Imaging & Diagnostic Services

Angiography is a sophisticated X-ray examination of the blood vessels leading to and inside the brain.

Bone density scanning is an enhanced form of x-ray technology. Bone density is often measured to detect or monitor osteoporosis or other medical conditions found in the bones. The scan is also known as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), or bone densitometry, and is most often performed in the lower spine and hips. It is the established measuring standard for bone mineral density (BMD). In some adults and most children, the whole body is scanned. DEXA uses very low radiation amounts.

This is a painless test that uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to create pictures of the two larger arteries (carotid) in the neck. This procedure helps detect plaque, blood clots, or other problems with blood flow in the carotid arteries.

Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scans are non-invasive diagnostic tests that generate three-dimensional images of your internal body. CT scans create images by combining multiple “slices” of digital information into a single image that is primarily used to diagnose and treat cancers and other internal medical issues. CT scans typically focus on internal organs, bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels and have the ability to show more detail than traditional x-rays. Frequently, patients are given a contrast agent by injection or to drink prior to the exam to help to reveal details of specific areas of the body for clearer imaging.

128-Slice CT scans are highly advanced; they offer greater detail and take less time than traditional CT scans. This non-invasive procedure allows physicians to view the most intricate features of your brain, heart, and peripheral vascular system.

This test, also known as an EKG or ECG, helps doctors identify problems with the electrical conduction of the heart. When the heart has a defect in electrical conduction, it stops beating rhythmically and it is said to be suffering from arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, cause the formation of blood clots inside the heart chambers. These blood clots sometimes migrate to the brain and cause a stroke.

The most common non-invasive test for heart problems is an electrocardiogram (EKG). A practioner will adhere small monitors to the body which records your heart’s electrical activity over a period of time. This technology is more accurate, reduces the risk of infection associated with “reusable” EKG wires and is less cumbersome as you won’t be connected to a heart monitor by wires.

In this test, also known as EEG, small metal discs (electrodes) are placed on your scalp to pick up electrical impulses, which are printed out as brain waves. This test is used to help diagnose certain seizure disorders, brain tumors, brain damage related to head injuries, inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord, alcoholism, specific psychiatric disorders, and metabolic and degenerative disorders that impact the brain.

Electro-neurodiagnostic studies are tests that tell your physician whether your nerves are functioning properly or if any muscles have been damaged. Your physician may suggest that you have an electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS) to evaluate muscle weakness, numbness, tingling and pain.

There are two parts to this procedure. The first is the nerve conduction study (NCS). The physician or technologist will attach wires to an electronic machine. By giving a small electrical impulse, like a static charge, to different sections of the nerve, our specialists can determine if the nerve is sending its message to the muscles with proper speed. Your arm or leg may jerk or jump, but the shock is not harmful.

The second part of the test, the electromyogram (EMG), is done by the physician inserting a very thin disposable needle electrode into several muscles. The number of muscles tested depends on what type of symptoms you are experiencing and is tailored at the time of the testing.

This surgical procedure is used to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders. Learn more about the procedure.

Fluoroscopy is used to study moving body structures. Often referred to as an “x-ray movie," this technology beams a continuous x-ray through the body. The beam is transmitted to a TV-style monitor for detailed examination. Used in many types of procedures, from barium x-rays to the placement of intravenous (IV) catheters, fluoroscopy may be part of an outpatient or inpatient examination.

Typically used for the early detection of breast cancers and diseases, mammograms are very low-dose x-rays specifically designed to examine the breasts. Non-invasive mammograms can detect suspicious masses and calcifications before they can be discovered by hand. All mammograms are performed by a female SSM Health Imaging registered technician. To obtain the clearest possible image, the technician will gently but firmly pull as much breast tissue as possible within the field of the x-ray detector. After pressing the breast firmly against the detector, the image will be recorded in a few seconds. The entire testing process will take between 15 to 30 minutes.

Digital mammograms have been proven to detect breast cancers better than conventional mammograms in three groups of women: those younger than 50, those with dense breasts, and those who are pre-menopausal. Digital mammography, also known as full-field digital mammography, makes it possible for the images of the breast to be viewed on a computer monitor or printed on a special film similar to traditional mammograms.

Your health is important – and you’re in good hands with SSM Health’s Imaging Services. Call us today to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about our services.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) creates highly detailed images of your internal body. This non-invasive, diagnostic testing procedure offers the most detailed images of soft tissues and organs. It is especially effective in the evaluation of neuromuscular disorders such as brain abnormalities, back pain, and joint injuries. MRI excels in detection of breast cancer, as well as body solid organ diseases such as liver and kidney problems. In addition, MRI procedures do not employ radiation that is used in traditional x-rays and CT scans.

A high strength, or high field, MRI offers the highest resolution images possible with unmatched speed. These detailed images of unsurpassed quality improve diagnosis and treatment.

An open MRI is similar to a conventional MRI, except that the device does not completely surround the patient. Open MRIs offer a more comfortable experience, and are especially ideal for patients who suffer from claustrophobia. On par with our standard of excellence, SSM Health has the largest network of open MRIs, including the largest network of high-field open MRIs.

SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. This is a nuclear medicine imaging test that uses gamma rays to capture, view and manipulate cross-sectional images in 3D. This test is most commonly used for tumor imaging, thyroid imaging or bone imaging.

Nuclear medicine provides both diagnostic and therapeutic exams. Diagnostic testing may include HIDA (hepatobiliary) scan, myocardial perfusion (stress test) scan and bone scan. Therapeutic exams include treatment of thyroid cancers and bone cancers.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies metabolic activity and body function, while Computed Tomography (CT) provides detailed anatomy and structure. Combined, these technologies help physicians diagnose many diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, before they become apparent with other imaging examinations. With PET/CT, both exams are performed at the same time and can be used to pinpoint, for example, both the location of cancer and its growth rate. It can also be used to help diagnose the extent of stroke or Alzhiemer’s disease, and to assess heart function.

Our PET/CT’s extremely high resolution pictures give us a better chance at catching a variety of cancers in their earliest stages: whether breast, esophageal, cervical, melanoma, lymphoma, lung, prostate, colorectal, head and neck, or ovarian. Knowing more, and knowing it earlier, helps us together build the treatment plan that makes the most sense for whatever you’re facing.

A polysomnogram, or sleep study, can evaluate patients with neurological sleep disorders. Sleep studies help your physician diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, and nighttime behaviors like sleepwalking.

Also known as sonography, ultrasound machines use high-frequency sound waves and computers to create detailed images of your internal body. Using a hand-held transducer, a physician or specialist moves the device over various parts of the body to generate very high-resolution images. Ultrasounds are especially important to monitor pregnancies and are considered safe to record the progress of both the mother and baby.

Other parts of the body that are evaluated by ultrasound include the abdomen, breasts, female pelvis, scrotum, thyroid, and vascular system. In addition, breast ultrasounds are used to diagnose breast abnormalities, typically after they are discovered through a mammogram or during a physical exam. Ultrasounds are non-invasive, have no known dangers or side effects, and do not require radiation, anesthesia, or special dyes.

X-rays (or radiographs) are non-invasive and use small amounts of ionizing radiation to produce images of your internal body. The most frequently used form of medical imaging, x-rays help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions, and are most effective for producing images of bones. The chest x-ray is the first line evaluation of many symptoms of the thorax, including cough, shortness of breath, and fever.

IR can be used to perform biopsies and to inject chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy precisely into the tumor, thus avoiding side effects to the rest of the body and surrounding areas. Other procedures include:

• Cryoablation is a treatment to kill cancer cells with extreme cold. Cryoablation may be used to treat cancer when surgery isn't an option. Cryoablation is sometimes used as a primary treatment for cancer of the kidney, liver, lung and prostate. Cryoablation is also used to relieve the pain of many different types of cancer that spread to the bone (bone metastasis) or other organs.
• Yttrium-90 (Y-90) Treatment: Interventional radiologists use yttrium-90 (Y-90) , a radioactive medical device made up of extremely small resin beads. They inject these beads into the main artery that supplies liver tumors. The blood flow delivers the beads to the small blood vessels where they lodge and deliver radioactivity directly to the tumor. This treatment delivers the radiation to the tumor without affecting the nearby healthy liver tissue.

Interventional radiologists use a variety of techniques to repair aneurysms, open blocked arteries and veins, and plug arteries to stop bleeding.

In an angioplasty procedure, imaging techniques are used to guide a balloon-tipped catheter, a long, thin plastic tube, into an artery or vein and advance it to where the vessel is narrow or blocked. The balloon is then inflated to open the vessel, deflated and removed. When necessary, a small wire mesh tube called a stent may be permanently placed in the newly opened artery or vein to help it remain open.

For prostate enlargement: Prostate embolization to reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Uterine artery embolization is a procedure to treat fibroids without surgery. Using catheters similar to those used to image heart vessels, small particles are injected into the arteries feeding the fibroids. The blood supply of the fibroids is then cut off, causing the fibroids to shrink.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures, which are fractures involving the vertebral bodies that make up the spinal column. In vertebroplasty, physicians use image guidance to inject a cement mixture into the fractured bone through a hollow needle. In kyphohplasty, a balloon is first inserted into the fractured bone through the hollow needle to create a cavity or space. The cement is injected into the cavity once the balloon is removed.

For injury after an accident, specialists can place metallic coils to intentionally shut down a bleeding artery. In addition, interventional radiologists can perform embolization to treat internal bleeding from splenic, hepatic or pelvic trauma.

Not at all. You have to lie still on a padded table for few minutes, as the table slides slowly into the MRI machine. Depending on the test you’re having, you may also need an injection or intravenous (IV) drip of “dye” or some other contrast material. In either of these cases, you’ll feel a small needle stick.

When you schedule your exam, our team will ask your height and weight to determine which location can accommodate your body habitus.

No. If you have a pacemaker or spinal stimulator, notify your doctor and you can be scheduled for an alternative exam that is pacemaker-friendly.

Certain types of CTs may require you to drink contrast prior to the exam. You will be notified of this upon scheduling your exam.

MRI contrast solution is completely different from X-ray contrast solution. Most patients will have zero reaction to MRI contrast solution.

We have a lot of experience helping patients with their anxieties. We’ll do everything we can to make your experience stress-free. We’ll visit with you the whole time. We can even play music (radio, CDs, tapes) if you like. Or we’ll give you ear plugs if you like. We’ll even give you an emergency call button, so you can easily stop your test (if it comes to that). You may also with to speak with your physician about your options. With the largest network of open and large-opening MRIs in the area, SSM Health has the resources to provide you with a convenient, comfortable imaging experience. Your physician also may choose to prescribe you a medication to ease your claustrophobia. This must be arranged through your physician and cannot be provided by our technologists.

X-ray films, mammograms, nuclear medicine and CT scans use radiant energy to produce images of your body. The information they produce can be critical in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and conditions.

This radiant energy is a form of radiation (X-rays or gamma rays). Exposure in extremely high or repeated doses is a potential risk for developing cancer. Most imaging exams result in very small exposure to radiation.

SSM Health Imaging Services ensures the right exam for the right indication with the appropriate and safest technique. We also use the minimum and safest amount of radiation necessary to achieve there best image quality. This includes ensuring that the imaging exam is done correctly the first time to avoid repeat testing. Continual investment in newer and faster imaging technology reduces exam times for improved patient experience and decreased radiation exposure.

Keep in mind that ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide an alternate means to produce images and answer your doctor's needs. Recommendations by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and American College of Radiology are driving important changes to imaging practices across the country. These changes are to the gonadal and fetal shielding practices that most are accustomed to seeing in imaging settings. Shielding will no longer be required or used unless requested by the patient.

Learn more about safe radiation dosing at imagewisely.org, imagegently.org and radiologyinfo.org.

Why aren’t we using shielding?

• Modern X-ray equipment uses a lot less radiation than equipment used in the past.
• If the shielding moves or blocks the area of interest, the imaging is not useful.
• The gonads (ovaries and testes) have proven to be much less sensitive to radiation than previously thought.
• Shielding does not reduce the radiation dose to the patient from X-rays that bounce around inside the body (internal scatter).

Can I still request to be shielded?

• Yes. If you request shielding, we will honor your request, if it is possible to do so without compromising the exam. Please note, we may have to repeat imaging, if shielding blocks the area of interest.

SSM Health MyChart offers patients personalized and secure online access to portions of their medical records. It allows for patients to communicate with their doctor, request prescription refills, manage appointments, and view test results. To register for this free platform, go to SSM Health MyChart.

SSM Health is committed to the full quality of your care from initial exam through treatment and follow up. In some locations, a timely turnaround of your results may be delivered to patients who have an SSM Health MyChart account. Because your doctor is best equipped to answer your questions and address possible concerns, there is greater benefit from communicating directly with your doctor about your results. This helps eliminate unnecessary worries, and ensures that, when needed, a plan of action can be immediately put into effect.

To request an imaging CD of your scan, please contact the ministry where the imaging service was done. Find a list of locations for Imaging Services.

Most radiologic exams result in minimal and safe exposure to radiation. SSM Health is committed to reducing your exposure by eliminating unnecessary imaging exams and ensuring tests are done properly the first time to avoid repeat testing. Newer, faster CT imaging technology can reduce your exposure by reducing the time of your exam and using each X-ray beam far more efficiently to create the image. It should be noted that MRI and ultrasound technology do not use X-ray-type radiation. Learn more at imagewisely.org and imagegently.org.

As an ACR (American College of Radiology) accredited institution, SSM Health is voluntarily reviewed by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists, who are experts in the field of imaging, and found to meet nationally accepted, high practice standards. As an ACR-accredited institution, our team meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.