Blog Archive

What is Alzheimer? Alzheimer can be detected and treated if possible. When detected at an early stage in active patients, any intervention that slows down the advancement of the condition holds the promise of extending a person's productive life and postponing the onset of dementia. Provides access to a pathway...

With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in men. It affects 13 out of every 100 men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Out of the 13% of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, an estimated 2-3...

What are neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)? Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a group of rare tumors that originate in neuroendocrine cells. These tumors can also be referred to as neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) or neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Depending on the type of cell in which the cancer originates, there are various types of...

About 20 million Americans currently have some form of thyroid disease. If you’re one of those 20 million people, you might be wondering how nuclear medicine 一 particularly radioisotope therapy 一 can play a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment.  The answer lies in the powerful capabilities of nuclear medicine...

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans 一 which rely on a radioactive tracer to highlight both typical and atypical metabolic activity 一 can show the most minuscule changes in your organs and tissues. Because of this, PET scans can often reveal important information about a disease, including cancer, before other tests...

While most people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy, the reality is that ultrasounds are used in a variety of ways and settings. Ultrasounds are noninvasive imaging procedures that use sound waves to create real-time images of the soft structures inside your body. Led by Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand, our team here at...

Joint and bone pain can significantly impact your daily life, making even the simplest tasks a challenge. Whether you're experiencing occasional discomfort or chronic pain, understanding the underlying causes can help you find relief and improve your quality of life.  Because accurate imaging is key to an accurate diagnosis, our...

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a rare type of cancer that originate in the neuroendocrine cells, which are responsible for producing hormones. These tumors can occur in various parts of the body, including the lungs, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.  Led by Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand, our team offers radioisotope therapy...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to produce detailed images of the inside of your body. An MRI produces clear images using a powerful computer, magnetic energy, and radio waves, but they don’t use X-ray technology. They are often used to help diagnose certain conditions, including strokes,...

X-ray technology can reveal a plethora of information about the health of your bones. X-rays are most known for their ability to confirm a broken bone, but what if X-rays can be used to help detect weakened bones before they ever break? With a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, that’s...

Traditional X-rays are film-based, and they’re the oldest form of X-ray technology. Since their invention in 1865, X-rays have been used to confirm diagnoses such as fractures, arthritis, various types of cancer, lung infections, and osteoporosis. To obtain these images, a radiographer using traditional X-ray techniques positioned your body between...

Thyroid disorder and osteoporosis may seem like two completely unrelated conditions. After all, thyroid disorders 一 such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism 一 pertain to a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, while osteoporosis is a condition marked by brittle and weak bones. Surprisingly, the two conditions share a connection: Thyroid disorders...

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that uses radioactive substances (radiopharmaceuticals) for specific purposes, e.g., to take detailed images of internal structures. These images can be used to assess bodily functions and to diagnose conditions and treat diseases.  Under the guidance of Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand, our expert team here...

Computed tomography  一 referred to as either a CT scan, a computerized axial tomography, or simple a CAT scan 一 is a specialized imaging test. CAT scans take two-dimensional (2D) projected images of the part of your body being examined, whether that’s soft tissues, organs, or blood vessels. Because CAT scans...

Your deep veins, one of the three types of veins in your circulatory system, play a big role in pushing blood back to your heart. Deep veins are surrounded by muscle and bone, but unfortunately, these blood vessels aren’t immune to blood clots.  When this happens, it’s called a deep vein...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides highly detailed images of soft tissues using computer-generated radiofrequency waves combined with a strong magnetic field. These images are often indispensable when it comes to diagnosing and treatment planning for many types of conditions, including cancers, strokes, vascular diseases, and musculoskeletal injuries. While MRIs don’t hurt,...

There are many reasons why you might need an X-ray. Here at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center, Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand and our team rely on digital X-rays to detect abnormal bone growth, tumors, broken bones, or infections. Diagnostic X-ray imaging may be used to diagnose other conditions, including osteoporosis. For...

Computerized axial tomography 一 often referred to as either a CAT scan or a CT scan 一 is a type of diagnostic imaging that takes a series of X-ray images. Unlike a traditional X-ray, however, a CT scan produces a series of cross-sectional images. When these layers, or “slices,” are stacked together,...

Contrast agents, medical imaging contrast, and contrast materials. These are suitable names for the contrast dye that’s used in medical imaging. You may be starting to explore what contrast dyes after you’ve been referred for an X-ray with contrast or a CT scan with contrast, and you might see many of these names...

Your aorta is your longest artery that transports oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Your aorta runs from your heart’s left chamber down through your abdomen, where it branches off. If the walls of your aorta become weakened or damaged, they can balloon out. This bulge in...

Bones are living tissue that give your body structure, and while you have 206 bones, you might not pay much attention to them unless you are injured. Fractures can be the result of an accident, but bones can also grow weak from conditions like osteoporosis. The good news is that there are...

Your circulatory system is responsible for carrying your blood throughout your entire body, delivering oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues, and taking oxygen-poor blood back to get reoxygenated.  If your blood flow is compromised, it can contribute to unwanted complications, such as an increased risk of heart attacks, peripheral artery...

All men are at risk of developing prostate cancer, and it affects up to 13 out of every 100 American males. Some symptoms of prostate cancer can overlap with symptoms of other conditions. Pain when urinating, pain in the back, and difficulty urinating are all symptoms of many different conditions, including prostate...

If you’ve been referred for an X-ray here at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center in Houston, Texas, you might wonder if you’ll receive a digital X-ray or a traditional film-based X-ray. Our team is happy to offer the most cutting-edge diagnostic imaging, and that includes digital X-rays. Below, Dr....

Celiac disease affects an estimated two million Americans and develops when your immune system reacts to gluten and damages the lining of your small intestine. As an intestinal disorder, it makes sense that celiac disease causes a plethora of GI symptoms, including diarrhea, gas, and bloating. Unfortunately, the complications of...

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of diagnostic imaging scan that is often included in diagnostic testing for cancer. If you or a loved one are scheduled for an upcoming PET scan at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center in Houston, Texas, you might wonder what the scan will...

Diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computerized tomography (CT), are invaluable for the visual images they create. These images are used to help confirm diagnoses and monitor the progression of illnesses and the progress of treatments. We know there is a time and place...

If you suspect you have a brain tumor, you’ll need a neurological exam and testing to confirm a diagnosis. Imaging tests play a big role in providing images of your brain as well as any tumors. Here at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand...

Nuclear medicine scans 一 also called nuclear imaging or nuclear scans 一 refer to types of medical scans that detect tumors and show where (or if) cancerous tumors have spread throughout the body.  Here at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center, Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand and our expert team offer several...

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the two most well-known cancer treatments. Just like there are many types of chemotherapy, there are many types of radiation therapy too. Internal radiotherapy is a cancer treatment in which a radioactive material is put inside your body to treat cancer. Radioisotope therapy is a...