Radiology

Radiology is the area of medicine that uses X-rays, radioactive tracers, magnetic waves and ultrasonic waves to obtain detailed images of the inside of the body. Doctors can then use those images to detect and diagnose illnesses and injuries, as well as to help develop treatment plans.

The Radiology Department at Palmdale Regional Medical Center offers the following radiology services to residents of the Antelope Valley and surrounding region:

• Diagnostic radiology
• Computed tomography (CT) and CTA
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI - MRA) 1.5 Tesla
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Nuclear medicine
• Digital Mammography
• Cardiac CT Scan for Calcium Scoring

Advanced Technology Means Quicker Diagnosis

The advanced diagnostic imaging technology used at Palmdale Regional Medical Center gets results to your physician quickly, so he or she can make a diagnosis and recommend treatment for you as soon as possible. Our technology means that your physician can access your results immediately, from any location, through our secure imaging Web site.

The Technology

X-ray
An X-ray image is produced when a small amount of radiation passes through the body to create an image on sensitive digital plates on the other side of the body. The ability of X-rays to penetrate tissues and bones depends on the tissue’s composition and mass, and the difference between these two elements creates the image. Contrast agents, such as barium, may be swallowed to outline the esophagus, stomach and intestines to help provide better images of an organ.

CT—Computed Tomography (CAT Scan)
Computed tomography, also known as CT or CAT scan, generates a detailed images of an organ by using an X-ray beam to take images of many thin slices of that organ and joining them together to produce a single image. The source of the X-ray beam circles around the patient and the X-rays that pass through the body are detected by an array of sensors. Information from the sensors is computer processed and displayed as an image on a video screen.

Palmdale Regional Medical Center uses a General Electric 64-slice scanner, as well as a Siemens Somatron Sensation 16ct, a 16-slice scanner, for CT examinations. Each time the scanner rotates around a patient's body, it uses low radiation X-rays to create 16 or 64 high-resolution slices (images). depending on the scanner. Because the scanner circles a patient's body about four times every second, patients may have to lie in the CT machine for two to three minutes.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create clear, detailed images of internal organs and tissues. Since X-rays are not used, no radiation exposure is involved. Instead, radio waves are directed at the body’s protons within the magnetic field. This exam takes 30-50 minutes on average and consists of several imaging series. Most studies will require a small intravenous injection of a contrast agent that usually contains the metal Gadolinium. MRI contrast does not contain iodine, an element used in other contrast agents for X-rays or CT scans, so it may be safer for patients who are sensitive to iodine.

Ultrasound (Sonography)
High frequency sound waves are used to see inside the body. A transducer—a device that acts like a microphone and speaker— is placed in contact with the body using a special gel that helps transmit the sound. As the sound waves pass through the body, echoes are produced and bounce back to the transducer.

By reading the echoes, the ultrasound can produce images that illustrate the location of a structure or abnormality, as well as provide information about its composition. Ultrasound is a painless way to examine the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, blood vessels, breast, kidney or gallbladder, and is a crucial tool for obstetrics.