CT
CT scan is also known as a "CAT" scan. CAT stands for Computed Axial Tomography. CT is a diagnostic test that combines a series of X-rays with computer technology. The result is a two-dimensional, cross-sectional image of the body. Organs, bones and tissues are shown in great detail by these images.

Memorial Hospital has the most modern equipment with two superfast GE helical scanners at the hospital and an additional superfast scanner at the Memorial Outpatient Radiology Center at 100 Navarre Place.

Will the exam be painful?
The exams are painless.

How long will the CT scan take?
Most exams take between 15 minutes and an hour from the time a patient lies on the table. We try very hard to keep our schedule to minimize wait times. However, we do allow adequate time to obtain all the necessary information before we release each patient. Every case is checked by a radiologist before the patient leaves the CT table.

How should I prepare for a CT scan?
Some examinations, such as a head CT, require that the patient stop eating or drinking three hours prior to the exam. Patients having CT examinations of the abdomen and/or the pelvis are required to drink a dilute mixture of barium and fruit juice and have an enema consisting of diluted barium. This allows us to obtain much greater detail of the internal structures of the body.

Many exams also require the IV administration of an iodine-based compound to highlight the tissues of the body or brain. If you are allergic to iodine, please inform your doctor before the exam. Patients who are 65 or older, who are diabetic, or who have kidney function problems will need to have a simple blood test before their exam. Please inform your doctor so that this blood test can be performed before you arrive for your appointment.

ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound exams use high-frequency sound waves and a computer to produce images of internal body structures. During an ultrasound exam, a handheld "transducer" is placed against the skin. The high-frequency sound waves produced by the transducer travel into the body and are reflected back and collected. A computer turns this data into a "real-time" image. We use the top equipment by GE and Acuson. Some types of diagnostic exams we offer include:

Abdominal
Gynecologic
Obstetric
Neonatal
Prostate
Thyroid
Testicular
Trans-cranial Doppler
Vascular

The results of an ultrasound exam are highly dependent upon the skill of the operator. Therefore, it is very important to have only the highest quality sonographers. All of the ultrasonographers at Memorial are highly trained and specialize in the ultrasound field.

Memorial Hospital is also one of a few hospitals in the Michiana area which is accredited with the American College of Radiology.

How long will it take?
Most exams can be completed in about 30 minutes. However, we will take the necessary time to obtain all of the required data and to give the most accurate results. All ultrasound images are checked by a radiologist before the exam is finished.

How should I prepare for an ultrasound exam?
Most examinations require no preparation, with a few exceptions:
-Abdominal ultrasounds require the patient to not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the examination. These exams are typically scheduled for the morning hours to decrease this fasting period and minimize patient inconvenience.
-Pelvic and some OB ultrasounds require the patient to drink 32 to 40 ounces of water one hour before the exam. It is very important that the patient's bladder is full when the examination begins. Visualization of the structures of the pelvis are very dependent upon this. If your bladder is not completely full, you may be asked to drink more water before the examination can begin.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE
In contrast to CT or conventional X-ray exams, which pass a radiation beam through the body, nuclear medicine examinations use radioactive materials which are internalized (swallowed, inhaled, injected intravenously) into the patient's body. The radiation emitted from the radioactive materials is detected by a device called a gamma camera. Nuclear medicine exams provide images of organ function rather than structure. The metabolic changes of tissues caused by trauma, infection, or tumor can sometimes be seen weeks or months before structural changes can be seen with conventional X-rays.

We have a full-service nuclear medicine department with state-of-the-art single and dual head gamma cameras.

Some exams we offer are:

Para thyroid scanning
Thyroid scans and uptake
Radioiodine therapy of benign and malignant thyroid disease
Bone scans
Radiopharmaceutical palliation of bone pain from malignancy
Gallium scans
Nuclear stress test
Sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy
Renal scans
Hepatobiliary scans
Labeled white blood cell scans to detect infection
Labeled red blood cell to detect bleeding sites
Radionuclide ventriculograms for cardiac function
Is injecting radioactive material in my body safe?
Most of the radioactive materials we use have very short half-lives, meaning that they lose their radioactivity in a very short time. The total dose of radiation you receive is small and is comparable to other X-ray examinations.

What do I need to do to prepare for my nuclear medicine exam?
Please consult your physician for the appropriate preparation for a nuclear medicine study.

CONVENTIONAL X-RAY
Conventional X-ray was invented more than 100 years ago by Wilhelm Roentgen, and first used in South Bend by Dr. Stanley Clark in 1901. They are sometimes known as "diagnostic X-rays" or "plain films." This is the field of radiology most people are familiar with.

An X-ray beam is passed through a part of your body and is captured on the other side, showing an image of not only bones, but other internal structures as well.

Memorial uses all-digital systems to capture your X-ray, including Kodak CR800 and CR900 computed radiography systems. This makes the examinations faster and improves interpretation of the results. We offer nearly any kind of conventional X-ray a physician might order.

How should I prepare for an X-ray?
Routine exams such as chest X-rays and skeletal X-rays require no preparation and can be performed on a walk-in basis.

The following exams do require preparation and must be scheduled in advance.

Upper GI - (UGI)

Barium Enema

Intravenous Pyelogram - (IVP)

Hysterosalpingogram

Voiding cystourethrogram

Consult your physician for the preparation and scheduling required for these exams.