What is medical imaging?

Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body or parts of the body for clinical purposes to seek, diagnose, or examine disease without having to open the body.

What is a contrast agent?

Contrast agents highlight specific organs or blood vessels, making them more visible on a diagnostic image.  They provide contrast between various types of tissue.  Contrast agents may be a liquid that the patient drinks, injected, delivered through an IV or administered through an enema tube.  The most common contrast agents are air, iodine, or barium.  Air encourages the passage of x-rays through a selected part of the body, while barium and iodine block the passage of x-rays.  Special types of contrast agents are used for MRI and CT.

Types of medical Imaging at Advanced Medical Imaging

Diagnostic X-ray  is produced when a small amount of radiation passes through a body, and is recorded on a receptor to produce an anatomical image.  X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation.  The lowest possible dosage is used during a typical diagnostic exam to achieve the best quality image.  X-rays are used to detect bone fractures, find foreign objects in the body, demonstrate pathology and demonstrate the relationship between bone and soft tissue.  Diagnostic x-ray exams are offered at both Silverdale and Bremerton locations.

CT Scan  is a non-invasive, quick and painless exam to produce multi-dimensional images of the internal organs, bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels of your body.  It uses special x-ray equipment and computer software to produce detailed, cross-sectional, 3-D views of the body part being studied.  These images can be viewed on a computer screen or printed.  CT scans are used to diagnose cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma, and musculoskeletal disorders.  AMI is proud to offer a 64 slice Philips CT scanner, offering world class technology at the Silverdale location.  CT is also available at our Bremerton location.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)  uses a large magnet, radiofrequencies (pulses of radio wave energy) and a computer to produce 3D images.  MRI is used to image soft tissue such as the brain, joints, musculoskeletal system, and vascular system.  This type of imaging is best when looking for tumors, internal bleeding, or infection.  AMI offers two types of MRI.  An open MRI is located at the Silverdale location.  It is used for larger patients or claustrophobic patients, as well as young patients who need a parent or friend with them during the exam.  The high-field MRI is located on the east side of the Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.  The high-field MRI produces very high resolution images of most body parts.  AMI is proud to offer breast MRI at this location with MRI-guided biopsy capability.

PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography)  is a diagnostic examination that integrates PET and CT technologies into a single device.  It captures images of miniscule changes in the body's metabolism caused by the growth of abnormal cells while simultaneously pinpointing the exact location, size, and shape of the diseased tissue or tumor.  PET detects the small lesion or tumor and CT identifies the precise location.  Benefits from this combined technology are earlier diagnosis, accurate staging and localization and precise treatment and monitoring.

Nuclear Medicine  is unique because it documents function as well as structure.  This procedure uses a small amount of radioactive material that travels through the body, continually producing emissions.  A special type of camera transforms these emissions into images and then records the information on a computer screen or on film.  Common procedures for this exam include thyroid studies, brain and bone scans, lung scans for blood clots, cardiac tests to analyze heart function plus liver and gallbladder procedures to diagnose abnormal function or blockage.  This exam is performed at the Bremerton Bridgeview location.

Ultrasound  uses high frequency sound waves that are reflected by tissue to produce 2D images shown on a monitor.  This type of imaging is used to view abdominal organs, heart, male genitalia, veins of the legs and the fetus in pregnant women.  This "first line test" is very safe as there is no exposure to radiation and has several advantages.  It studies the function of moving structures in real time.  It is quick to perform and relatively inexpensive.  Ultrasound is available at both the Silverdale and Bremerton Bridgeview locations.

Digital Fluoroscopy  produces real time images of internal structures of the body as they are working.  A contrast media, such as barium, iodine, or air are used to visualize the working internal organs.  Digital fluoroscopy is also used in image-guided procedures when constant feedback is needed during a procedure.

Digital Mammography  takes an electronic x-ray of the breast to detect breast cancer.  The images, stored on a computer, can be electronically manipulated for more accurate diagnosis.  There is less radiation with digital mammography, as opposed to traditional film mammography, and a higher detection rate of breast cancer in women under 50 years of age or with dense breast tissue.  Digital mammography is available at the Women's Diagnostic Center in Silverdale.

Stereotactic Core Biopsy  is done to determine if a growth is benign or cancerous in the breast, by obtaining a tissue sample for examination.  This minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to open biopsy.  A hollow needle is passed through the skin into the suspicious lesion with the help of special breast x-rays.  This special computerized mammography machine uses intersecting coordinates to pinpoint the area and retrieve tissue samples.

Ultrasound-guided Biopsy  is another alternative for assessing disease.  This highly accurate procedure prevents the need to remove tissue surgically and eliminates the radiation exposure from x-rays.  An ultrasound probe is placed over the site of the biopsy.  Using local anesthesia, the radiologist guides a biopsy needle directly into the mass.  Tissue is the taken for a pathology study.   Steorotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy procedures are performed at the Women's Diagnostic Center in Silverdale.  All other biopsies are performed at the Bremerton Bridgeview location or the Silverdale location.