Department of Radiology

Key Services and Procedures

X-ray (Radiography)

X-ray imaging is a primary diagnostic tool for evaluating a variety of conditions:

• Chest X-ray: Commonly used to diagnose lung conditions such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and heart failure.
• Orthopedic X-ray: For assessing fractures, joint dislocations, and degenerative bone diseases like osteoarthritis.
• Abdominal X-ray: To detect issues like bowel obstructions, kidney stones, and other abdominal pathologies.
• Dental X-ray: For evaluating dental conditions such as cavities, bone loss, and impacted teeth.

Ultrasound (Sonography)

Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body:

• Abdominal Ultrasound: For imaging organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, and pancreas to identify conditions like liver cirrhosis, gallstones, and kidney stones.
• Pelvic Ultrasound: Used in obstetrics (for pregnancy monitoring) and gynecology (to assess conditions like ovarian cysts, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease).
• Thyroid Ultrasound: For evaluating thyroid nodules, cysts, and other thyroid-related issues.
• Cardiac Ultrasound (Echocardiogram): Used to assess the structure and function of the heart and diagnose conditions like heart failure, valve disorders, and congenital heart defects.
• Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: For imaging joints, muscles, and tendons, often used for sports injuries, soft tissue conditions, and tendonitis.

Computed Tomography (CT Scan)

CT scans use X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body, providing a clearer view of internal structures:

• Head CT: Used to evaluate head injuries, strokes, tumors, and neurological conditions.
• Chest CT: For detecting lung diseases, such as cancer, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and tuberculosis.
• Abdominal CT: To assess conditions like appendicitis, abdominal trauma, cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease.
• Spinal CT: To evaluate spinal injuries, disc herniation, and other disorders of the spine.
• CT Angiography: A specialized CT scan that visualizes blood vessels, helping to detect vascular conditions such as aneurysms, blockages, and bleeding.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of soft tissues and organs:

• Brain MRI: For diagnosing neurological conditions like brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, and degenerative diseases.
• Spinal MRI: To assess the spine for conditions such as disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and spinal cord injuries.
• Musculoskeletal MRI: For evaluating soft tissues, ligaments, tendons, and joints to diagnose tears, injuries, and degenerative conditions.
• Abdominal MRI: Used in cases where a CT scan is less informative, such as liver disease, pancreatic disorders, and tumors.
• Cardiac MRI: To assess the heart muscle, coronary arteries, and vascular structures, especially for conditions like cardiomyopathy, heart valve diseases, and congenital heart defects.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a live X-ray imaging technique that allows real-time visualization of the internal body structures:

• Barium Studies: Used in imaging the gastrointestinal tract, such as barium swallow (for swallowing issues), barium enema (for the colon), or upper GI series (for conditions like ulcers, hernias, and tumors).
• Hysterosalpingography (HSG): A special fluoroscopic procedure to evaluate the uterus and fallopian tubes in women with infertility concerns.

Mammography

Mammography is a specialized X-ray technique used for early detection and screening of breast cancer:

• Screening Mammography: To detect early signs of breast cancer in asymptomatic women, often as part of routine check-ups for women over 40 years.
• Diagnostic Mammography: For further evaluation of suspicious findings from screening, such as lumps, thickening, or nipple discharge.

Interventional Radiology (IR)

Interventional Radiology involves minimally invasive procedures guided by imaging techniques, offering alternative treatment options to traditional surgery:

• Biopsy: Image-guided needle biopsies (CT, ultrasound, or MRI-guided) for diagnosing conditions like cancer, infections, or inflammatory diseases.
• Angiography: Using contrast agents and imaging to visualize blood vessels and identify blockages, aneurysms, or vascular malformations. It can also include interventions like angioplasty or stent placement.
• Drainage Procedures: For draining abscesses or fluid collections in organs such as the liver, lungs, or abdomen, using minimally invasive techniques.
• Embolization: Used to block abnormal blood vessels, such as in the case of tumors or bleeding.

Bone Densitometry (DEXA Scan)

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is a diagnostic test used to measure bone density and assess the risk of osteoporosis:

• Osteoporosis Screening: To assess bone health and help diagnose conditions like osteoporosis, which increases the risk of fractures.
• Fracture Risk Assessment: Based on bone density, it helps in evaluating the risk of fractures, especially in postmenopausal women and the elderly.

PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography - CT)

PET-CT combines the functional imaging of PET with the anatomical detail of CT, often used in oncology:

• Cancer Diagnosis and Staging: To detect and stage cancers, assess treatment response, and identify metastasis (spread of cancer to other organs).
• Neurological Imaging: To evaluate conditions like Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and brain tumors.

Cardiac PET-CT: Used to assess heart function and detect coronary artery disease.