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Diagnostic Imaging Services for Intermountain Healthcare are fully integrated between our three Utah County hospitals - American Fork Hospital, Orem Community Hospital and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. We use electronic image capturing, distribution, interpretation and report delivery to ensure optimal service and convenience for our patients.
Imaging Services
The radiology specialists at American Fork Hospital are trained to perform and read a variety of X-ray procedures. X-rays are used to detect certain injuries, infections, illnesses and digestive problems. This information assists physicians in making accurate diagnoses. Most X-ray procedures are painless.
Computed Tomography (CT) is a tool that uses X-rays to produce a series of digital, computerized images of your body that help detect many medical conditions that do not appear on traditional X-rays.
Similar in appearance to an MRI scanner, the doughnut-shaped CT scanner uses an X-ray tube that moves around a targeted anatomical area of your body, taking X-ray pictures and sending them to a computer. The computer uses these signals to create a complete image of your internal anatomy.
During a CT exam, patients lie still and quiet on a padded table for approximately 15 minutes.
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- If your CT scan requires oral contrast, you will be scheduled to arrive 90 minutes prior to your scan time.
- If you have experienced a prior allergic reaction to a contrast agent in the past, please notify your caregiver or scheduler prior to arriving for your test.
- You may need to go without food or drink for two to four hours prior to your exam.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
- You will also be most comfortable during the exam if you wear comfortable clothing, free of any metallic particles.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful and useful medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to take internal pictures of various parts of the body. A safe, easy and comfortable exam, the MRI provides a great way to diagnose diseases of the brain, spine, skeleton, chest, abdomen, pelvis and blood vessels.
The MRI exam requires a patient to lie very still on a table that moves into a doughnut-shaped scanner with a large magnet. An MRI procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the images required.
With no known health risk associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves emitted during a procedure, an MRI procedure is very safe. However, there are some circumstances that limit the use of a magnetic field. It is important to inform your physician and tech if any of the following conditions apply to you or a loved one accompanying you into the exam room:
- cardiac pacemaker
- internal pacing wires
- cardiac defibrillation
- any neurostimulator
- current pregnancy
- any surgical clips, prosthetics or other devices
- any metallic foreign particles (in eye or other areas)
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- Plan on your MRI exam lasting 30 to 60 minutes. This will depend on the area of the body being scanned and the number of images needed.
- Arrive for your test wearing comfortable clothing, free of any metallic particles.
Nuclear medicine scanning uses a specialized camera to take pictures of certain tissues in the body after a radioactive material gathers in targeted tissues. Patients receive a safe dosage of radioactive material either through an IV or orally. The radiation helps make tissues visible during the scans, and soon leaves the body as waste. Nuclear medicine exam times vary depending on the type of exam.
Preparing for a Nuclear Medicine Test
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce still or video images of soft tissue areas in the body. Warm acoustic gel is applied to the skin over the area to be viewed, and a hand-held instrument called a "transducer" is moved slowly across the skin, which generates an image that appears on the ultrasound monitor. Ultrasound procedures are generally painless and quick and usually take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Preparing for an Ultrasound
When abdomen or pelvic regions are examined, patients may be asked not to eat or drink after midnight prior to the exam.
Mammography is a customized low-dose, noninvasive X-ray that is used to examine breast tissue, commonly searching for irregularities in breast tissue. Mammograms help detect tumors that cannot be felt, and can also discover micro-calcifications that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer. Mammograms can be used for screening or for diagnostic purposes in evaluating a breast lump.
Fluoroscopy is an exam used for a variety of procedures to examine internal organs. Some common procedures done with fluoroscopy include:
- Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging (UGI) – an exam to look at the stomach.
- UGI/small bowel – an exam to look at the stomach and the small intestines.
- Barium enema – an exam to look at the colon or large intestine. This is done with barium and air contrast.
- Chole – an exam used in the operating room, where an image is taken of the common bile duct to look for stones when the gallbladder is being removed.
- Extremities – the surgeon looks to determine if fractures are in alignment or if plates or screws need to be installed.
- Fluoroscopy is also used to assist with the placement of stents, catheters, balloons, blood clots, filters, and more.
Interventional Radiography is a minimally invasive medical test that assists physicians in diagnosing and treating certain medical conditions. It uses X-rays with contrast to generate pictures of major blood vessels in the body. In catheter angiography a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel through a small incision in the skin. Contrast material is injected through the catheter and images are captured using X-rays.
Preparing for an Interventional Radiography Test
- If you have experienced a prior allergic reaction to a contrast agent in the past, please notify your caregiver or scheduler prior to arriving for your test.
- Inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- You may need to replace your normal clothing with a gown upon arrival.
- You may need to remove jewelry, eyeglasses, and any metal objects.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
* services accredited by the American College of Radiology
Deep Venous Thrombosis Care
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) treatment is a minimally-invasive surgery available at American Fork Hospital that treats DVT, a blood clot condition. Our physicians use ultrasound to gain access to the vein and pass a small wire into the vein and position it in the blood clot. Treatment is then provided to dissolve the blood clot.
People at risk for DVT include those who have recently traveled, experienced surgery, are on new medications, are pregnant, or have a family history of DVT.