Radiology Services

Potomac Valley Hospital Radiology Services..

The goal of the Radiology Department is to ensure that all patients treated will receive high quality care in the most expedient and professional manner possible.The department offers radiology services 24 hours a day to inpatient and emergency services, and ten hours per day to schedule outpatient.The department is under the direct supervision of a Radiologist, certified by the American Board of Radiology (ADR) and having a current license from the State of WV.

All Technologists are registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and certified by the State of WV is available twenty-four (24) hours per day and will assist the Radiologist(s) in acquiring needed imagines on a referred patient. Radiographs (x- rays), must be ordered by an attending physician. The x-ray then must be taken on equipment registered by the State of West Virginia, by a Registered and /or Certified Radiologic Technologist.

Hours of Routine Operation/Staffing
The diagnostic imaging department at Potomac Valley Hospital provides 24-hour-per-day, 7-day-per-week coverage for all examinations with the exception of Mammography, Ultrasound, and Nuclear Medicine. Routine examinations will be scheduled according to the predetermine time slots respective to the type of examination being ordered. Every effort will be made to accommodate urgent/weekend requests for service. Emergency examinations will be done as soon as possible.

Diagnostic Imaging
Monday- Friday…………………………………….. 24 hour coverage
Fluoroscopy (BE, UGI, SBF, BAS). Will be schedule according to the Radiologist’s schedule.
Saturday-Sunday…………………………………… 24 hour coverage
No Fluoroscopy on weekends

Computer Tomography
Monday- Friday……………………………………..6:30am-4:00pm
Emergency examination only
after hours
Nuclear Medicine
Monday-Friday...………………………………….. 7:30am-4:00pm
Ultrasound
Monday-Friday ……………………………………. 7:30am-4:00pm
Mammography
Monday-Friday...………………………………….. 7:30am-4:00pm
One Saturday a MonthDexa
Tuesday-Thursday...……………………………… 7:30am-4:00pm
Unless otherwise requested
For Monday or Friday

Diagnostic Radiology
The following procedures are done here at Potomac Valley Hospital, Radiology Department: Diagnostic X-ray, Fluoroscopy, I.V.P, DEXA, Mammogram, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, CT (CAT scan).

Diagnostic X-ray
What is a Diagnostic X-ray? It’s a medical procedure that uses radiation in the form of x-ray to help diagnose disease or injury.
An x-ray (radiograph) is a painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Radiography involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

Fluoroscopy
UGI (Upper Gastric Series)
The upper part of the gastrointestinal system is studied. The patient is given a “barium shake” to drink for contrast medium. The patient may be asked to swallow baking soda crystals to help create a clearer image.

BE (Barium Enema)
The colon and rectum are pictured, using a barium enema. This usually requires a special dietary changes1-3 days before the procedure.

I.V.P (Intravenous Pyelogram or Urogram)
The kidneys, ureters and bladder are observed when a contrast medium is injected into the vein. Special dietary preparation is usually necessary. You may be asked to bring a list of you medications. If you are a diabetic there are special instructions that you need to follow.

Arthrogram
A contrast medium is injected into a joint (often a shoulder, wrist, hip, knee or ankle) to detect injury or disease.

Dexa
Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that used to measure bone loss. One out of every two women over the age 50 is affected by osteoporosis- brittle bones that occur in the years after menopause. The disease thins and weakness the bones and can make them so fragile that they will break. Here in the United States there are over 23 million women who have or are at risk of developing this disease.
Please talk to your doctor to see if you qualify for an osteoporosis test (DEXA). This test enables us to identify whether you are at risk for fractures, by comparing your bone density to your own age group, and to a younger age group. The test is completely painless and provides your bone density result in a few minutes.

The following are all risk factors for osteoporosis:
- Small, thin frame -Family history of osteoporosis - Smoker
- Female - Avoidance of dairy foods - Low vitamin D intake
- Caucasian ancestry - Never taken estrogen - Sedentary lifestyle
- Asian ancestry - Rheumatoid arthritis - Excessive caffeine intake
- Early menopause - Excessive alcohol intake

Would you like to know if you are at risk?
Please call your physician to schedule an appointment at Potomac Valley Hospital for your osteoporosis test.

Mammography
Mammography uses a special x-ray machine to produce images of breast tissue. It’s an important way to help detect breast cancer and other breast conditions early-when they are most treatable. Here at Potomac Valley Hospital’s Radiology Department we use Women’s Touch MammoPad breast cushion is soft, foam, radiolucent cushion that is applied to the mammography bucky. It has been designed for single use to provide a sanitary surface and insure optimal image quality for each patient. There is no additional charge for the use of these Mammogram Pads.

U/S (Ultrasound)
U/S uses sound wave frequencies too high to be heard by humans. The Technologist uses a transducer which is a small, microphone-like device and warm gel, is placed over the area being examined. Sound waves pass harmlessly through the skin from the transducer. The sound waves bounce off certain organs and tissues in the body. That creates “echoes.” The echoes reflect back through the transducer to a monitor which then the technologist views pictures of the body part being examined.

Types of U/S Exams and Special preps.

Abdomen
We ask the patients to fast at least not eat after midnight especially when viewing the
gallbladder. Eating makes the gallbladder shrink and makes it harder to see small gallstones. The larger upper abdominal organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys are less affected by eating and are generally well seen whether you have fasted or not.

Pelvic
Transabdominal U/S
A full bladder provides a window to see into the pelvis. Women should generally drink a few glasses of water about 1 hour before exam. This is to have the bladder full but not too uncomfortable.
Transvaginal U/S
This is done with the bladder empty. It is performed with a small transducer placed in the vagina, often after a routine transabdominal U/S.
Doppler U/S
This can show movement inside the body for example blood flowing or heart beating.
Vascular ultrasound can show how well blood is flowing in the arteries and veins in the neck, legs, arms and other areas of the body.

Nuclear Medicine
What is nuclear medicine? It is the use of very small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and treat disease. Nuclear Medicine can provide accurate images, valuable information (how organs and tissue work), and therapy (a way of fighting some diseases). Nuclear medicine carries about the same risk as a common x-ray. Only tiny amounts of short-lived radioactive material (an isotope) are used.

How does Nuclear Medicine work? There are 5 basic steps. First, the patient receives radioactive material in one of several ways: Injection or IV, capsules, liquid, special tubing, and inhalation. Second, the isotopes travel to target organs and tissue. Different isotopes are matched with different compounds that go to specific organs and tissues. Third, the isotope gives off gamma rays (a form of radiation that can only be seen with special equipment.) Forth, special equipment provides images and readings of target organs and tissues. This equipment does not give off any radiation. Fifth, the images and readings are studied by a Radiologist then the results are sent to your Physician.

CAT scan/ CT
A computerized axial tomography scan is more commonly known by its abbreviated name, CAT scan or CT scan. It is an x-ray procedure which combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body. A CAT scan is used to define normal and abnormal structures in the body and/or assist in procedures by helping to accurately guide the placement of instruments or treatments. A large donut-shaped x-ray machine takes x-ray images at many different angles around the body. These images are processed by a computer to produce cross-sectional pictures of the body. In each of these pictures the body is seen as an x-ray "slice" of the body, which is recorded on a film. This recorded image is called a tomogram. "Computerized Axial Tomography" refers to the recorded tomogram "sections" at different levels of the body.

Imagine the body as a loaf of bread and you are looking at one end of the loaf. As you remove each slice of bread, you can see the entire surface of that slice from the crust to the center. The body is seen on CAT scan slices in a similar fashion from the skin to the central part of the body being examined. When these levels are further "added" together, a three-dimensional picture of an organ or abnormal body structure can be obtained.

In preparation for a CAT scan, patients are often asked to avoid food, especially when contrast material is to be used. Contrast material may be injected intravenously, or administered by mouth or by an enema in order to increase the distinction between various organs or areas of the body. Therefore, fluids and food may be restricted for several hours prior to the examination. If the patient has a history of allergy to contrast material (such as iodine), the requesting physician and radiology staff should be notified. All metallic materials and certain clothing around the body are removed because they can interfere with the clarity of the images. We ask all patients to bring a list of their medications. If patients are on Metformin such as Glucophage or Glucovance, we ask them to inform the Radiology Department for special instructions.

CAT scans are performed to analyze the internal structures of various parts of the body. This includes the head, where traumatic injuries, (such as blood clots or skull fractures), tumors, and infections can be identified. In the spine, the bony structure of the vertebrae can be accurately defined, as can the anatomy of the intervertebral discs and spinal cord.

Oral contrast is given in some examinations to enhance the stomach, small and large bowel, and to separate organs from each other. Some examines also require contrast material (an x-ray dye) to be placed into the vein to further enhance the arteries and veins and other various structures. CAT scans are also used in the chest to identify tumors, cysts, or infections that may be suspected on a chest x-ray. CAT scans of the abdomen are extremely helpful in defining body organ anatomy, including visualizing the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, aorta, kidneys, uterus, and ovaries. CAT scans in this area are used to verify the presence or absence of tumors, infection, abnormal anatomy, or changes of the body from trauma.

The technique is painless and can provide extremely accurate images of body structures in addition to guiding the radiologist in performing certain procedures, such as biopsies of suspected cancers, removal of internal body fluids for various tests, and the draining of abscesses which are deep in the body. Many of these procedures are minimally invasive and have markedly decreased the need to perform surgery to accomplish the same goal.

A CAT scan is a very low-risk procedure. The most common problem is an adverse reaction to intravenous contrast material. Intravenous contrast is usually an iodine-based liquid given in the vein, which makes many organs and structures, such as the kidneys and blood vessels much more visible on the CAT scan. There may be resulting itching, a rash, hives, or a feeling of warmth throughout the body. These are usually self-limiting reactions and go away rather quickly. If needed, antihistamines can be given to help relieve the symptoms. A more serious reaction to intravenous contrast is called an anaphylactic reaction. When this occurs, the patient may experience severe hives and/or extreme difficulty in breathing. This reaction is quite rare, but is potentially life-threatening if not treated. Medications which may include corticosteroids, antihistamines, and epinephrine reverse this adverse reaction.
Toxicity to the kidneys which can result in kidney failure is an extremely rare complication of the intravenous contrast used in CAT scans. Diabetics, dehydrated individuals, or patients who already have impaired kidney function are most prone to this reaction. Newer intravenous contrast agents have been developed, which have nearly eliminated this complication.

The amount of radiation a person receives during a CAT scan is minimal. In men and non-pregnant women, it has not been shown to produce any adverse effects. If a woman is pregnant, there may be a potential risk to the fetus, especially in the first trimester of the pregnancy. If a woman is pregnant, she should inform her doctor of her condition and discuss other potential methods of testing, such as an ultrasound, which are not harmful to the fetus.