Services
Open MRI
MRI is a non-invasive, diagnostic imaging technique that uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce images of the regions of interest of your body designated by your physician. It gives your physician the ability to see detailed images of your anatomy. The open architecture allows patients to continuously see and reach out the sides of this scanner. All procedures traditionally done on bore type high field scanners can be performed on our open scanner with uncompromised image quality.
Your physician uses MRI images in the early discovery and treatment planning for many conditions and diseases. There is no radiation involved in an MRI examination and it often replaces invasive tests that may be less accurate and more expensive.
What To Expect
The patient-friendly facilities offer a comfortable setting. The technologist will simply ask you to lie down on a cushioned table, which will move into the magnet, after you have been positioned for your scans. For some patients, a small injection of a contrast agent may be required.
The average MRI exam usually takes between 45-60 minutes. After the exam, you may return to work or home and resume normal activities. A radiologist will promptly review and interpret your images and deliver a report to your physician.
Exam Preparation
Usually, there are no dietary restrictions before an MRI exam. However, we do ask you to take the following pre-cautions for your own personal safety and to ensure that we get the best possible images.
-Please do not wear hairspray, eyeglasses, jewelry, a hearing aid or any removable dental work. You can remove any of the above mentioned items and leave them in your dressing room prior to the exam.
-Finally, and most important, inform your technologist if you have a pacemaker, a metal plate, pin, or other metallic implant, cochlear implants/ metallic ear implant, aneurysm clips, or if you are pregnant. Also, it is important to know if you have been exposed to metallic fragments through a war wound, as a metal worker, ect.
Florida
High Field MRI
MRI is a non-invasive, diagnostic imaging technique that uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce images of the regions of interest of your body designated by your physician. It gives your physician the ability to see detailed images of your anatomy. Conventional High field Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems usually operate at stronger field strengths than Open MRI systems. While both provide excellent diagnostic results the high field MRI scan times are up to 1 ½ times faster than an open MRI scan. Typically the average scan time for an MRI exam is roughly 20 to 30 min. Some exams require an injection of contrast which would then add some additional time to the exam.
What To Expect
The patient-friendly facilities offer a comfortable setting. The technologist will simply ask you to lie down on a cushioned table, which will move into the magnet, after you have been positioned for your scans. For some patients, a small injection of a contrast agent may be required.
The average MRI exam usually takes between 20-40 minutes. After the exam, you may return to work or home and resume normal activities. A radiologist will promptly review and interpret your images and deliver a report to your physician.
Exam Preparation
Usually, there are no dietary restrictions before an MRI exam. However, we do ask you to take the following pre-cautions for your own personal safety and to ensure that we get the best possible images.
-Please do not wear hairspray, eyeglasses, jewelry, a hearing aid or any removable dental work. You can remove any of the above mentioned items and leave them in your dressing room prior to the exam.
-Finally, and most important, inform your technologist if you have a pacemaker, a metal plate, pin, or other metallic implant, cochlear implants/ metallic ear implant, aneurysm clips, or if you are pregnant. Also, it is important to know if you have been exposed to metallic fragments through a war wound, as a metal worker, etc.
Ohio
Illinois
CT Scan
A CT (computerized tomography) or CAT scan is an X-ray technique that produces images of your internal organs, bone, soft tissue or blood vessels that are more detailed than those produced by conventional X-ray exams. This non-invasive test helps physicians to diagnose and treat medical conditions. CT scans use an X-ray generating device that rotates around your body, and a very powerful computer to create cross-sectional two-dimensional images, of the inside of the body. Some exams require the use of a contrast before or after the scan. The contrast medium, taken either by mouth, enema or intravenously, helps emphasize blood vessels and other structures.
How should I prepare?
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. Depending on the exam you may be asked to change into a gown to wear during the procedure. Depending on the procedure, you may be asked to remove jewelry, removable dental work.
Each exam has different patient preparation. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours beforehand, especially if a contrast material will be used in your exam. Please inform our staff you have any known allergies and are taking any specific medications. When you schedule your exam our friendly staff will provide you with any specific pre-exam preparation.
Women should always inform the CT technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
Florida
PET Scan
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a major diagnostic imaging modality used predominantly in determining the presence and severity of cancers, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease. It is currently the most effective way to check for cancer recurrences, and it offers significant advantages over other forms of imaging such as CT or MRI scans in detecting disease in many patients. A PET scanner consists of an array of detectors that surround the patient. Using the gamma ray signals given off by the injected radionuclide, PET measures the amount of metabolic activity at a site in the body and a computer reassembles the signals into images. Cancer cells have higher metabolic rates than normal cells, so they show up as denser areas on a PET scan. PET is useful in diagnosing certain cardiovascular and neurological diseases because it highlights areas with increased, diminished or no metabolic activity, thereby pinpointing problems.
Exam Preparations
-Comfort: PET scans are completely painless, with no side effects.
-Clothing: Dress comfortably and warmly, as some scanner rooms may be cool.
-Food and Drink: Please call the PET Center for specific instructions. Generally, you should limit the amount of sugar and caffeine on the day before the scan and should not consume anything except water for approximately 6 hours prior to the scan.
-Medications: - You may take your regularly scheduled medications prior to arriving for your scan, if they can be tolerated on an empty stomach.
-Diabetic: - Please speak with the PET center nurse or doctor for specific instructions regarding insulin. Generally, you should test your blood sugar level before the scan; it should be approximately 100-200 mg/dL.
-Procedure: - Upon arriving at the PET center, you will receive an injection of radioactive glucose (FDG), which will take approximately 45 minutes to distribute throughout your body. You will be asked to empty your bladder and then lie down on the scanner bed. The scan takes upto 60 minutes, depending upon the type of scan you are having and the type of scanner being used. It is important that you lie still during this process. If you need pain medication please bring it with you. You should plan on being at the PET center for approximately 2 hours.
-After Your Scan: - Once the PET scan is complete, you will be able to leave the PET center. Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids throughout the day to flush the FDG from your body.
-Your PET Scan Results: The PET scan is interpreted by an Oncologic PET trained radiologist, and results are usually sent to the referring physician within 24-48 hours. You should contact your doctor to discuss the results.
Ohio
Florida
X-Ray
X-Rays are an inexpensive way to view the condition of bones. X-Rays, where indicated, are generally the first step in determining a diagnosis. An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. A bone x-ray makes images of any bone in the body, including the hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, leg or spine.
Illinois
Florida
Bone Density
What is a bone density exam?
The bone density examination is a method used to determine how much mineral is in a person’s bones. This number can then be compared to a similar reference population to determine whether a patient has osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mineral content and results in the development of spinal compression, hip and wrist fractures with little or no trauma. Once the bone density is determined, the value is converted into a score that reflects the relative risk of osteoporosis and the risk of sustaining fractures. This “T-score” can be used to assign the relative risk of future fracture and also be used to monitor a person’s response to therapy.
Who should have this examination?
These are the general recommendations, but you should discuss the need for this examination with your physician, as this is not a comprehensive list.
-Women over 65.
-Women under 65 with risk factors for osteoporosis.
-Women or men with non-traumatic fractures of wrist, spine or hip.
-Women who are deciding on estrogen hormone therapy at menopause
-Patients who are being treated for osteoporosis and need follow-up
The exam takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. It is important that the patient holds very still for the exam. The examination uses a small amount of radiation, but this is less than a single chest x-ray. It is considered safe and will not result in side effects. There are no injections. If you are or may be pregnant, please inform the technologist.
Ohio
Ultrasound
What is an ultrasound?
Because it can be used in the most delicate conditions without major side effects, ultrasound has become one of the most popular diagnostic methods among both patients and physicians. It may provide your doctor all the information needed to recommend a course of action, eliminating the need for other types of more complicated exams or exploratory surgery.
Diagnostic ultrasound allows physicians to diagnose without invading the body with dyes, radiation or exploratory surgery. Ultrasound uses energy in the form of sound waves that are a frequency higher than the normal range of hearing. These sound waves are transmitted into the body by an instrument known as a transducer, a device that converts one form of energy into another. Sound waves from the transducer are reflected off the internal organs and interpreted by the scanner to create an image on a video display terminal. These images are then printed onto paper, to be recorded as a series of pictures. You are able to see the video display as the ultrasound examination is performed. The words "ultrasound study," "ultrasound exam," and "sonogram" all mean the same thing and are often used inter-changeably by medical personnel. The person performing the ultrasound is called an ultrasonographer. Specific training, certification, and credentials are required before one can become a registered ultrasonographer.
What are some typical applications for an ultrasound exam?
-OB/Gyn: Evaluation of fetal anatomy, age, growth and position; imaging of the uterus and ovaries to evaluate pelvic abnormalities.
-General: Identification of pathology in abdominal organs, OB/Gyn and prostate scanning, evaluation of blood flow throughout the vascular system.
-Cardiology: Evaluation of heart motion, including the chambers, vessels, walls and valves, assessment of blood flow through the chambers of the heart.
-Vascular: Examination of vessels, such as the carotid arteries, to detect and precisely locate any possible blood flow obstructions.
-Musculoskeletal: Examination of tendons, ligaments and joint spaces to evaluate shoulder, Achilles tendon and repetitive motion injuries. With ultrasound, the clinician can examine your shoulder or ankle, for instance, while you perform a range-of-motion movement.
-Pediatrics: Detection of congenital conditions and the cardiovascular system.
Are there risks?
There are no known harmful effects for standard diagnostic ultrasound.
How should I prepare for the procedure?
You should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing for your exam. Other preparation depends on the type of examination you will have. For some scans, your doctor may instruct you not to eat or drink for as many as 12 hours before your appointment. For others, you may be asked to drink up to six glasses of water two hours prior to your exam and avoid urinating, so that your bladder is full when the scan begins. Please ask our friendly staff when scheduling your appointment what preparation is needed for your particular exam.
Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
A Board Certified Radiologist will analyze the images and send a report with his/her interpretation to the patient's personal physician with in 24-48 hours.