MRI, Bone Density Test, Angiogram, Mammogram, & More at our Practice
Radiology Associates Inc. offers both Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology procedures. Here is a brief description of the different diagnostic procedures one may need to have performed:
X-ray, also known as Radiography, is the oldest and most frequently used form of radiation. X-rays can help physicians diagnose and treat fractures. They can also be used to detect and monitor degenerative diseases such as arthritis.
An angiogram is a diagnostic exam that allows the physician to study your blood vessels and organs. This test can help to determine whether or not your arteries or veins are blocked. It involves the insertion of a catheter through one of your blood vessels so that a special dye (contrast material) may be injected into your arteries so they will be visible on X-rays. Following an angiogram you will need to lie flat with your legs straight for 4-6 hours. If a percutaneous closure device is placed you may be walking within 2 hours.
This type of imaging uses low-dose x-rays to produce a detailed picture of the inside of the breast. This test plays an important role in the early detection of breast cancer because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. The American Cancer Association recommends that women get a mammogram every year beginning at the age of 40 years old.
A stereotactic biopsy is an X-ray procedure that helps to determine the exact location of a tumor or nodule so a tissue sample can be obtained. To perform this procedure, you will be asked to lie face down on a table with your breast positioned through a round opening in the table. The table will then be elevated and your breast will be compressed so stereo mammographic images can be taken. The compression will be similar to that experienced during a mammogram. Using the stereotactic images, a computer will determine exactly where a biopsy needle should enter the breast. The Radiologist will inject your breast with a local anesthetic and a tiny incision will be made for the biopsy needle. Another mammographic image will then be taken to confirm correct positioning of the needle, which will then be used to acquire a tissue sample.
Needle localization is a simple process performed on patients before they undergo a breast biopsy or lumpectomy. This procedure is performed under the guidance of ultrasound or a mammogram to clearly mark the area of the breast that will be removed during surgery. Once the needle is in the right position, a small wire is inserted through the needle to mark the abnormal area. The needle is then removed but the thin wire remains in place to mark the area of suspicious tissue. The discomfort experienced during this procedure is minimal and helps the surgeon clearly differentiate between healthy tissue and tissue that needs to be removed.
Bone Density Test
Patients can receive a bone density test at several of the Queen’s Medical Center facilities. This procedure involves using a low-dose x-ray to check areas of the body such as the spine and hips for signs of mineral loss and bone thinning. Bone density tests are frequently used to detect osteoporosis, a condition that most often affects post-menopausal women but can affect men as well.
CT (Computer Tomography) Scanning
CT is an imaging technique that uses x-ray beams at various angles to create cross-sectional images of a region of the body. Sensors in the CT scanner pick up the X-ray signals, and a computer converts the many image slices into a detailed 3-dimensional image.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
This imaging technique uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to reveal detailed information about the body. The magnetic field produced by the MRI scanner causes water particles in the body to produce a signal. The advantage of an MRI is that it can discriminate between various tissues in the body and it does not use any radioactivity or x-rays.
The MRI is the preferred imaging method for examining male and female reproductive organs, as well as organs of the chest and abdomen. It is frequently used to diagnose spinal and joint problems, coronary artery disease, and other conditions of the heart.
An ultrasound uses sound waves to display images of the inside of the body. During an ultrasound, the sound waves which enter a patient’s body and are bounced back from various internal organs. The echoes produced by these sound waves create an image of the internal organs that is then projected onto a TV screen. Ultrasounds are commonly used on pregnant women to display pictures of the unborn baby. They are also useful to display images of the abdomen, bladder, thyroid, breast, and various other parts of the body.
We also offer minimally invasive treatments of uterine fibroids, liver tumors, peripheral vascular disease including percutaneous aneurysm repair and back pain therapy.