Diagnostics

Your physician may order any of these diagnostic tests to better understand your condition. The Radiological Society of North America offers the following information and links for you to learn more about them.

Many of these tests can be done at Upper Chesapeake Health:
http://www.uchs.org/?section=programs&page=imaging_services

Xray
Imaging with x-rays 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.

A bone x-ray makes images of any bone in the body, including the hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, leg or spine.

Click here for more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bonerad

MRI
MR imaging uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and virtually all other internal body structures. The images can then be examined on a computer monitor, printed or copied to CD. MRI does not use ionizing radiation (x-rays).

Click here for more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=spinemr

CT
CT scanning combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These cross-sectional images of the area being studied can then be examined on a computer monitor or printed.

Click here for more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=spinect

Myelogram
Myelography is an imaging examination that involves the introduction of a spinal needle into the spinal canal and the injection of contrast material in the space around the spinal cord (the subarachnoid space) and nerve roots using a real-time form of x-ray called fluoroscopy.

Click here for more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=myelography

Bone Density Scan
Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. DXA is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD).

Click here for more: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=dexa