MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography)

An MRI/MRA is a noninvasive, painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. MR imaging uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and virtually all other internal body structures. The images can then be examined on a computer monitor. MRI does not use ionizing radiation (x-rays).

For some MRI/MRA exams a contrast material may be injected intravenously (IV) during the study.

CT Scanning

In ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. X-rays are a form of radiation that can be directed at the body. Different body parts absorb the x-rays in varying degrees.

With CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic detectors rotate around you, measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout your body. At the same time, the examination table is moving through the scanner, so that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path. A special computer program processes this series of pictures, or slices of your body, to create two dimensional cross-sectional images, which are then displayed on a monitor.

For some CT exams, a contrast material is used to enhance visibility in the area of the body being studied. If a contrast material is used, it will be swallowed or injected through an intravenous line (IV).

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging is a painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Ultrasound imaging, also called sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (x-rays). Ultrasound images show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.

Mammography

Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low dose x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women.

Digital mammography is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals. The electrical signals are used to produce images of the breast that can be seen on a computer screen or printed on special film similar to conventional mammograms. Digital mammograms provide a clearer, sharper image than an analog mammogram.

Computer Aided Detection (CAD) systems use a digitized mammography image that can be obtained from either a conventional film mammogram or a digitally acquired mammogram. The computer software then searches for abnormal areas of density, mass, or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to the need for further analysis.

Bone Density

A Bone Density test uses special x-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The higher your mineral content, the denser your bones are. The denser your bones, the stronger they generally are and less likely to break. Doctors use bone density tests to determine if you have osteoporosis.

Bone density tests are not the same as Bone Scans. Bone scans require an injection beforehand and are usually used to detect fractures, cancer, infections and other abnormalities in the bone.

X-Rays

An x-ray is a painless medical test. In a conventional x-ray exam, a small burst of radiation is aimed at and passes through the body recording an image on photographic film or a special image recording plate. Bones appear white on the x-ray; soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black.