We have Three Hitachi Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems at The Imaging Center. We refer to these as The Elite, The Altair, and The Oasis. The latest addition to our MRI family is the High-Field strength Oasis MRI.  Having three open MRIs allows us very fast turnaround.  We can usually do your MRI the same day that your doctor orders it!   Each of these machines has its own special capabilities, so that there is no MRI exam, that we can't handle.   Let us take a Look!

$575 for a complete Open MRI, with Reading and contrast

Don't Squeeze into a tube just to get an MRI be Open Minded

View our Physicians Alert Paper on MRI Imaging available here, Page 1, Page 2 PDF Formatted Documents.

Additional Information about our MRI equipment can be seen at Hitachi Medical Systems America.

CT Scans — Computed Tomography also known as CT scans, use a special X-ray camera to produce highly detailed images of the brain, spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. CT is excellent for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring cancer. CT is the best way to evaluate abdominal pain and surgical problems of the abdomen.  We use an advanced 16-slice “helical” scanner that allows us to see smaller structures and pinpoint problems with greater accuracy. CT and MRI technologies compliment each other, as they each have the ability to see different structures and tissues. It is not uncommon to have both a CT and MRI during the diagnostic imaging process. The CT design is an open type, short-bore, reducing the patient stress level during a scan.  Out CT technologists Todd, Kevin, and Scott will guide you during the exam, while performing very high resolution images for Dr. Harper's interpretation.
 

To see a full resolution image of CT Abdomen click CT Abdomen.

Additional Information about our CT equipment can be seen at Hitachi Medical Systems America.

Ultrasound — Our high-resolution ultrasound exam is a safe and fast way to screen for certain problems in many different structures, including the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, thyroid gland, breasts, and more. Ultrasound is also the safest and best way to evaluate a pregnancy.  At The Imaging Center, we also offer Doppler ultrasound, a revolutionary procedure that allows us to look for blockages or aneurysms in blood vessels. We are also able to perform cardiac echocardiography, and many types of biopsies utilizing ultrasound guidance.  Maria and Ashley work together with Dr. Harper during these biopsy and fine needle aspiration procedures.

Physicians Alert Paper on Ultrasound Imaging available here, Page 1, Page 2 PDF Formatted Documents

Mammography — This is a high-resolution X-ray of the breast that can help us see small breast cancers long before they can be felt by you or your doctor. We utilize computer-aided detection which provides additional information to the Radiologist during the interpretation of your mammogram.  Many women are worried and scared to get a mammogram.  Our mammography technologists are very sensitive to these concerns, and work tirelessly to ease these apprehensions.  We use Soft-Touch Mammo Pads to alleviate any discomfort during the exam.  It takes less than 30 minutes each year to screen for breast cancer, and possibly save your life. In fact, the actual exam usually takes less that 10 minutes.  Penny (shown below) and Cassie will listen to any concerns as she performs your exam.
 

Bone Densitometry — DEXA scans are a safe and painless way of checking your bone density and bone mineral content. This is essential to detecting osteoporosis early enough to get appropriate treatment. Osteoporosis is the most concerning, reversibly risk factor for spinal compression fractures and hip fractures.  Cassie (shown below), Ashley, Penny, Alice, and Maria are experts in this field.
 

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a unique type of Radiology, that allows us to see how well an organ functions.  Sometimes an organ may look normal, but still be diseased!  Nuclear Medicine can evaluate the function of nearly every organ system in the body.  We routinely use Nuclear medicine to evaluate the function of the liver, the gallbladder, and  the thyroid gland.  It can also be used to check for thyroid cancer or to check for bone cancer, just to name a few.

Nuclear medicine procedures are complimentary to the rest of radiology, which relies on anatomy.  For instance, nuclear medicine can be utilized to tell doctors how well the liver and gallbladder are functioning.  Specifically, if you have abdominal pain, targeted to the right upper quadrant, and your other tests are negative, your doctor may desire a nuclear medicine hepatobiliary scan to evaluate the function of your liver and your gallbladder.   Similarly, if your thyroid gland is overactive or not active enough, your doctor may perform laboratory evaluation and ultrasound evaluation, but may subsequently desire a nuclear medicine thyroid scan to assess the actual function of your thyroid gland.  Your doctor may also want to evaluate a nodule or mass in the thyroid to assess for a so-called "cold nodule" or "hot nodule", which are simply focal under active or overactive areas in the thyroid gland.  This aids in determining whether or a person needs medicine, a thyroid biopsy or a thyroid surgery. 

Nuclear medicine can also be utilized to tell us about the function of bones.  Most people think bones are simple a girder structure that the rest of the body is formed around, but bones are metabolically active.  That is why bones can heal when they are fractured.   Bone scans are usually utilized to exclude metastasis disease to the skeletal system from another site in the body, but it can also be used to evaluate for infection and for occult trauma, such as, stress fractures.  All of these areas are common areas that we evaluate we evaluate with nuclear medicine at The Imaging Center.

Nuclear medicine procedures are performed after administration of a radiopharmaceutical, which is a safe radioactive material that has been specifically designed to go to one area of the body.  This material emits gamma rays, which are then detected by a gamma camera to generate images, which can be viewed in movie form. This is interpreted by the radiologist so that the diagnosis can be achieved.  Some nuclear medicine procedures, particularly those regarding the thyroid gland require special preparation by the patient with regard to medications, previous iodinated contrast, and some foods.  For more information, please click this link. 

Nuclear medicine procedures have been performed for many years and are very safe.  If you have any questions or concerns about your nuclear medicine procedure, we would be happy to discuss your concerns.  The specific contact is Scott Messner, (pictured below) the certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist, who will be performing your procedure.  As always, we are happy to discuss your particular case in order to alleviate any anxiety.  We are committed to getting your procedure performed quickly and conveniently so that you can continue life and not worry about your imaging procedures.  Let us take a look. 
 

X-Ray and Fluoroscopy

X-Ray is the most common radiology test.  Even though it does not seem fancy, it is a very good source for most basic medical information.  We provide "walk-in" service for X-rays.  Therefore you can see us right after your doctor orders an X-ray, so that you don't have to wait for hours in a hospital X-ray department waiting room.  We also have easy front door parking for your convenience.  Cassie and Ashley (pictured below) perform most of the X-rays. Let us take a Look!

Fluoroscopy is "live or real-time" X-ray.  It is used for procedures that require direct visualization, so that diagnoses can be made.  It is frequently used to look at the stomach and bowel.  It is also very useful needle placement procedures, such as Myelograms and arteriogram.  We perform two and often three of these procedures every day.  For a Myelograms the radiologist and an X-ray technologist use fluoroscopy to quickly guide a needle into the spinal canal so that contrast can be injected.  X-rays are then taken followed by a CT scan.  This information is then used by other doctors (usually neurosurgeons) for treatment and/or surgical planning.  For an arthrogram the Radiologist and an X-ray technologist use fluoroscopy to quickly guide a needle into a joint (like the shoulder, knee, or wrist), so that contrast can be injected.  X-rays, MRI, or CT are then performed.  This information is very useful to orthopedic surgeons and others who treat joint conditions.

Pain control therapy is also performed utilizing fluoroscopic guidance.  The procedures and sites are similar, but medicine is injected, rather than contrast, in effort to treat pain.  We routinely perform therapeutic hip joint injections, SI joint injections, and epidural steroid injections.