Diagnostic Imaging in the Heartland

Early detection is key when it comes to diagnosing bone loss, as it allows you to begin therapy to help slow bone loss and prevent fractures. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, also called a DXA or bone densitometry scan, is the most accurate way to diagnose osteoporosis, and women over the age of 65 should have one every year.

A DEXA scan uses two low doses of X-rays — one high energy and one low energy — to measure how much of the X-ray passes through the bone, focusing on the lower spine and hip. People with osteoporosis have a greater risk of breaking these bones, and the bones' condition can predict the likelihood of future breaks. The scan is noninvasive and takes only 10 to 20 minutes.

A CT or CAT (computed tomography) scan combines X-ray and computer technology to show highly detailed, 3-D images of any part of the body, including bones, muscles, fat, organs and blood vessels. Scans can also be performed using a contrast solution (either swallowed or injected) to make tissues and vessels more visible.

AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Lake Placid and AdventHealth Wauchula radiology utilizes advanced 64-slice CT technology that can capture images of a beating heart in five heartbeats, an organ in one second, and perform a whole-body scan in 10 seconds.

This technology results in less radiation exposure for patients and can be used to examine a wider range of conditions - everything from exams of the heart, spine, lungs and colon, to advanced techniques such as angiography, virtual colonoscopy and radiation therapy planning.

We offer innovative diagnostic procedures, including:

Cardiac Imaging

Doctors can capture images of the heart and coronary arteries in just five heartbeats. The quicker exam time offers a more comfortable experience for sick or elderly patients.

Stroke Imaging

When treatment is delivered within the first hour after a stroke, it can provide the best possible outcome for the patient. CT scanning provides the necessary speed and resolution required for rapid imaging of blood vessels in the brain, so doctors can begin treatment as quickly as possible.

Advanced CT Technology

We provide a range of advanced CT-guided techniques that doctors use in both diagnosis and interventional radiology treatments, including:

• Biopsies and abscess drainages
• CT angiography/arteriography
• CT radiation therapy planning
• Image-guided surgeries and pre-surgical planning
• Myelography (spine imaging with contrast solution)
• Virtual colonoscopy
  

An echocardiogram (also called an echo) is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create a detailed, moving picture of the heart and valves. This test allows your doctor to evaluate the functioning of your heart, and is used to diagnose and monitor a number of conditions, including:

• Abnormal Heart Valves
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Heart Murmurs
• Infectious Endocarditis
• Pericarditis
• Pulmonary Hypertension

Our radiology team can perform a wide-range of echocardiograms, including:

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)

The most common type of echocardiogram is performed by moving the transducer (which picks up the sound waves) to different areas on the outside of your chest or abdomen to obtain views of the heart.

Stress echocardiogram

This test is performed before and after your heart is stressed, either with exercise or medication to increase heart rate. Doctors use this test to determine whether you have decreased blood flow to your heart, such as in coronary artery disease.

Doppler echocardiogram

This test is used to examine how blood flows through the heart chambers, valves and vessels.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

When a regular echocardiogram is unclear, either due to obesity or lung disease, a TEE can provide a clearer picture. In this test, a probe is guided down the esophagus and can be positioned closer to the heart, without obstruction from the lungs and chest wall. This procedure is performed under mild sedation.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a diagnostic procedure that combines a powerful magnet, radio waves and computer technology to provide detailed images of tissues, muscles, nerves and bones.

Because MRI uses magnetic force and radio waves to create images, there’s no radiation exposure during the procedure. MRI is often used instead of CT to study soft tissues or organs because bones do not obscure the organs and soft tissues as they do with CT imaging.

MRI can be used to assess everything from ruptured discs in the spine to detecting brain tumors and vascular diseases. AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Lake Placid and AdventHealth Wauchula offers several types of MRIs to diagnose your health condition:

Breast MRI

Breast MRI can be a more effective imaging technique than mammography for some women, and can provide additional details for diagnosing and evaluating breast abnormalities.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)

This MRI test assesses chemical abnormalities in the brain for conditions such as coma, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, brain tumors, head injury and MS.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)

An MRA evaluates blood flow or detects brain aneurysms or blood vessel abnormalities. It is used to visualize renal, carotid and vertebral arteries, or examine the aorta for aneurysm. Perfusion and diffusion scanning examines blood flow through tissues to evaluate strokes.

Our radiology team is committed to easing your mind and lifting your spirits during your MRI. We aim to make imaging tests more comfortable and pleasant. We’ve added extra-comfort touches, such as a larger opening MRI scanner, softer lighting and music.

MRIs are painless exams that create quality thin-section images of any part of the body, including the arteries and veins, from any angle and direction, without surgical invasion and in a relatively short period of time.

The images are sent to computer work stations within the medical center for viewing by our radiologists and can be sent to your physician’s office for viewing.

For those who have difficulties completing an MRI, we offer sedation on specific days. Please talk with us about this service and availability.

PET/CT scans deliver accurate images to help your doctor develop or modify cancer treatment plans. This important imaging test brings together two powerful diagnostic scans: A PET scan and a CT scan.

A PET scan, or positron emission tomography scan, provide specific information about organ and cell functioning by distinguishing among healthy, diseased and dead tissues.

A CT scan creates a detailed picture of the body's internal anatomy.

At AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Lake Placid and AdventHealth Wauchula, our PET/CT scanning technology combines the physiological information from a PET scan and the anatomical information from a CT scan to provide a comprehensive image of the body in a single scan.

PET/CT imaging is primarily used to diagnose cancer and evaluate treatment by:

• Creating a single, full-body scan that reveals where cancer exists
• Delivering critical Information about cellular activity to help doctors distinguish between benign and malignant tumors
• Discovering evidence of cellular changes to allow doctors to evaluate treatments earlier and make necessary modifications.
• Offering more accurate information to detect recurrence.

PET/CT scans can also provide clear images of tumors that are often obscured by scar tissue (from surgery or radiation) when using other imaging techniques.

Ultrasound (or sonography) uses reflected sound waves to create real-time images of soft tissues, including muscles, blood vessels and organs. Because sound waves are used, there’s no radiation exposure during this procedure.

Although most commonly used to examine a pregnancy, ultrasound is also an effective tool for monitoring blood flow using Doppler ultrasound technology, and to detect abnormalities in organs, narrowed arteries, clotted veins or growths such as tumors and cysts.

AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Lake Placid and AdventHealth Wauchula offers a variety of ultrasound procedures, including:

• Breast ultrasound exams
• Biopsies of the breast, kidney, liver and thyroid
• Gynecologic and obstetric ultrasound exams
• Obstetric and breast ultrasound exams
• Paracentesis
• Thoracentesis

X-rays use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs on film or digital media. Standard X-rays are performed for many reasons, including diagnosing tumors or bone injuries.

At AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Lake Placid and AdventHealth Wauchula, radiology teams use X-ray technology in many types of diagnostic procedures, including:

• Arteriograms
• Computed tomography (CT) scans
• Fluoroscopy

During an X-ray, different parts of the body allow varying amounts of X-ray beams to pass through:

Soft tissues

Soft tissue in the body, such as blood, skin, fat and muscle, allow most of the X-ray to pass through and appear dark gray on the film or digital media.

Bones or Tumors

Bones and tumors are denser than soft tissue and appears white on the X-ray. Breaks in the bone appear as a dark line on a white bone.

X-rays are an important diagnostic imaging test that enables your physician to get you on the road to recovery.