Imaging Services includes multiple radiology areas of expertise such as CT, MRI, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic X-ray, Mammography, and PET imaging. Whether used to screen, diagnose, monitor, or treat disease, each specialty of Imaging Services is a critical healthcare tool that enables physicians to “see” inside the human body in order to develop the best plan of care for each and every patient.
Bone density testing is performed with the use of a DEXA unit. DEXA stands for Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. It is a quick and painless way of measuring the density of bones to determine if a patient may have osteoporosis. DEXA exams are performed at the St. Joseph Breast Imaging Center. Please see the Breast Imaging Services page for more information.
At St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, we use state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) dose reduction software with the latest reconstruction techniques to analyze images in multiple planes and formats, including 3D reconstruction to optimize the accuracy of each diagnosis.
A CT scan uses X-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional and, in some cases, 3-D views of the body. Think of the CT images as viewing a loaf of bread. With all the slices together, you can see the entire loaf. However, if you want to look at each slice, you have the ability to see what is inside the loaf. When all the slices are added together again, you have that 3-D view.
Occasionally, contrast may be given to further enhance the scan and various structural relationships. This is usually painless and may involve drinking a solution before your CT scan. You may also require intravenous (IV) contrast for your exam. In this case, you will be given an IV before your exam for the contrast to be administered. When the IV contrast is administered, it is very common to feel a warm rush throughout your body.
Most procedures take 5 to 15 minutes and are relatively painless. Your technologist will make you as comfortable as possible.
We utilize the latest digital X-ray equipment available with increased resolution at a lower dose to the patient. Digital X-rays allow for a patient’s image to be available within about 6 seconds of exposure. This dramatically reduces the amount of time an exam takes over conventional hard film or computed radiography (CR) processing. This digital technology also allows staff to provide a lower dose for each image acquired while obtaining higher image quality.
Calcium scoring, also called a heart CT scan, is a painless, non-invasive way of obtaining information about your coronary arteries.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services are delivered using a Digital GE MRI unit, which uses state-of-the-art software for reconstruction. This advanced MRI improves both acquisition speed and resolution for better image quality and greater patient comfort. Here at St. Joe's, we use advanced technology to produce profound, detailed, and accurate results.
Our images are read by radiology specialists for each area, including musculoskeletal, neurology, and general radiology.
If you are a smoker or a former smoker, a simple screening at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center could save your life.
Nuclear medicine utilizes small amounts of radioisotopes to diagnose and determine the severity of or treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, or other abnormalities within the body. Due to nuclear medicine’s ability to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, it offers the ability to identify many diseases in early stages and determine a patient’s response to therapeutic interventions. We are equipped with state-of-the-art nuclear medicine equipment. Our latest technology is capable of providing faster imaging time with some of the highest quality resolution available on the market today.
Positron Emission Tomography known as PET is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. It uses small amounts of radioisotopes to pinpoint the anatomic location of abnormal metabolic activity within the body. The PET scan is combined with a conventional CT exam, which is called PET/CT to enhance the diagnostic quality of the procedure. Images from the PET are fused or overlaid on the CT study to demonstrate the abnormal metabolic activity with enhanced spatial resolution of the affected area. This allows for a better determination of all areas affected by a disease process. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center contracts with Alliance Healthcare Services to provide PET imaging services at our facility.
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasonography, is a method of obtaining internal images of the body utilizing high-frequency waves. These waves are reflected off organs and are recorded as still images or as video clips to better demonstrate a particular part of the body. We provide many types of ultrasound procedures including but not limited to obstetrics, abdominal, vascular, echocardiography, ultrasound guided biopsies/fluid drainage and more. Unlike x-ray and CT procedures, ultrasound exams do not utilize ionizing radiation.
