IMAGING & DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES

Our Imaging Services offers state-of-the-art diagnostic services in radiology (x-ray), ultrasonography, bone densitometry, and echocardiography.  Our technologists meet the high standard of certification and licensure required by the accrediting bodies and by the state and make these diagnostic procedures comfortable and convenient. We provide our doctors and patients with high quality diagnostic services in a seamless and timely manner. We can also accommodate same-day imaging for those patients with urgent medical conditions, as determined by the referring physician. Our Imaging department uses a picture archival communication system (PACS) making access to image data information easier for our patients and physicians.

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Ultrasound

Examination of the body with ultrasound. There is no radiation involved. No dye or intravenous contrast media is required. There are no known biological effects. Similar to sonar, sound waves are transmitted into the body with a transducer that can send and receive sound signals. When the sound waves are received a picture is formed by the computer using the information.

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Type of Ultrasounds

• Abdominal Ultrasound

• Pelvic Ultrasound

• Transabdominal

• Transvaginal

• Transrectal

• Obstetric Ultrasound

• Carotid

• Abdominal Aorta

• Thyroid Ultrasound

 

DEXA Scan

Testing your bone density -- how strong your bones are -- is the only way to know for sure if you have osteoporosis. One common test doctors use is called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA).  DXA scanning focuses on two main areas -- the hip and the spine. If you can’t test those, you can get a DXA scan on your forearm. These areas can give your doctor a good idea of whether you’re likely to get fractures in other bones in your body.  DXA scanner is a machine that produces two X-ray beams. One is high energy and the other is low energy. The machine measures the amount of X-rays that pass through the bone from each beam. This will vary depending on how thick the bone is. Based on the difference between the two beams, your doctor can measure your bone density.  For the results of your scan, you’ll get a T-score. It shows how much higher or lower your bone density is than that of a healthy 30-year-old, the age when bones are at their strongest. The lower your score, the weaker your bones are:

• T-score of -1.0 or above = normal bone density

• T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 = low bone density, or osteopenia

• T-score of -2.5 or lower = osteoporosis

Sometimes doctors will give you another DXA scan result -- a Z score. It compares your bone density to a normal score for a person of your same age and body size. DEXA scans are recommended for:

• Women ages 65 or older

• Women ages 60 or older who have a higher chance of getting a fracture

Many health insurance companies will cover a bone density test, as does Medicare. But you need to check ahead of time to see if your plan does or if Medicare will pay for your testing. Most health insurers will pay for the test if you have one or more things that raise the chances you have osteoporosis, such as:

• A fracture

• You’ve been through menopause

• You’re not taking estrogen at menopause

• You take medications that cause bone thinning

Medicare covers bone density testing for specific types of people ages 65 and older:

• Women whose doctors say they’re low in estrogen and at risk for osteoporosis

• People whose X-rays show they may have osteoporosis, osteopenia, or spine fractures

• People who take steroid medicines or plan to start

• People with primary hyperparathyroidism

• People being monitored to see if their osteoporosis drugs are working

Medicare will pay for a bone density test every 2 years.

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Digital X-Ray

We have state-of-the-art, digital x-ray system to improve the quality of images, process results faster, utilizing minimal amount of radiation in order to create images, and provide more accurate diagnostics.  General Radiology is a term used to describe basic x-ray procedures. Many x-ray procedures require no preparation and can be done at any time during our office hours. Patients may walk in for these studies without an appointment.  Our locations are capable of performing x-rays for:

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     -Upper Extremities: fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus, radius

     -Lower Extremities: toes, foot, ankle, leg, knee, tibia, femur

     -Chest / lungs

     -Spine: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar

     -Skull: Head, Nose

     -Abdominal

     -Pelvis / Hips

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Hours of Operation

The Imaging Services Center offers the following convenient hours:

Monday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

 

Contact Imaging

Imaging/Radiology 

1119 W. Randol Mill Rd. Suite 103

Arlington, TX 76012

Phone: (817) 860-2700

Fax: (817) 860-2704

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Arterial Doppler With Segmental Pressures

                                                                                               Arterial Doppler with Segmental Pressures is a valuable tool for accessing                                                                                                the blood supply to the lower extremeties in patients who have                                                                                                                    claudication. Claudication is reproducible pain or cramping with exercise                                                                                                    that is relieved with rest. Doppler waveforms are obtained and blood                                                                                                          pressures at different levels of the legs are measured and compared to the                                                                                                blood pressure in the arm. Precautions: None. Patient Instructions: There is                                                                                                no patient preparation for the exam.  

                                                                                               

                                                                                               Normally the blood pressures in the legs are similar to those in the arms.                                                                                                  Lower pressures in the legs usually mean there are plaques (cholesterol                                                                                                    deposits) in the leg arteries compromising the circulation. Blood pressure                                                                                                  measurements are therefore made at different locations on the legs to see                                                                                                if there is narrowing of the arteries and where the blocks are in the legs.                                                                                                    The test is often done in people with diabetes, because diabetes tends to                                                                                                    cause small vessel disease.

 

 

Carotid Doppler & Peripheral Vascular Doppler

Peripheral Vascular and Carotid Doppler are used to examine disease inside the lumen of the blood vessels. Not only are images made of the vessels themselves, but blood flow direction as well as speed can be detected and measured. Precautions: None.

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Nerve Conduction Studies

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test of the speed of conduction of impulses through a nerve. The nerve is stimulated, usually with surface electrodes, which are patch-like electrodes (similar to those used for ECG) placed on the skin over the nerve at various locations. One electrode stimulates the nerve with a very mild electrical impulse. The resulting electrical activity is recorded by the other electrodes. The distance between electrodes and the time it takes for electrical impulses to travel between electrodes are used to calculate the nerve conduction velocity.

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How Should I Prepare for an Nerve Conduction Studies?

After showering on the day of your examination, do not use any creams, moisturizers or powders on your skin. If you have any bleeding disorders, let the examining physician know prior to testing. If you take blood thinners, even any aspirin or aspirin like medications let the examining physician know. You may be asked to stop blood thinners and aspirin products prior to your examination.

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If you have a pacemaker or other devices that are implanted in your body to deliver medications, let the examining physician know. Any history of back or neck surgery should be discussed with the examining physician, as the examination may need to be modified. Also, any recent fevers or chills may indicate current bodily infection and should be mentioned to the examining physician.

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Sudoscan

SUDOSCAN evaluates sweat gland function, which can

reflect the health of small nerve fibers.  By testing sweat

function, SUDOSCAN allows physicians to follow the

health of these nerves to better personalize and monitor

patient treatment plan. SUDOSCAN is a test that provides

an accurate evaluation of sweat gland function.  The test

focuses on small nerve fibers that innervate the sweat

glands.  The degeneration of small nerve fibers reduces

sweat gland innervation and impairs sudomotor function.  

SUDOSCAN measures the ability of the sweat glands to

release chloride ions in response to an electrical stimulus

on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, areas with

the highest sweat gland density.  SUDOSCAN provides a

quantitative measure of chloride conductance (measured

in microsiemens,µS) and its results serve as a biomarker

to assess sweat gland function.  The test results can be used

as indicators for patients at risk of autonomic dysfunction

through the measurement of Electrochemical Skin

Conductance (ESC).

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Electrocardiogram

Electrocardiography (EKG, ECG) measures your heart’s electrical signal as it triggers each of your four heart chambers to pump (contract). Small pads (electrodes) attached to the surface of your skin detect the electrical signals. The electrodes are attached with wires to a machine that draws a graph of the electrical signals.

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A comprehensive measurement of your heart’s signals requires 6 electrodes on your chest and 4 distributed across your arms and legs. Each electrode measures your heart’s electrical activity from a different angle, which the EKG machine displays as 12 separate readings. Your doctor gets the equivalent of a three-dimensional perspective of your heart’s electrical function from these readings.

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The different “waves” on the EKG graph show the signal triggering different parts of your heartbeat. By looking at these EKG waves, your doctor can detect problems with your heart’s rhythm. An EKG can also show evidence of other problems with your heart.