Frederick MD

Who Can Benefit from 3T MRI by Frederick MD?

Many patients benefit from 3T MRI as they are more precise. The clinical information derived from the 3T MRI allows for better diagnoses and treatment plans.

How Should I Prepare for 3T MRI?

As with any procedure, talk to your doctor. Make sure the doctor is aware of any previous surgeries, and whether or not you have implants, surgical screws, or other metallic devices. They need to know these things in order to get an accurate image. 3T MRI’s are performed by an expert radiologist near Frederick MD. Click here to read more about preparation for MRI’s.

What Should I Expect From 3T MRI?

Do not eat or drink right before the procedure, as nausea can be a common side effect. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to prepare for the examination. Make the team aware of your asthma, claustrophobia, or any other conditions that is aggravated by being in an enclosed space. Our team of friendly professionals provides great services and will make your experience as smooth as possible. Even if you are claustrophobic, our scanner, the environment, and our caring technologists will ease your mind and seamlessly get you through the procedure. At the Radiology Clinic, we consider all variables to make our patients as comfortable as possible.

What Do My Results Mean?

Your results will be interpreted by our expert fellowship-trained, board-certified radiologist. A report will be sent out to your physician typically the same day. During your visit, the procedure will be explained in detail by our expert technologists so that you can mentally prepare. At The Radiology Clinic, we strive to communicate effectively with our patients. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

To detect calcium buildup in the plaque lining near the coronary arteries, your doctor orders an exam called the Calcium Scoring Scan. The procedure uses a scan known as computed tomography (CT). Calcium deposits in the walls of coronary arteries are an early sign of coronary artery disease and can narrow the arteries, potentially leading to heart attack or stroke. The calcium scoring scan is a noninvasive and painless test that provides a score indicating the amount of calcium buildup and helping to predict the risk of developing heart disease. The higher the score, the higher the risk of heart disease.

Who Benefits from a Calcium Scoring Scan by The Radiology Clinic?

For people with a moderate risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart attack, this imaging test is one that your doctor often recommends. Calcium scoring helps evaluate the likelihood of a future cardiac event recommended for men over 40 and women older than 50. Note: this test does not replace regular screening for heart disease.

How to Prepare for Calcium Scoring

Once scheduled for a Calcium Scoring near Frederick MD, you should avoid eating, smoking, or drinking anything that contains stimulants for at least a few hours before your appointment. Click here to read more about preparation for Calcium Scoring.

What to Expect During the Scan?

During the scan, the doctor takes pictures to interpret post examination. You may need to change into a gown, and you will be asked to remove jewelry. Once on the table, the expert radiologist will attach electrodes to your chest that capture images of your heart at a resting state. The scan itself usually takes about 20 seconds.

What Do The Results Mean?

The calcium score number provides a risk analysis for a patient’s chance of having coronary artery disease by directly measuring the calcifications on the coronary arteries. When in need of a Calcium Scoring near Frederick MD, please contact us for an appointment.

Who Benefits from a CT Scan?

Medically known as computed tomography, CT scans provide radiologists with a view of the inside of the body. Actually, a series of X-rays in addition to a CT scan is considerably more useful than other forms of imaging because it gives a three-dimensional view of a particular area or organ. It can therefore be helpful in diagnosing a number of problems, including:

• Internal injuries
• Muscle and bone disorders
• Cancer
• Infection

How Should I Prepare for a CT Scan?

Before receiving the scan, you may be asked to take off some or all of your clothing or at least to remove certain objects and wear a gown instead. This is because dentures, eyeglasses, and jewelry may interfere with the scanning process. You may also be given a contrast dye that is designed to enhance the image.

What Should I Expect from a CT Scan?

In undergoing the procedure, you will be carried atop a motorized table that slides into the machine itself. You will then remain stationary while the scanner rotates around your body. You may hear a buzzing sound of the equipment working. Regardless, is CT scan is otherwise painless and usually completed in less than a minute.

What do the Results Mean?

The scan will be administered by a trained CT technologist. The information obtained from it then will be interpreted by a board certified radiologist, who will then send results to your regular physician. The images will help in determining the nature of the problem and the subsequent course of action. You can help guarantee the quality of both your medical care and of your health in general with a CT scan near Frederick MD by The Radiology Clinic.

How is a Digital X-ray Different than a Traditional X-ray?

Digital x-ray differs from traditional analog x-ray in several important ways. An easy way to understand the difference between analog and digital x-rays is to think about a film camera versus a digital camera. When taking photographs using film, the photographer cannot see the results until the film has undergone a long, expensive, and chemical laden development process. With a digital camera, the photographer can immediately evaluate, delete, retake, and share each individual photograph instantly.

In a digital x-ray, digital image sensors are used to capture the images instead of film or plates. Digital images are clearer and more accurate than analog images. This is then enhanced by the medical professional’s ability to enhance digital images to further increase clarity.

Advantages of Digital X-ray 

Digital X-ray has several, potentially life saving, advantages over traditional analog x-ray. Medical professionals have almost instant access to a patient’s test, allowing them to provide a faster diagnosis. If an x-ray does not come out correctly or show the body part ordered, a new image can be taken immediately. Because digital images can be manipulated, digital x-rays results can be filtered for higher clarity. Results can easily and instantly be shared with other medical professionals for second opinions or in event of an emergency. Finally, digital x-ray technology requires less radiation to produce the same quality image as an x-ray on film.

Need a Digital X-Ray near Frederick MD?

If you are in need of a digital x-ray, please contact The Radiology Clinic for a digital x-ray. We look forward to discussing the advantages of digital x-ray with you and scheduling your appointment today. We gladly accept walk-ins!

Pediatric radiology uses x-rays, ultrasound, CT, and MRI scanning to accurately determine the medical needs of people of all ages, including children. At The Radiology Clinic, our staff of professionals are highly skilled at deciphering and explaining the results of radiological results of children, so that both patients and their parents can have a better understanding of the causes of suspected medical conditions.

What You Should Know About Pediatric Radiology

For patients and parents alike who are in need of pediatric radiology, the prospective experience can seem overwhelming, if not a bit scary. We understand this. Our team of board-certified professionals are dedicated to helping our pediatric patients and their parents with any questions they may have while striving to ease any anxiety and/or fear related to the upcoming process. After completing all proper radiology certifications, our staff goes through extensive training. It involves working with children in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of this special patient population.

Why The Radiology Clinic?

Young patients are treated with compassion and care at our office. We have made our diagnostic rooms as comfortable and family-friendly as possible to ensure a pleasant experience for both children and their parents alike. We always want to put our patients at ease, a practice that also allows us to collect the most quality images possible, so that patients and their families can focus on advancing on a prompt diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan.

Contact us Today for Pediatric Radiology near Frederick MD!

Let us help you with your pediatric radiology needs. To learn more about the services we provide or to schedule an appointment, please contact The Radiology Clinic office today.

What Is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound, also known as ultrasonography, is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of the inside of the body. The sound waves bounce back and a computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations are different from x-rays. They do not use radiation making it safer to produce internal images for pregnant women.

What Are Ultrasounds Used For?

Perhaps the most common use of an ultrasound is to assess the progression of a pregnancy. Most women receive at least two ultrasounds during gestation.

Other reasons for ultrasounds include:

• Internal injuries
• Muscle and bone disorders
• Cancer
• Infection

How to Prepare for an Ultrasound

The most important thing to remember when preparing for an ultrasound near Frederick MD by The Radiology Clinic is to follow your doctor’s instructions. Some ultrasound exams do not require any special preparation, but others may require you to refrain for eating and drinking for six hours before the exam. Still others may require that you drink water one hour before the exam and refrain from urinating, as some exams need you to have a full bladder in order to get a good picture.

What to Expect During an Ultrasound

During an ultrasound, the technologist will give you instructions and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have. You may need to change into a gown and lie on an exam table. Gel is applied to your skin so that the sound waves transmit better. A hand-held instrument traces the area over the gel. This is how you get the scan.

Mammograms

Mammograms are an important part of breast health and can be a life saving, preventative examination when performed at the appropriate intervals, at the discretion of you and your physician.

At The Radiology Clinic we offer the latest, state of the art equipment from Hologic*, the industry leader in advanced breast imaging equipment. ALL mammograms performed at The Radiology Clinic include 3D Tomosynthesis, also known as a “Digital Mammogram”. Studies show that Mammograms performed using 3D Tomosynthesis increase diagnostic efficacy of the study and reduce false positives. This means a more accurate examination with less room for error.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI is a specialized MRI study that provides a high resolution examination of the breasts using a specialized protocol and custom breast MRI coil (you can think of a coil as a camera that takes the pictures within the machine).

Breast MRI studies are typically ordered to follow up abnormal findings from previous imaging studies like a mammogram or breast ultrasound. A suspicious lump or mass is the most common reason to order a breast MRI. Patients with extremely cystic or dense breasts, or patients with a strong family or personal history of breast cancer can also benefit from the 3D imaging provided by a breast MRI.

Breast Biopsies

Breast biopsies are a type of biopsy that is performed using Mammography, Ultrasound, or MRI guidance. Biopsies are typically performed following an abnormal finding on previous imaging. This is most often done when a lump or mass is found that needs further investigation.

Our breast imaging team has decades of experience, and understands the physical and emotional needs of our patients. At The Radiology Clinic you can depend on us to get you through a complicated procedure, and deliver results as quickly as possible.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans are a special type of imaging procedure that allows radiologists to see the metabolic activity, or function, of tissues and organs within the body. PET scans near Frederick MD are particularly useful for evaluating cancer or tumors and if they have metastasized into other areas of the body. PET scans are also used to evaluate cancers after treatment to assess the effectiveness of the treatment itself.

The Radiology Clinic is Montgomery County’s premier Radiology practice near Frederick MD. Our providers are all board-certified, fellowship-trained Radiologists with decades of experience. Each PET scan is protocoled and tailored by a Radiologist to produce the most accurate examination for each patient and their underlying medical condition. Results are carefully reviewed and communicated to the ordering provider. Our Radiologists near Frederick MD regularly confer with our local referring physician community to ensure that each patient is scanned and diagnosed appropriately based on their underlying medical condition and stage of treatment.

The Radiology Clinic uses the latest PET technology to produce the highest quality imaging and the most comfortable experience for the patient. Our PET scanner utilizes the latest dose-reduction techniques to minimize radiation exposure. The bore of the scanner is the largest on the market at 90 cm. This provides the patient with a comfortable and roomy examination, especially for those who may be claustrophobic.