A PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan is an imaging exam that creates pictures of metabolic activity inside your body. A small amount of radioactive material (called FDG) is injected into your bloodstream. The PET scan takes images of the areas of your body where the FDG travels. These images are helpful in diagnosing certain cardiovascular or systemic diseases because they identify areas in the body where normal levels of metabolic activity are not taking place, possibly meaning there may be a problem. PET scans are helpful in evaluating the extent of diseases, including cancers.

It is likely that you will need to be injected with a contrast material right before your scan. To do this, an intravenous line will be inserted into your arm. If you have ever had any allergic reaction to any type of contrast agent, make sure to tell the technologist when he or she asks you before the injection.

For the scan itself, the technologist will explain in detail what type of scan you are having and how long you will be on the scan table. You will also be able to hear the technologist via an intercom from time to time during the scan.

A CT Scan, which stands for “Computed Tomography,” is a radiographic technique that rotates multiple cameras around the patient and then combines the images into a two-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the area being scanned. There is no pain or discomfort and scanning only takes a few minutes. CT Scanning is very quick and is helpful in rapid diagnosis of traumatic injuries and in guiding needle biopsies.

The “64-Slice,” Low-Dose CT Scan is the newest generation of CT scanners, collecting 64 “slices” of data in a single revolution in less than one second. This provides the radiologist with higher quality images in less time. “Low-Dose” refers to the level of radiation used in scanning. Our new 64-slice low-dose scanner uses the lowest amount of radiation compared to any other scanner in use today. This makes scanning safer and allows patients access to more frequent scanning, if prescribed by their doctor. The photo shown here is of the state-of-the-art GE Lightspeed VCT.

CT Scanning is used in every subspecialty of radiology, including coronary angiograms, scanning of the veins and arteries, oncologic imaging and whole-body imaging. They are frequently used to:

• Study blood vessels in the brain, heart, and other internal organs
• Detect brain hemorrhages and stroke
• Evaluate back pain from fractures, disc herniations, and spinal stenosis
• Identify masses and tumors, including cancer
• Evaluate abdominal pain

A digital x-ray is a non-invasive procedure that focuses a small dose of ionizing radiation to certain areas of the body to produce a clear image. X-rays are most commonly used to:

• Determine whether a bone is dislocated or broken
• Assist in the detection and diagnosis of cancer
• Screen for lung and heart diseases
• Diagnose the cause of cough or chest pain
• Evaluate abdominal pain
• Locate objects that may have been accidentally swallowed by a child
• Diagnose spine instability, scoliosis and other spinal defects

Digital X-ray services provided by Premier Radiology:

• Abdominal series
• Chest
• Extremities
• Facial bones

In ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, ultrasound imaging is used to help guide the radiologist to the site of the abnormal growth. It is a non-invasive, accurate way to obtain the tissue sample required for diagnosis.

An ultrasound-guided breast biopsy can be performed when a breast ultrasound shows an abnormality such as:

• a suspicious solid mass
• a distortion in the structure of the breast tissue
• an area of abnormal tissue change

There are times when your doctor may decide that ultrasound guidance for biopsy is appropriate even for a mass that can be felt.

Nuclear Medicine is a branch of radiology that relies on imaging small amounts of radioactive isotopes within the body. The radioisotopes, as they are called, are usually injected into your bloodstream; however, for some tests they are either swallowed or inhaled.

As the radioisotope collects in the area of our body being visualized, it gives of energy that is detected by a nuclear (gamma) camera. The camera sends this information to a computer so they can be turned into images and interpreted by the radiologist. The more common exams performed in nuclear medicine include bone scans, lung scans, and thyroid scans.

What should I expect when I undergo my nuclear medicine exam?

You will receive specific instructions based on the type of exam you will be having. In general, the following guidelines apply to most scans:

• You will be asked to provide a list of the medications you are currently taking, as well as any known allergies you have.
• You will probably be allowed to keep your regular clothing on during the test, but avoid wearing anything with zippers or metal snaps, since they can sometimes interfere with the exam pictures.
• You will most likely be lying down on the exam table and the nuclear camera will be positioned close to your body. If an injection of the isotope is required, an intravenous line will be started in your arm.
• The time it takes for the injected material to reach the area of interest in your body may be minutes, or it may be hours. The technologist will let you know before the exam starts, so that you will have an idea of how long you will be in the department.
• When it I time for the imaging to begin, the camera will take a series of pictures. When it does so, you will be asked to remain very still, so that motion does not blur the pictures.

Interventional Radiology is a specialty in which radiologists diagnose and/or treat diseases without surgery, by guiding tiny tubes through the body’s arteries and organs. It differs from diagnostic radiology, which determines how the body is functioning to discover if something is wrong.

Interventional Radiology allows the radiologists to place medications directly at the organ site, open blocked blood vessels, drain an obstructed kidney, obtain biopsies, and perform many other procedures, all by using x-rays and other radiologic equipment to guide them safely.

Interventional radiologists specialize in the use of fluoroscopy, CT, and ultrasound to guide passage through the skin for performing procedures such as biopsies, draining fluids, inserting catheters, or dilating or stenting narrowed ducts or vessels.