RADIOLOGY / MEDICAL IMAGING

Radiology and Medical Imaging is the fastest growing department in the hospital with new technology and expanded services.

Advanced technologies such as MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine are called on routinely to provide physicians with information essential for efficient and effective diagnosis.

Computed tomography (CT) is a special kind of x-ray that produces cross-sectional images of the body. It's a valuable non-invasive diagnostic tool used when a physician needs more detailed information than a regular x-ray. CT's can distinguish bone, muscle, tissue, fat, gas, and fluids and the images can be rotated or enlarged to show great detail. Bay Area Hospital has state-of-the-art CT technology.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces very detailed pictures of internal organs and structures using electromagnetic energy, not x-rays, to produce images. MRI is used to look for stroke, bleeding, and tumors of the brain; narrowing of the spinal canal, pinched nerves caused by discs, and nerve tissue diseases much as multiple sclerosis; and it produces a highly detailed look at joints, such as a ligament tear in the shoulder or knee. BAH has state-of-the-art MRI technology.

BAH is one of a handful of hospitals in the state to provide the latest technology in breast biopsy known as stereotactic breast biopsy or ABBI (advanced breast biopsy instrumentation). The ABBI procedure is a one-step process done under local anesthesia and allows a breast biopsy to be done without surgery or general anesthesia. The surgeon can identify the targeted tissue within one millimeter of accuracy and remove the necessary tissue without compromising healthy tissue. To the patient the ABBI system means reduced costs, reduced procedural time, no operating room costs, and a minimally invasive procedure.

X-ray is recognized under the umbrella of medical imaging. The basic process has not changed since its discovery, even with improvements in the way the image is generated and recorded. X-ray is the mainstay of the department and finds its importance in trauma cases and in diagnosing chest pain if heart attack is ruled out. It's quick, cost-effective, and gets the job done before more expensive imaging tests may be ordered.

Nuclear medicine differs from x-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound in one significant way. While these procedures look at organ structure, nuclear medicine shows organ function. After a radiographic compound is given to the patient by IV or mouth, a specialized camera detects and measures the amount of radioactivity in the organ and produces computerized images. It can detect an abnormality that MRI, CT, and x-ray can't. It's non-invasive and there are no side effects.

Mammography is a low-dose x-ray that examines breast tissue and can detect a breast lump before it can be felt. It is the most effective technology available to detect breast cancer. BAH has two high quality mammography machines with superior image quality, reduced exposure times, and great patient comfort. Computer aided detection (CAD) was recently added to the mammography technology, which is like having a second set of eyes for the radiologist or having another radiologist take a look at the film. Three highly qualified female technologists are on staff to help women feel comfortable about the procedure. To fit busy lifestyles, mammography appointments may be scheduled around the workday or during lunch hours.

Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to construct an image and is based on the fact that various tissues reflect sounds differently. It has many applications, including fetal monitoring and imaging organs. Ultrasound is simple and painless and there's no risk involved.

Positron emission tomography (PET) makes weekly rounds to BAH offering yet another diagnostic tool for South Coast physicians. PET scans can be used to diagnose nervous system disorders, locate epileptic areas in the brain, and distinguish healthy from damaged heart tissue. At BAH, PET focuses on cancer: to diagnose it, determine how far advanced it is, and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. The images effectively pinpoint cancer anywhere in the body. With PET, physicians and patients can make a more informed decision about cancer diagnosis and treatment without the patient undergoing more invasive procedures that may not tell the same story.

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