5 ms·

You're describing a problem with the doctors, not a problem with the scans. I'm curious to understand the real motivation to avoid information. Is it something

You're describing a problem with the doctors, not a problem with the scans. I'm curious to understand the real motivation to avoid information. Is it something in the system, litigation risk? There are many ways to deal with incidentalomas. If full body scans were more widespread, maybe doctors would have confidence to deal with them properly. For example, watching them over time.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
canada_dry 7y ago
> watching them over time In my mind this is the key... a way to frequently and conveniently do a full body scan so that anomalies can be detected via the delta. Scanning and detection is a problem that likely could be tackled via machine learning. I'm hoping it's not too long before a method is developed where a low res MRI like scan is feasible at home (e.g. using radio or ultrasound). Done on a regular basis the system could detect anomalies like the appearance or enlargement of a growth inside the body.
- koboll 7y ago
  There is a point at which the radiation you're receiving from regular scans becomes harmful enough to outweigh the benefits of early detection.
  - darkpuma 7y ago
    MRI scans do not irradiate people.
- petschge 7y ago
  Obtaining the delta from two different images is actually non trivial. And contrary to what HN thinks, not every problem is trivially solved by machine learning. Small point aside: an ultrasound scan -- even if it was every feasible at home -- would not be an MRI. MRI means you use the spin echo and relaxation of nucleii (mostly protons for medical MRI). It is not a generic word for "please give me a 3d image". Words have meanings, especially when they are technical jargon, and it is important to not dilute that if we want to be able to communicate efficiently and effectively. Also: technology that is more mature than software tends to improve at a more measured pace, as all but the hardest breakthroughs have been obtained already. It is therefore unlikely that you will be able to replace a 10 million dollar machine by things in your home any time soon.
  - Aeolun 7y ago
    You are exaggerating just a bit: https://info.blockimaging.com/bid/92623/mri-machine-cost-and-price-guide https://info.blockimaging.com/bid/92623/mri-machine-cost-and... Still not something you’d have in your home, but not nearly 10M dollars. Maybe you can have one in your community medical center?
    - petschge 7y ago
      These are old MRIs using low fields and limited slew rates. They will give you poor resolution, limited dynamic range and long scan durations (Which makes is even harder to avoid artefacts from patient motion). Check the price tags on new 3T or even 7T machines and they come close to the 10M I mentioned.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

canada_dry 7y ago

> watching them over time In my mind this is the key... a way to frequently and conveniently do a full body scan so that anomalies can be detected via the delta. Scanning and detection is a problem that likely could be tackled via machine learning. I'm hoping it's not too long before a method is developed where a low res MRI like scan is feasible at home (e.g. using radio or ultrasound). Done on a regular basis the system could detect anomalies like the appearance or enlargement of a growth inside the body.

koboll 7y ago
There is a point at which the radiation you're receiving from regular scans becomes harmful enough to outweigh the benefits of early detection.
- darkpuma 7y ago
  MRI scans do not irradiate people.
petschge 7y ago
Obtaining the delta from two different images is actually non trivial. And contrary to what HN thinks, not every problem is trivially solved by machine learning. Small point aside: an ultrasound scan -- even if it was every feasible at home -- would not be an MRI. MRI means you use the spin echo and relaxation of nucleii (mostly protons for medical MRI). It is not a generic word for "please give me a 3d image". Words have meanings, especially when they are technical jargon, and it is important to not dilute that if we want to be able to communicate efficiently and effectively. Also: technology that is more mature than software tends to improve at a more measured pace, as all but the hardest breakthroughs have been obtained already. It is therefore unlikely that you will be able to replace a 10 million dollar machine by things in your home any time soon.
- Aeolun 7y ago
  You are exaggerating just a bit: https://info.blockimaging.com/bid/92623/mri-machine-cost-and-price-guide https://info.blockimaging.com/bid/92623/mri-machine-cost-and... Still not something you’d have in your home, but not nearly 10M dollars. Maybe you can have one in your community medical center?
  - petschge 7y ago
    These are old MRIs using low fields and limited slew rates. They will give you poor resolution, limited dynamic range and long scan durations (Which makes is even harder to avoid artefacts from patient motion). Check the price tags on new 3T or even 7T machines and they come close to the 10M I mentioned.