Gynae and Obs
14th January 2023, NIA Diagnostic Imaging
Despite the availability of modalities such as mammography, MRI and galactography, ultrasound still has a role in breast imaging. Ultrasound provides high resolution portrayal of normal and abnormal breast parenchyma as well as clear depiction of lactiferous ducts and the terminal duct-lobular unit where masses can form (4). This is particularly useful when investigating women presenting with a bloody nipple discharge.…
13th Decemer 2022, NIA Diagnostic Imaging
Pelvic pain is a common presentation in general practice. It becomes a little bit more complicated if that occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. To the usual gynaecological and non-gynaecological causes, we have to add the other obstetric causes of pelvic pain. The obstetric causes during the 1st trimester can be a serious concern and should be treated as an urgent matter.…
13th November 2022, Dr Chee L Khoo
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one many factors that changes future generations. Maternal overnutrition, and excessive gestational weight gain with or without GDM lead to foetal overgrowth, and “programs” the offspring with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in childhood and adulthood. The aetiology of obesity and T2D is multifactorial and involves complex interactions between genetic, environmental and behavioural factors.…
14th September 2022, Dr Chee L Khoo
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) will affect up to 1 in 3 of our patients with diabetes. It is a sad statistic but it’s even more scary in women. In fact, DR is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in women of reproductive age. Much of the risk can be minimised or prevented in primary care.…
13rd September 2022, NIA Diagnostic Imaging
Mammography remains the gold standard imaging technique in early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. It forms part of the triple test approach to the investigation of new breast symptoms. (Cancer Australia 2021). In the past, there used to be limitations with conventional mammography’s sensitivity and specificity in detecting abnormalities in young female breasts due to the patients’ mostly dense breast tissues.…
11th June 2022, Dr Chee L Khoo
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) will affect at least 1 in 3 of our patients with diabetes. Did you know that DR is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in women of reproductive age? Further, the progression continues up to 12 months postpartum. Type 1 diabetes is on the increase and young type 2 diabetes is definitely on the rise.…
31st May 2022, Spectrum Medical Imaging
We know that different women have different breast types. Some breasts are more dense than others. Some breasts have more adipose tissues than others. Obviously, with age, those features will change. Thus, the ideal imaging techniques will be different and will depend on the breast type, the age and the underlying risk of the woman, amongst many other things.…
30th April 2022, Spectrum Medical Imaging
Women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy have two options for screening for structural abnormalities and chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s, Edwards or Patau syndrome. While it not necessary to perform both, we need to know which test exclude what abnormalities. Spectrum offers both and we need to understand both tests for that we can discuss them with our patients.…
18th August 2021, Spectrum Medical Imaging
We were all taught that we should always see it for ourselves and trust no one when it comes to history and examination. We cannot rely on third party information but sometimes, we have to. When we have to refer patient for imaging, we need to ensure that we can trust the provider and have faith in their experience and quality of reporting.…
7th August 2021, Dr Chee L Khoo
It is always difficult for pregnant women to decide whether to have the Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Understandably, they are concerned about the safety of the vaccine administered during pregnancy. When the pandemic started last year, there were some studies which suggest that Covid-19 during pregnancy is associated with “significantly” poor maternal and offspring outcomes.…
27th June 2021, Spectrum Medical Imaging
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which is also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. Although invasive ductal carcinoma can affect women at any age, it is more common as women grow older and can also affect men.
A 29-year-old female presented with a palpable lump in the left breast.…
12th June 2021, Dr Chee L Khoo
More than 50 years ago, there were reports of association between anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and birth defects (1). We now have newer AEDs including carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin and levetiracetam. In 2016, the UK banned valproate use in women who are not in a pregnancy prevention programme. Despite that, sodium valproate is still widely prescribed in many countries to women of childbearing age.…