Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Winter 2019

dameronhospital.org 13 TAKE A LOOK To learn more about our interventional radiology and diagnostic imaging services, visit the Dameron Hospital website at dameronhospital.org/imaging . “Our imaging and radiology services teams provide exceptional care by working with referring doctors, nurses and other clinicians to deliver the comprehensive care that you have come to expect at Dameron Hospital,” says Darlene Crockett, director of imaging. “Our digital imaging technology allows doctors and radiologists to access diagnostic images immediately so that treatment can begin faster.” pathologies such as cysts, kidney stones, and blockages in the veins and arteries. General diagnostic radiology (x-ray) and fluoroscopy exams: X-rays are taken in the form of digital pictures. Video x-rays, which help to see internal organs in action, are called fluoroscopy exams. Both produce minimal radiation and are used to diagnose things like bone injuries, pain and gastrointestinal (GI) tract problems. Echocardiography (echo): Echocardiography, or echo, is a specialized test that uses ultrasound imaging to show the size and shape of your heart, as well as how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working. Echo can detect possible blood clots inside the heart, fluid buildup around the heart and problems with the main arteries of the heart. Nuclear medicine: Nuclear medicine investigates abnormal activity at the molecular level in many areas of the body. Using a trace amount of a radiopharmaceutical, images are captured using a specialized camera. Typical uses for nuclear medicine include perfusion studies, finding hairline fractures and arthritis in the bones, treating abnormal thyroid, locating inflammation of the gallbladder, and identifying the source of fevers and infections of unknown origin. Interventional radiology: The ‘doing’ part of radiology Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing area of medicine, and Dameron Hospital is offering these specialized services right here in San Joaquin County. Our interventional radiologists are physicians who are trained in both traditional radiology and the use of needles, fine catheters and wires to navigate in the body, guided by imaging. Interventional radiology procedures are performed in our cardiac catheterization lab with small instruments that enter the body through a tiny incision. Once the catheter or wire is in the body, the radiologist guides it using x-rays, ultrasound or MRI and navigates through the blood vessels or other pathways to treat vascular and nonvascular diseases. Once the procedure is complete, the incision is covered with a small bandage. These innovative, image-guided procedures can diagnose and treat conditions in nearly every organ system and can be performed on an outpatient basis with only a short hospital stay. Interventional radiology can be used to treat blood clots, benign tumors, certain types of cancer, heart conditions, stomach (GI) conditions, spine fractures and back pain. Main advantages of interventional radiology Among interventional radiology’s many advantages are: ▸ ▸ Smaller incisions. ▸ ▸ No general anesthesia required in most cases. ▸ ▸ Risk, pain and recovery time are often significantly reduced, compared to surgery. ▸ ▸ Procedures are usually less expensive than surgery or other alternatives.