361-798-3671

1400 North Texana Hallettsville, Texas

About Our Imaging Center...

The Lewis Allen, Jr. Imaging Center

Of Lavaca Medical Center

The Lewis Allen, Jr. Imaging Center

of Lavaca Medical Center uses

progressive and up-to-date equipment

and scanning procedures to offer our

patients comfortable, quality care.

Services offered in the Imaging Center

include:

• Diagnostic Radiology • Bone Density • Digital Mammography • Nuclear Medicine • Modified Barium Swallows • CT • MRI • Ultrasound

The Lewis Allen, Jr.

Imaging Center of

Lavaca Medical Center

1400 North Texana Hallettsville, Texas

Apr-14

361-798-3671

Modality Descriptions Diagnostic Radiology • Radiographs are the images created

with x-rays, and are used for the evaluation of many bony & soft tissue structures.

• Commonly used to diagnose bone fractures, bone tumors, arthritis, pneumonia, and congenital skeletal anomalies.

Bone Density • Measures the density of minerals in your

bones. • Everyone loses some bone mass with

aging. The bones become thinner as you grow older because existing bone breaks down faster than new bone is made.

• DEXA is the most accurate way to measure bone mineral density. DEXA can measure 2% of bone loss/year.

• Fast and very LOW dose radiation • The spine and hip are measured because

that is where most osteoporotic fractures occur.

Digital Mammography • Selenia Dimensions Digital Mammography

with 2 dimensional technology. • Advanced imaging high quality tests with

increased comfort. • Digital Mammography produces images

that appear on the technologist’s screen in seconds.

• Shorter time in the exam, and possibility of same day results.

• LMC is now designated as a Pink Ribbon Facility.

Nuclear Medicine • Uses very small amounts of radioactive

materials to diagnose & treat disease. • Unique by providing doctors with

information about both structure and function.

Modified Barium Swallows • Evaluates the swallowing process for

people who are having problems speaking or swallowing food.

• Patients are given different consistencies of liquids mixed with Barium (a contrast material used that can be seen during X-rays) and several different foods coated with Barium from the Speech Therapist. The swallows are watched live on a video monitor.

• The Speech Therapist will evaluate the study and then recommend a diet for the patient, and may recommend exercises to do to correct any swallowing problems.

CT • Performed to analyze the internal

structures of the body by producing cross-sectional views of the patient’s body.

• CT is painless and can provide extremely accurate images of the body structures.

• Usually a very short procedure with m o s t e x a m s l a s t i n g o n l y approximately 5 minutes.

• Patient may be given oral or IV contrast to help enhance certain organs & structures for the exam.

• EX: CT can detect tumors, hemorrhage, aneurysms, lacerations, gall stones, kidney stones, infection, and fractures.

MRI • A test that uses a magnetic field &

pulses of radio wave energy to create pictures of organs & internal structures.

• Does NOT use radiation • Tests range in length from 30-60

minutes. • MRI Imaging of the brain is used to

diagnose tumors, aneurysms, or strokes.

• Other MRI tests can be used to diagnose torn ligaments or tendons, bone tumors, bone marrow problems, spinal stenosis, disc bulge, or spinal tumors.

Ultrasound • Uses high-frequency sound waves to

look at organs & internal structures. • Used to view the heart, blood vessels,

kidneys, liver, and other organs. • The Ultrasound Technologist uses a

device called a Transducer. The Transducer sends out sound waves, which bounce off the tissues inside the body. The Transducer also captures the waves that bounce back. Images are created from these sound waves.

• NO radiation exposure during an Ultrasound.

• Common tests: abdominal ultrasounds, echocardiograms, venous or arterial dopplers, carotid ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, breast ultrasound, and pregnancy ultrasound.

• Can be used to find Deep Vein Thrombosis, tumors, blockage in the arteries, and heart problems.

Nuclear Medicine continued… • EX: Can detect Pulmonary Embolisms in

a patient that cannot have a Cat Scan due to Iodine allergies, can detect Osteomyel it is , Metastas is , and Gallbladder function.

• Can identify abnormalities very early in the progression of disease.

Hallettsville, Texas

361-798-3671