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Radiographic Exams and Procedures

Angiography

• Angiography is a type of x-ray that is done to image blood vessels in various parts of the body, to determine whether the vessels are diseased, narrowed, enlarged or blocked. 

• The angioplasty procedure is performed to improve blood flow in the body's arteries.  A balloon-tipped catheter threads through the artery to the narrow or blocked portion where a balloon is inflated to open the vessel.  Vascular stenting, is  the placement of a small wire mesh tube called a stent in the newly opened artery.  A stent is a permanent device that is left in the artery to maintain the open position after the angioplasty.

• Arthrography is the radiographic examination of a joint after the injection of contrast material or air to outline the soft tissue and joint structures on the images.

• Special liquid is administered through your colon so that x-ray images can be taken to determine abnormal or blocked movement in the body's lower GI tract.

• Cardiac nuclear medicine refers to nuclear medicine diagnostic tests that are used to examine the anatomy and function of the heart.

• Embolization is a way of closing one or more blood vessels that are doing more harm than good. 

• Chemoembolization is a way of delivering cancer treatment directly to the tumor.  Chemoembolization works to attack the cancer in two ways.  First, it delivers a very high concentration of chemotherapy directly into the tumor.  Second, the procedure cuts off blood supply to the tumor, and trapping the drugs at the tumor site to enable them to be more effective.

• CT angiography is an examination to visualize blood flow in arterial vessels.   CTA is a much less invasive and more patient-friendly procedure in which contrast material is injected into a peripheral vein rather than an artery.

• A catheter is inserted through the urethra, and the bladder is filled with contrast material.  After the catheter is withdrawn x-ray images are captured as the patient empties the bladder.

• An interventional radiologist inserts a tube, called a catheter, into an artery in the leg.  This catheter is then maneuvered through the body to the appropriate position.  Once in position, the radiologist places one or more small coils through the catheter into the area of concern

• Contrast material is injected into the patient's system, and its progress through the urinary tract is then recorded on a series of images.  This enables the radiologist to see kidney and urinary tract function.

• Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system for examination of the breasts.  Under current guidelines all women should have a screening mammogram every year beginning at age 40.

• MRA is an MRI study of the blood vessels.  It utilizes MRI technology to detect, diagnose and aid in the treatment of heart disorders, stroke, and blood vessel diseases.

• Contrast material is injected into the space around the spinal cord and x-rays  are  taken after the injection to demonstrate distortions of the spinal cord.

• This biopsy involves removing a small piece of tissue for examination by a physician.  A needle is inserted through the skin and the syringe will obtain the tissue sample.

• Nuclear medicine is a diagnostic examination that results in images of body anatomy and function. The images are developed based on the detection of energy emitted from the radioactive substance given to the patient.

• A special needle electrode is placed in the tumor.  A radiofrequency current  is passed through the electrode to heat the tumor tissue near the needle tip and eliminate it.  

• A treatment that breaks up abnormal blood clots that are restricting blood flow. 

• Also called sonography, is a method of obtaining images from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves.

• After placing an ultrasound probe over the site of the breast lump , a biopsy needle in placed directly into the mass.  Tissue specimens are then taken.

• The patient drinks barium (contrast material). While the barium passes through the upper gastrointestinal tract, x-ray images are taken of the esophagus, stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

• A catheter is placed in the uterine arteries and small particles are injected to block the arterial branches that supply blood to the fibroids. 

• A vascular access catheter is a long, thin tube that is placed in a vein in the arm, in the neck or in the chest just beneath the collarbone.  The tube then is threaded into a major vein in the middle of the chest. 

• Vertebroplasty is used to strengthen a broken vertebra that has been weakened by osteoporosis or, less commonly, cancer.  Vertebroplasty is accomplished by injecting an orthopedic cement mixture through a needle into the fractured bone

• Most frequently used form of medical imaging, the easiest way to view and bones and soft tissues.

• A hollow needle is passed through the skin to the site of the abnormality.  A small sample is taken for examination and final diagnosis to a pathologist. 

 

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