Provided services include:
Mammography; Ultrasonography; Bone Densitometry; CT; & Hysterosalpingogram (examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes) by fluoroscopy or ultrasound
Screening Mammograms
“Screening” refers to tests and exams used to find diseases (such as cancer) in people who have no symptoms. The goal of screening mammography is to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage.
Diagnostic Mammograms
Diagnostic mammograms are similar to screening mammograms in that the same type of imaging equipment is used. A diagnostic mammogram is a more comprehensive exam that is typically performed to evaluate a specific sign or symptom in the breast tissue. A diagnostic mammogram is usually ordered if:
- A woman or her doctor have noticed breast changes or symptoms
- A screening mammogram has shown a suspicious area
Image Guided Breast Biopsy
Image guided breast biopsy is used to remove small samples of breast tissue which are sent to a lab to be tested for cancer. The procedure may be done with x-rays or ultrasound.
-
- If the suspicious area is best seen with x-rays, a stereotactic core biopsy will be done. While lying face down on a special table, the breast area is numbed. A needle is placed into the breast by a radiologist and tissue samples are taken.
- If the suspicious area is best seen under ultrasound, a breast ultrasound core biopsy will be performed. While you’re lying face up, the suspicious area is found with ultrasound by the radiologist. The area of the breast is numbed before the procedure is started. A needle is placed in the suspicious area by a radiologist and tissue samples are taken.
When the biopsy is complete, pressure is applied to the breast and a bandage is put on it. Acetaminophen is recommended for discomfort. The test results should be ready within two working days. Your doctor will give you your results. Sometimes more testing may need to be done on the breast tissue samples. This means it could take longer for your doctor to get your test results.
Needle/Wire Localization
A needle/wire localization is used to pinpoint the area of concern in the breast. After the area is numb, the radiologist inserts a needle into the breast to mark the area. A small guide wire is inserted through the needle. The needle is removed and the wire is left in place. X-rays are then taken, with the wire marking the exact location of the biopsy. The wire is placed in your breast the same day as your surgery.
Ultrasound
OB ultrasounds are done in the imaging department to determine date of delivery within the first trimester. After the first trimester the ultrasound may be done for a biophysical profile, which includes the date of delivery and checks vital developmental areas of the growing fetus. At the time of the ultrasound, the technologist reports activity of the fetus, head and leg measurements, visualization of the kidneys and stomach, as well as showing that the baby’s bladder empties during the examination. There is further examination of the spine and the insertion site of the umbilical cord. Upon request of the mother, the technologist will attempt to determine the sex of the child.
Amniocentesis
There are times with an older mother or during a difficult pregnancy that the physician determines that an amniocentesis would be beneficial. The technologist, the OB physician and/or the radiologist perform the procedure together. This procedure provides the physician with a sample of the amniotic fluid, and it is taken to the laboratory for analysis. The results provide a look at some of the genetic makeup of the fetus. Through ultrasound guidance, this is considered a relatively safe procedure.
Pelvic Ultrasound
Pelvic ultrasounds are done on a routine basis for pain in the lower pelvic area in young women and older women.
For the younger woman, this can mean she has an ovarian cyst or in some cases an ectopic pregnancy. For the older woman this pain can mean endometriosis, fibroids or perhaps even ovarian cancer. Pelvic ultrasounds are non-invasive procedures done with very little discomfort to the patient but with life-saving results.
Thyroid Ultrasound
This is a very common procedure among females over 40 to assess if the thyroid is functioning properly.
Nuclear Medicine
Thyroid scans are one of the most frequent scans done in Nuclear Medicine for women’s health. The Nuclear Medicine technologist looks for “cold” nodules, which are markers for malignancies, or “hot” nodules, which are markers for tumors which can be treated surgically or with medication.
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping
Sentinel lymph node mapping is a new diagnostic procedure used to determine if breast cancer has spread (metastasized) to the auxiliary lymph nodes (lymph glands under the arm). Sentinel lymph node mapping requires the removal of only one to three lymph nodes for close review by a pathologist. If the sentinel nodes do not contain tumor (cancer) cells, this may eliminate the need to remove additional lymph nodes in the auxiliary area.
Please contact the Director of Radiology at 690-3420 or by email with further concerns or questions.
