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Multi-Modality Diagnosis: It’s Advantage in Early and Confirmed Diagnosis
Multi-Modality Diagnostics
In diagnostics, we colloquially refer to a set of imaging technologies that target to achieve the same result with similar principles as a “modality”.
At House Of Diagnostics, we have learned that having a broad set of modalities under our hubs yields a significant benefit for patient welfare. You see, many a time, an abnormality observed in blood tests may not necessarily be a bad thing, but simply a person-to-person variance which sets you apart. For example, a mildly elevated Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test may indicate an abnormality but doesn’t necessarily indicate a Carcinoma or Cancer. But as a screening tool, it is a greatly beneficial indicator to the clinicians and medical community, to be able to point towards a need for further investigation. However when an elevated or raised blood test Total PSA level is correlated with a Free PSA blood test, Ultrasound for Prostate, or more detailed tests such as Multi-Parametric Prostate MRI with Contrast or even a PSMA PET-CT Scan, the synergistic benefits (which make 1+1 = 11) in diagnostic excellence truly emerge. Similarly, a simple breast lump observed on a Digital Screening Mammogram need not necessarily indicate cancer, it is only when supplemented with blood tests such as Ca15.3 or an FDG PET-CT Scan for cancer uptake or an FNAC can a carcinoma be truly appreciated or diagnosed by clinicians.
Multimodality Diagnostics is becoming a core concept in the healthcare industry where the combination of tests and images of several different types of data are acquired using different methods and physical techniques. Advances in molecular technologies are constantly breaking the traditional latitude of practice for several medical experts. New areas of medicine are actively integrating the synergies of pathology and radiology. Moreover, Multimodality imaging tests such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image), CT (Computed Tomography) or PET (Positron Emission Tomography) or a contribution of these play a highly important role in identifying the problem quickly and effectively.
Integration is the key concept in assisting physicians to assemble information and proceed with an evaluation to progress with a diagnosis. One modality such as blood tests when complemented by another modality such as radiology imaging or biopsy are highly comprehensive in assembling patient data and information to curate higher accuracy in the diagnosis. Multimodality diagnostics provide a better solution to overcome the limitations of independent techniques.
With expanding the knowledge base and advanced molecular information, the evaluation of the patient is required to incorporate the findings of other medical specialists with clinical correlation. In the majority of leading centers in Delhi and NCR, it is important to assist with such multimodality diagnostics. In the active catalyst of synergies, the motivation of having different medical specialties and interaction between them supports an accurate diagnosis. Enclosing a radiology, nuclear medicine and pathology lab service under one roof assists in patient deliverables and provides a better review for the physician.
When a finding is made on a blood test, it may be able to pick up an anomaly but additional imaging diagnosis may further complement and confirm the opinion. It can be more successfully evaluated. For example, a mildly enlarged prostate may not be such a big problem or concern depending on the patient. But when combined with an elevated total PSA and Free PSA blood test or a Multiparametric MRI prostate reading, it may lead to a more comprehensive result. However, please note, diagnostic results must be clinically correlated and confirmed. Moreover, the patients’ physician will always be able to understand the observations in more detail as per the clinical history.
[Link to Free PSA Test]
Breast screening mammography may detect lumps or specks which may be caused by cancer, fatty cells or other conditions. But the results need to be clinically correlated to find out if the abnormal cells are present. The physician will usually order for additional tests to be certainly such as an ultrasound or MRI. In case the mass is solid, further findings will be required and the patient may be recommended a core biopsy to check the presence of cancer.
A multimodality approach is necessary to characterize a comprehensive evaluation for the patients. Treatments have moved towards a complementary modality structure and have created a synergistic benefit. Patients should, therefore, be well aware of why certain tests are being performed in such an order and why it is beneficial to them.
HOD offers multimodality diagnostics all under one roof at all on major centers.
Diagnostic and Pathology Tests Available At House of Diagnostics (HOD).
