Wake Women’s Health has a comprehensive in-house radiology department. Radiology services include computerized x-rays, ultrasound, bone density testing, CT scans and nuclear medicine. The Wake Women’s Health staff is focused on providing up to date radiology services to patients, with the goal of finding problems and the best solutions as soon as possible.
Radiology Services Provided:
Bone Density Testing
Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. This is a low-dose x-ray and the procedure is painless. DEXA is the established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD).
Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound image is a useful way of examining internal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and bladder. Because ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show movement of internal tissues and organs and enable physicians radiology services to see blood flow. This procedure is used to diagnose a variety of conditions and assess damage caused by illness.
Vascular Ultrasound
Vascular ultrasound combines regular ultrasound with Doppler ultrasonography to examine major blood vessels. The Doppler procedure records sound waves bouncing off moving objects such as blood. These images help the physician see and evaluate blockages to blood flow, buildup of plaque inside the blood vessel, or congenital malformation.
2D Echo
An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound test that is used to examine the heart. The device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off the different parts of the heart. These echoes are turned into moving pictures that can be seen on a video screen and analyzed by the physician.
CT Scan
A CT (computerized tomography) scan, often called a CAT scan, is a painless examination that combines x-rays with computer scans. This procedure gives your physician a detailed image of soft tissue, organs and bones. CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue with great clarity.
Nuclear Cardiology
A nuclear cardiology is an imaging modality that provides important information about the health of your heart.
For this test, an IV will be inserted into your arm and a safe, radioactive isotope is injected into your bloodstream. The isotope travels to your heart and releases energy. Special cameras will be moved over you to detect the energy and use it to create pictures of your heart.
Nuclear heart scans are used for three main purposes:
- To check the blood flow to the heart.
- To look for damaged heart muscle. Damage might be the result of a previous heart attack, injury, infection, or medicine.
- To see how well your heart pumps blood to your body.
- Usually, two sets of images are taken during a nuclear stress test. The first set is taken right after a stress test, while your heart is beating fast.
During a stress test, you walk on a treadmill to make your heart work hard and beat fast. If you have difficulty walking, you may be given medicine to increase your heart rate. This is called a pharmacological stress test. The second set of pictures is taken later, while your heart is at rest and beating at a normal rate.
For more information on Wake Women’s Health radiology services, contact us at our Raleigh, NC office.
