A computed tomography (CT) scan, or CAT scan, takes pictures of your organs, bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels using X-rays and a computer. Your doctor will use these images to help diagnose a condition, plan treatment or see how well a treatment is working.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow before your exam. On the day of your exam:

• Take your regular medications with a small glass of water
• Bring your inhaler if you have asthma
• Remove your glasses, jewelry or hearing aids
• You may need to change into a gown or take off clothing with zippers, buttons or other metals

Before your exam, your technologist will ask you a few questions and have you lie down on the table. Most CT scans are painless and take only a few minutes but allow up to 30 minutes for the exam. Learn more about CT scans.

A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan measures the thickness and strength of your bones. Your doctor may order a bone density scan if you are post-menopausal, over age 65, have a family history of weak bones or are taking medication that can cause weakening bones.

Prepare for your DEXA scan by:

• Arriving 15 minutes before your appointment
• Wearing loose, comfortable clothing, nothing with buttons, zippers or snaps and a bra without an underwire
• Stopping taking calcium supplements 48 hours before your scan

Telling the technologist if you had back or hip surgery

Cardiac tests help your doctor identify problems in your heart or blood vessels. If you have risk factors or symptoms of a heart or vascular condition, your doctor may order:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI) – Compares blood pressure in your upper and lower limbs to check for blockages and peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Carotid ultrasound – Uses ultrasound to see your carotid arteries (major blood vessels in your neck that supply blood to your brain) and checks for any blockages that put you at risk for a stroke. This is a painless procedure and does not use any radiation.
• Echocardiogram – Creates multiple ultrasound images of your beating heart to assess your heart's pumping strength and valve function or to look for blood clots or tumors
• Standard stress test – Involves walking on a treadmill while your heart is continuously monitored with an EKG (electrocardiogram)
• Stress echocardiogram – Is a procedure that uses ultrasound to see how your heart and blood vessels work under stress, while using a treadmill.

Before your exam, confirm with your doctor if you need to withhold your medication. Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes for your stress test appointment. Learn more about mammography.

Get an annual mammogram to check for signs of breast cancer starting at age 40. 3D mammograms provide the most precise images regardless of breast density. These layered images help make it easier for your doctor to detect cancer.

Ultrasound uses sound waves (no radiation) to create images of your organs. These images help your doctor see, diagnose, and evaluate symptoms or conditions inside your body.

Types of Ultrasounds

We offer:

• Abdominal ultrasound – Looks at the tissue and organs in the upper abdomen, including appendix, bladder, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, bile ducts and abdominal aorta
• Breast ultrasound – Evaluates breasts for abnormalities
• Echocardiogram – Creates images of your heart to test blood flow through the heart and heart valves
• Pelvic ultrasound – Checks for problems in the urinary and reproductive systems
• Thyroid ultrasound – Checks for nodules in your thyroid
• Newborn hips ultrasound – Evaluate for a dislocated or underdeveloped hip
• Lower/upper extremities ultrasound – Evaluate for blood clots in the veins
• Soft tissue ultrasound – Evaluates lumps on the body
• Liver elastography ultrasound – Measure the stiffness of your liver tissues
• Scrotum ultrasound – Evaluate the testicles for abnormalities
• Thoracentesis ultrasound – Removes fluid from around your lungs (Performed by our pulmonologist)
• Ultrasound-guided biopsies – Uses ultrasound to guide our radiologist for biopsies of the breast, lymph nodes, thyroid (fine needle aspiration), and cyst aspiration.

Your doctor may order an X-ray to look at the inside of your body. X-ray is one of the main tools used by your doctor to help diagnose injuries and illnesses.