Medical Imaging (X-rays, etc.)

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Learn more about the radiologists on the ECHN medical staff.

ECHN offers a variety of amazing, methods that have joined traditional x-rays in uncovering the secrets of the inner body. Read an article on our medical imaging services.

Virtually every important medical imaging test that you may need for diagnosis and prevention is available through ECHN at various locations east of the river. Most of our radiologists are board-certified and fellowship-trained with subspecialty certification. Read an article on the "filmless" radiology system introduced by ECHN.

Medical imaging services are provided at both ECHN hospitals as well as at various locations throughout the community. ECHN partners with Evergreen Imaging, located at the ECHN Medical Building in South Windsor, for certain services. Evergreen Imaging's website can be found at www.evergreenimaging.org.

Medical imaging procedures available through ECHN include:

Angiography, which allows physicians to view the body’s blood vessels, looking for blockages or other problems. In this x-ray procedure, also called an angiogram, the doctor inserts a thin tube called a catheter into the artery, through a small incision in the skin about the size of a pencil tip. A substance called a contrast agent, which is an x-ray dye, is injected to make the blood vessels visible on the x-ray. The images produced through an angiogram are displayed on monitors, so the doctor can view the progress of the dye through the blood vessels.

Bone density scans, also called densitometry, are a simple and painless examination of the bones to determine their density and strength. It can provide important information about people at risk for osteoporosis, a debilitating bone disease. The exam is performed while the patient lies in comfortable clothing on a cushioned table with a pillow. A scanner passes over the person, using a tiny radiation dose to create images of the bones.

Cardiac imaging involves state-of-the-art methods to study how well the heart is working. Types of procedures include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – This basic test analyzes the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes placed on the chest, arms, and legs. It produces a graph that resembles a series of waves, which physicians can use to identify problems with heart rhythm.
• Stress test – This involves taking an ECG while a person walks on a treadmill or rides a stationary bike. For people unable to exercise, medication can be injected that stimulates the heart the way exercise does.
• Holter monitoring – This is an electrocardiogram that is performed continuously for 24 hours. The electrodes remain taped in place while a person goes about the day’s activities. A small recorder tracks the function of the heart.
• Echocardiogram – This is an ultrasound of the heart that can show if it is pumping normally and if the valves are working properly.
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) – While a person is sedated, a small recording device is threaded through the mouth and into the esophagus. Because images are recorded through less tissue, they can be clearer than standard echocardiogram images.
• Cardiac catheterization – This can detect diseases of the coronary arteries, blocked arteries, congenital heart disease, aneurysms, and more. A thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel in the leg or arm and is passed all the way to the heart. Contrast dye is then injected through the catheter, and an x-ray device produces an exceptionally clear picture on video monitors of the heart and vessels. This procedure is available at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Rockville General Hospital, established through a partnership with Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and its Hoffman Heart Institute.
• Cardiac nuclear medicine – This involves injecting a patient with a radioactive substance that travels to the heart. A SPECT camera with two heads rotates around the body and picks up the gamma rays that are generated. The camera produces cross-sectional images of the heart that can show areas of diminished blood flow and problems with contraction.

Computed tomography scans (CT scans or CAT scans) are performed through a sophisticated procedure in which an x-ray tube rotates around a person in a 360-degree circle, generating hundreds of images. A computer receives these images and reconstructs them to create cross-sectional views of the inner body.

Interventional radiology is a growing branch of medicine that in many cases can eliminate the need for conventional surgery for a wide range of conditions. These treatments are minimally invasive and are performed using guidance from medical imaging technology. Learn more.

Mammography is an x-ray exam of the breast can spot cancer in its earliest form, when it is as small as a grain of table pepper. The amount of radiation used in mammography is extremely small, much less than in a traditional x-ray. ECHN has added digital mammography to the Women’s Center for Wellness in South Windsor. Digital mammography is even more accurate, faster, and provides superior images. Because these images are computer-generated, they can be manipulated by the radiologist so that even dense breast tissue can be examined.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies can produce three-dimensional images of any part of the body and can diagnose a variety of health problems at their earliest, most treatable stages. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves instead of radiation to produce computer-processed images. Like a CT scan, an MRI is performed by moving a patient into a narrow tube. ECHN also offers open MRIs in which a person is not enclosed and can see all around.

Nuclear medicine involves the use of radioactive material and imaging devices. A special nuclear medicine SPECT camera picks up radioactive signals and translates the images onto a screen. This technique is especially useful for providing images of the heart, liver, bones, and thyroid gland.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) exams provide information about tissue function of the brain, lungs, and other organs. PET produces images that are different from traditional x-rays, CT, MRI, and ultrasound. The exam uses radioactive glucose, which is injected into the bloodstream and tracked after it is distributed throughout the body. PET is especially useful for people with cancer, heart disease, or neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Read an article about our PET_Scan service.

Ultrasound is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to view internal organs. Ultrasound imaging uses the principles of sonar developed for ships at sea. As sound passes through the body it produces echoes, which can be used to identify distance between body parts and their size and shape. Ultrasound is commonly used during pregnancy to assess the growth and development of a fetus. But an ultrasound image can be taken of virtually any organ of the body.