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Radiology

The medical center’s radiology department is able to offer a wide variety of tests to assist our physicians in diagnosing your condition. Computerized Axial Tomography (CT scanner), Nuclear Medicine, X-Ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound, Bone Density Screening, and Mammogram screening are all available. During a nuclear medicine exam we inject a very low dosed radiation source plus a tag into a vein in the bend of your elbow. The tag carries the radiation to the body part being scanned. Since the radiation is in your blood stream, we will see the function of that particular body part. Blood flow will increase or decrease depending on the disease, and the radiation will help determine which has occurred. The technologist will take a series of pictures to document any changes. The Roentgen ray or X-ray was almost immediately developed for medical uses after its discovery in 1895. At first, this new discovery was limited to helping set broken bones and locating embedded pieces of metal such as bullets. With experience, new uses have been added constantly. One use is fluoroscopy, which is used to show organs in motion. MRI “sees” right through bone and clearly defines soft tissue. MRI is especially valuable for helping to diagnose brain and nervous system disorders, cancer, and musculoskeletal problems. Ultrasound is a medical procedure that uses sound waves to “see” inside the body. This type of testing is used by medical professionals for both examinations and diagnosis of many medical conditions. A screening mammogram is a breast X-ray doctors use to look for breast changes in women with no symptoms of breast cancer. Although mammograms are not foolproof, they can find breast cancer and other changes before you or your doctor can feel them. Regardless of the type of testing you receive a radiologist will study the images and help make a diagnosis. He or she will share these findings with your physician. Your physician will suggest treatment based on the diagnosis, as well as your history, symptoms, and other test results.