Unit 21
Introduction
In this assignment, I will be analysing two case studies in order to compare the procedures that are
best suited to diagnose and treat the patient's specific illness by discussing the uses and production
of the procedures and how they are conducted. I will also compare the advantages and
disadvantages of the techniques and discuss why these techniques were chosen over other medical
procedures. I will state the dangers of the procedures and discuss whether these risks out way the
possible benefits for the patients.
Case Study 1: Oesophageal cancer Case Study 2: Breast Cancer
Diagnosis Diagnosis
Ionising: CT scan Ionising: CT scan/ Mammogram
Non-Ionising: MRI scan Non-Ionising: MRI scan
Treatment Treatment
Ionising: Radiotherapy Ionising: Chemotherapy
Non-ionising: Laser surgery Non-ionising: Mastectomy using laser
Case Study 1: Oesophageal cancer
A 63-year-old man reports to his GP that he has been having difficulty swallowing, pain in his
upper body and persistent heart burn daily for the past three weeks. These symptoms have
caused him extreme weight loss in the past month without any alteration of his diet. This man had
a BMI of 38, meaning he was obese but has now been reduced to a BMI of 25. He has two beers
daily along with an average of 20 cigarettes a day and has done this for the past 30 years.
These symptoms were worrying due the drastic decline over a short period
of time. Due to this, the GP referred the patient to a hospital specialist. This
specialist was a gastro, which is a specialist in conditions affecting the
digestive system. After speaking to the gastro, the man was sent for an
endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is
examined by an instrument called an endoscope. The endoscope, which is a
long, thin tube that has a light on the end to send images of the internal
body to a screen to analyse, is inserted through an opening in your body. In
this case, it is inserted into his mouth after he is a given a local anaesthetic
to numb his throat. An endoscopy is a beneficial treatment as it is a quick procedure which allows
the analysis of the internal structure of the body with a very low risk of complications as new
incisions are made. Small samples of tissue are also removed from your oesophagus so they can be
checked under a microscope for cancer. This procedure took around 40 minutes. However, the
patient had to stay within the hospital for around 2 hours after this procedure so the sedative could
wear off. A relative came to take the patient home because of the sedation.
Diagnosis
A few days later, the results of this endoscopy were sent to the patients GP and analysed. Due to the
results of the tests, the GP can conclude that the patient has oesophageal cancer and has a large
tumour in the oesophagus causing narrowing of this tube. Due to this, the GP referred the patient to
have further tests in order to determine how far the cancer had spread. He was referred for a
computerised tomography (CT) scan.
Introduction
In this assignment, I will be analysing two case studies in order to compare the procedures that are
best suited to diagnose and treat the patient's specific illness by discussing the uses and production
of the procedures and how they are conducted. I will also compare the advantages and
disadvantages of the techniques and discuss why these techniques were chosen over other medical
procedures. I will state the dangers of the procedures and discuss whether these risks out way the
possible benefits for the patients.
Case Study 1: Oesophageal cancer Case Study 2: Breast Cancer
Diagnosis Diagnosis
Ionising: CT scan Ionising: CT scan/ Mammogram
Non-Ionising: MRI scan Non-Ionising: MRI scan
Treatment Treatment
Ionising: Radiotherapy Ionising: Chemotherapy
Non-ionising: Laser surgery Non-ionising: Mastectomy using laser
Case Study 1: Oesophageal cancer
A 63-year-old man reports to his GP that he has been having difficulty swallowing, pain in his
upper body and persistent heart burn daily for the past three weeks. These symptoms have
caused him extreme weight loss in the past month without any alteration of his diet. This man had
a BMI of 38, meaning he was obese but has now been reduced to a BMI of 25. He has two beers
daily along with an average of 20 cigarettes a day and has done this for the past 30 years.
These symptoms were worrying due the drastic decline over a short period
of time. Due to this, the GP referred the patient to a hospital specialist. This
specialist was a gastro, which is a specialist in conditions affecting the
digestive system. After speaking to the gastro, the man was sent for an
endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is
examined by an instrument called an endoscope. The endoscope, which is a
long, thin tube that has a light on the end to send images of the internal
body to a screen to analyse, is inserted through an opening in your body. In
this case, it is inserted into his mouth after he is a given a local anaesthetic
to numb his throat. An endoscopy is a beneficial treatment as it is a quick procedure which allows
the analysis of the internal structure of the body with a very low risk of complications as new
incisions are made. Small samples of tissue are also removed from your oesophagus so they can be
checked under a microscope for cancer. This procedure took around 40 minutes. However, the
patient had to stay within the hospital for around 2 hours after this procedure so the sedative could
wear off. A relative came to take the patient home because of the sedation.
Diagnosis
A few days later, the results of this endoscopy were sent to the patients GP and analysed. Due to the
results of the tests, the GP can conclude that the patient has oesophageal cancer and has a large
tumour in the oesophagus causing narrowing of this tube. Due to this, the GP referred the patient to
have further tests in order to determine how far the cancer had spread. He was referred for a
computerised tomography (CT) scan.
