancer; however, further tests or a biopsy show that it is not cancer.
What Are Imaging Tests Used For?
In X-rays, radiation is used to produce images of bones and organs. They are frequently used to look for fractured bones, infections, and lung issues. A CT scan can detect cancer, infections, and problems in the chest, abdomen, and brain by providing finely detailed cross-sectional images of the body. An MRI helps identify nervous system issues by creating finely detailed images of soft tissues like the brain and muscles using radio waves and magnets.
Using sound waves, ultrasound produces images of the organs, helps monitor a developing baby's growth throughout pregnancy, and examines the kidneys and liver. PET scans are essential in finding the disease of cancer and assessing the efficacy of treatment by displaying the health of the organs. Bone scans aid in identifying bone by highlighting regions with varying levels of bone activity.
Who Performs These Imaging Tests and Who Interprets Them?
A doctor, a certified technologist, or other health professionals can perform an imaging test. The examinations may be conducted in a medical facility, imaging center, hospital, or physician's office. Imaging studies are typically performed in larger hospitals' nuclear medicine or radiology departments.
Radiological imaging tests are best performed by a radiologist (specialist in imaging techniques). They are skilled in interpreting the images. The radiologist usually reports the findings and forwards the report to the doctor. A copy of this report will become part of the patient records. These reports further benefit other doctors (oncologists, surgeons, etc.).
What Is the 4R Approach?
The 4R approach was initially proposed to optimize teamwork and proper care delivery during cancer treatment. This approach can be applied to the diagnosis of cancer as well. The 4R approach aims at providing care for every cancer patient as a project. The 4R is a multilevel intervention supported by complex cancer care delivery research (CCDR), the science team, and lessons learned from other models, like survivorship care planning. After the initial consultations and treatment plan development, the patient can be referred to surgery or medical oncology. This model helps radiologists develop value-added services and solidify the importance of radiology in the ever-evolving healthcare environment.
For implementing 4R at cancer care initiation, it is necessary to take the following steps:
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Improve radiology training with essential clinical knowledge.
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Amend the radiology practice model to encourage patient interaction and teamwork.
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Development of 4R content and local adaptation approaches.
Conclusion:
Radiologists want to improve patient interaction, experience, and engagement as a part of health reform. Patient engagement needs active partnerships between health providers and the patient, along with rigorous teamwork. Patient and care team interaction is vital during cancer diagnosis and care initiation. However, these are complicated by various interdependent consultations and care events over a short duration. Radiology usually acts as the patient's entry point into the cancer care system, particularly in the case of breast cancer. It plays the essential value-adding role of increasing patient and team engagement during cancer care initiation.
