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Home » Services » Imaging/Radiology Services Imaging/Radiology ServicesRelated Topic Links
Medical Procedures CT ScanningCT (computed tomography) scanning is a type of x-ray used to depict anatomy at different levels within the body. The CT scan is able to rotate the x-ray source around the patient allowing the physician to capture the necessary image from many different angles. Each rotation of the x-ray beam produces a single cross-sectional "slice" of anatomy, like the slices in a loaf of bread. A computer is then able to create an image by stacking these slices together. Physicians are able to view inside anatomy not possible with regular x-rays. A CT scan can take anywhere from 10 minutes to more than an hour depending on what part of the body is being examined and whether a contrast agent is required. CT scans are used for may procedures and may be used to:
CT scanning is located at several Catholic Health System sites including:
X-ray/Diagnostic RadiologyAn x-ray is produced when a small amount of radiation passes through the body. This radiation is captured on film, video, or computer to produce a black-and-white image to be viewed by a radiologist. X-rays may be used to detect bone fractures, find foreign objects in the body, demonstrate pathology, and demonstrate the relationships between bone and soft tissue. A chest x-ray is the most common type of x-ray producing an image of the heart and lungs. A chest x-ray is often part of a routine physical examination and may be used to rule out conditions such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, or other heart and lung conditions. X-ray/Radiology services are located at several Catholic Health System sites including: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo MammographyA mammogram is a special x-ray of the breast. Mammography can detect lumps and other forms of breast disease that may be too small to be felt by an experienced examiner. This early detection is your best opportunity for a total cure. X-ray equipment dedicated exclusively to performing mammograms is used. This allows us to use x-ray levels that are three to nine times lower than normal x-ray levels. The American Cancer Society recommends that women have a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40 and receive a mammogram yearly after age 40. Women at high risk should have mammograms more often. Risk factors for women include:
Remember, however, that 80% of breast cancers occur in women with no risk factors. One in eight American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Another woman is newly diagnosed with the disease every three minutes. Three steps to early detection are:
Mammography services are located at several Catholic Health System sites including: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo Our Mammography Services brochure is available online. To download the brochure, please click here.
UltrasoundUltrasound is a test that bounces sound waves off tissues and organs and translates the sound waves into sonograms (pictures) rather than using radiation as in x-rays. Several different ultrasounds examine different areas of the body:
The Mercy Hospital Radiology Department received accreditation from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Ultrasound services are located at several Catholic Health System sites including: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo Nuclear MedicineNuclear Medicine varies from an x-ray because it records radiation from the "inside-out". Special substances called radiopharmaceuticals are used to create images of anatomy. These substances are eitherinjected, swallowed or inhaled by the patient. A special type of camera is able to detect emissions created by the radiopharmaceuticals in the bone, organ or tissue being examined. This information is recorded on a computer screen or on film. Nuclear medicine documents the function as well as the structure of organs, bones, and tissues. An x-ray can tell a physician what something looks like, but nuclear medicine can also tell if it is functioning properly. Common procedures include thyroid scans, brain scans, bone scans, lung scans, cardiac stress tests, and liver and gallbladder procedures. Nuclear medicine can also be used to treat disease. Therapeutic uses include treatment of hyperthyroidism and pain relief frm certain types of bone cancers. Nuclear medicine services are located at several Catholic Health System sites including: Interventional RadiologyFor decades, the field of radiology has enabled us to see inside the body without surgery. Now, a new generation of advanced Interventional Radiology procedures are replacing many invasive surgery techniques enabling physicians to treat a variety of medical conditions without the need for open surgery. In an effort to provide faster and more accurate vascular care services to residents throughout Western New York, St. Joseph Hospital has opened a new, state-of-the-art Interventional Radiology Center. Located on the hospital's first floor, the Interventional Radiology Center offers one of the area's most modern and technologically advanced facilities for the treatment of vascular diseases, with the comfort and convenience of a community hospital setting. Often called the "new surgery of the 21st century," Interventional Radiology uses x-rays and other imaging techniques to "see" inside the body, while Interventiona Radiologists guide narrow catheters and other small instruments through blood vessels and other body sites to diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions. For patients suffering from strokes, carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral vascular disease, uterine fibroid tumors and other vascular conditions, Interventional Radiology offers treatment options that often result in shorter hospital stays, reduced recovery time without the pain of a large incision, and minimal surgical scaring. This service will bring a new level of quality and detail to St. Joseph Hospital providing patients enhanced diagnostic capabilities and treatment options that are safe, effective, and convenient. Interventional Radiology services are offered at: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo MRIMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The procedure is sometimes called nuclear magnetic resonance imagine (NMRI). MRI services are located at: Sisters of Charity Hospital Bone DensitometryA technique used to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream; it collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner. Bone densitometry services are located at: St. Joseph Hospital Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS)PACS provides near-instant access to images and reports from multiple locations. Images are captured electronically at each modality and sent to a digital archive, then distributed electronically and interpreted on a workstation in the radiology department. The PACS archive sends the images and report to a Web server. Patient information is then available to authorized users on any Web enabled PC via the hospitals Intranet or outside the hospital via the Internet. In an all-digital environment, physicians will no longer have to wait for images to be filmed or lost studies to be found, because information can be quickly retrieved from the PACS archive. Through the immediate routing of images to workstations for interpretation, report turnaround time is reduced and patient care is improved due to earlier decisions on management. PACS brings the image to the physician, rather than the physician wasting precious time searching for films. Consistent with our vision statement of quality, value, service, and innovation, PACS will increase efficiency clinical practices and increase physician productivity. |
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