For added patient convenience, the Diagnostic Clinic offers many in-house imaging services.  Ranging from Bone Densitometry to X-ray, these services give our physicians an “inside look” to aid in diagnoses and treatment. 

Our services include:

BONE DENSITOMETRY
Our imaging department offers bone scans using specialized equipment which allows us to detect osteoporosis, a condition where bones become brittle. Bone mineral density (BMD) is a test measuring the amount of calcium in a specific region of the bones. An estimate of the strength of the patient’s bones can be made with this information.

CT or CAT SCANS
State-of-the-art CT scans are also available at the Clinic. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is a special type of  X-ray that produces detailed pictures of structures inside the body. A CT scan is also called a CAT scan (computerized axial tomography). A CT scanner directs X-rays through the body that are analyzed by a computer to produce a detailed picture of a "slice" of an organ or area being studied. A CT scan produces a clearer picture of internal organs than regular X-rays. A dye containing iodine is often injected into the blood during a CT scan of the body. The dye makes blood vessels and certain organs more visible on the CT scan pictures.

MAMMOGRAM
Screening mammograms, to detect abnormalities of the breast can be performed in the privacy and convenience of our clinic, eliminating the need for a visit to another facility for routine mammography. Mammography, an X-ray of the breasts, is used to diagnose breast cancer.  Many small tumors can be seen on a mammogram before they can be felt by a patient or their doctor.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, painless, and cost-effective techniques to image the body and treat disease. Nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis, management, treatment, and  prevention of serious disease. Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials or radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat disease. Our Nuclear Medicine Department also offers cardiology nuclear medicine.
 

MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is available in our office for your convenience. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a test that provides pictures of structures and organs inside the body. The pictures are produced by magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy. MRI often provides information that cannot be obtained from X-ray tests. The area of the body being tested is positioned inside a strong magnetic field. The MRI can detect infection, tumors and other types of  tissue disease and damage as well as diagnose conditions that affect blood flow. Organs and tissues that contain water provide the most detailed MRI pictures, while bones and other hard materials in the body do not show up as well. MRI is therefore most useful for detecting conditions that increase the amount of fluid in a tissue, such as inflammation, infections, tumors and internal bleeding. MRI scan information can be saved and stored on a computer for further study.

ULTRASOUND
We offer on-site General Ultrasound as well as Limited Vascular Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of organs and other structures inside the body. It doesn't use X-rays or other kinds of possibly harmful radiation. Ultrasound is most useful for looking at structures and organs that are solid and uniform or fluid-filled. Mineralized structures or air-filled organs do not show up well on an ultrasound. A small hand-held instrument (a transducer) is passed back and forth over the area of the body being examined. It sends out high-pitched sounds above the range of human hearing that are reflected back to the transducer.

X-RAYS
X-rays use low doses of radiation to create images of the body. X-rays are taken by a radiology technologist. The X-rays are then interpreted by a radiologist and/or the patient’s physician.