Diagnostic Radiology

Computed tomography (CT) — moves an X-ray around a patient to produce multiple detailed images from different angles. CT provides greater detail of:

• Abdominal and aortic aneurysms
• Blood flow
• Bone injuries and density
• Head, neck and spine injuries
• Heart conditions and cardiovascular disease
• Internal organs
• Muscle and skeletal disorders
• Oncological imaging
• Transplant imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — uses high-powered magnets and radio waves to produce images of organs and structures to:

• Diagnose cardiac conditions and strokes
• Assess blood flow and vascular conditions
• Detect tumors and diagnose cancer
• Diagnose breast disease
• Examine reproductive organs
• Diagnose brain, spinal cord, bone and joint conditions and injuries
• Evaluate infections

Ultrasound — uses sound waves tproduce images of soft tissues inside the body. Types include:

• Abdominal ultrasound — detects gallstones or tumor
• Aortic duplex exam
• Arteriography and venography —diagnose blood flow abnormalities
• Breast ultrasound
• Carotid ultrasound
• Doppler ultrasound
• Echocardiogram
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVU) — enables radiologists tsee the inner wall of blood vessels
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound — examines joints or muscles
• Obstetrical ultrasound — monitors fetus development
• Pelvic ultrasound — identifies tumors or masses
• Peripheral vascular ultrasound — diagnoses vascular conditions
• Prostate ultrasound — examines nodules
• Renal ultrasound — examines the kidneys and urinary tract
• Scrotal ultrasound — examines the testicles
• Thyroid ultrasound — examines the thyroid
• Transcranial Doppler (TCD)
• Vascular ultrasound

Nuclear medicine — uses small amounts of radioactive materials to examine organ function and structure. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine that uses radioactive materials, a special camera and computer to evaluate organ and tissue functions. Tests include:

• Bone scan — diagnoses bone diseases, infections or injuries
• Brain scan — evaluates brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, tumors and strokes
• Hepatobiliary scan — identifies gallbladder disorders and bile duct obstructions
• Lung ventilation and perfusion scan (VQ scan) — measures air and blood flow in and out of the lungs
• Lymphoscintigraphy — evaluates the lymphatic system and identifies lymph nodes for removal
• Octreoscan — whole-body scans that identify rare neuroendocrine tumors
• Renal scan — evaluates Kidney blood flow and function
• Parathyroid scan — identifies abnormal parathyroid glands that cause hyperparathyroidism
• I-131 whole body scan —detects thyroid cancer spread

X-ray — uses a small dose of radiation tproduce images of body structures. Types include:

• Barium X-ray — diagnoses conditions such as tumors, polyps, hernias, strictures, ulcers and other gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions in the GI tract
• Bone density scan
• Fluoroscopy — studies movement of internal body parts and systems such as blood flow through a blood vessel or food passing through the stomach and intestines