Imaging services

Our cardiac services include specialized cardiac imaging exams to assess heart function and identify deficiencies in blood flow. Our heart imaging options include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiography (echo), including transesophageal echo (TEE) test
• Ultrasound imaging
• Stress testing

CT scans allow our imaging technicians and physicians to obtain information about life-threatening diseases, including chest pain and cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Our advanced CT scanning system captures images more than twice as fast as conventional multi-slice CT scanners. This speed is especially helpful in shortening breath holds for geriatric patients, patients who are on ventilators and pediatric patients. It also delivers outstanding image quality and clear, highly detailed images of the heart and coronary arteries.

Interventional radiology provides noninvasive diagnostic procedures on every organ in the body. It involves using radiologic imaging to guide procedures. Specifically, interventional radiologists use catheters (thin, flexible tubes) and tiny instruments to treat a wide variety of conditions that once required surgery.

Advantages of interventional radiology include:

• Minimized pain
• Often performed on an outpatient basis
• Shorter recovery times
• Less expense than many surgical alternatives

MRI provides detailed images of the body in various planes. With greater soft tissue contrast than CT, MRI is especially useful in neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and oncologic diseases.

The MRI system can cause tissues in the body to take on different appearances. This is very helpful to the radiologist in determining if something seen is normal or not. MRI systems can also image flowing blood in virtually any part of the body.

Our innovative, 3D mammography provides higher quality breast imaging at the same radiation dose as 2D full-field digital mammography.

During a 3D mammogram, multiple images of the breast are taken from different angles. A computer then combines the images to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast, giving doctors a clearer view of the breast tissue. A 2D mammogram takes two pictures of each breast — one from the side and one from above. This exam is used to detect early breast cancer or other issues related to breast health. With the results of mammography scans, our doctors can diagnose and, later, treat breast tissue anomalies and ensure optimal breast health.

Regular screenings are a vital component for breast health maintenance. Most women at average risk of developing breast cancer should begin annual mammogram screenings at 40 years old. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors and when you should start receiving annual breast cancer screenings.

Women can receive full mammography and breast screening care at our facility without the typical long wait for an appointment.

Nuclear medicine studies use safe radioactive substances to provide images of the body and treat certain diseases. Nuclear medicine procedures often identify disease in the early stages, long before they become apparent with conventional imaging.

The amount of radiation found in the average nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to a diagnostic X-ray.

Our nuclear medicine department offers the following imaging procedures:

• Bone scan — identifies and tracks bone conditions, including cancer and infections
• Bone marrow scan — assesses changes in the bone marrow, generally following surgery or a trauma
• Positron emission tomography (PET) cardiac viability imaging — assesses heart damage following a heart disease diagnosis or heart attack
• Gallbladder scan — examines gallbladder function
• Gallium scan — obtains images of body tissue using a nuclear imaging radiopharmaceutical
• Gastric emptying study — visualizes the movement of a meal through the stomach
• Lung ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) scan — measures air and blood flow in the lungs
• Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan — provides video imaging of the heart's lower chambers to assess pumping functionality
• Nuclear stress test — provides images of blood flow to the heart during exertion
• Octreotide scan — identifies the presence and size of neuroendocrine tumors
• Parathyroid scan — identifies proper function and overall health of the parathyroid gland
• Prostascint scan — identifies the spread and current state of prostate cancer
• Salivary gland function scan — identifies the functionality of the salivary glands
• Sentinel node scan — provides images of the sentinel lymph node to determine if cancer has spread
• Testicular scan — identifies abnormalities and/or tumors in the testicles
• Thyroid scan — examines the function of the thyroid gland

Ultrasound imaging obtains images of the body's internal organs high-frequency sound waves. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as real-time images.

Ultrasound may be used during some interventional procedures and needle-guided biopsies. Additionally, pelvic ultrasound is used to examine the uterus and fetus during pregnancy.

X-ray is the oldest and most commonly used form of medical imaging. X-rays can produce pictures of the human body on film or digitally on a computer screen. It is the fastest and easiest way for a doctor to view and assess broken bones, such as skull fractures and spine injuries.