Imaging

Greene County Medical Center is committed to providing our patients with the highest level of treatment, services and care available. Through one-on-one attention and advanced radiological technologies, the top priority of our imaging staff is to offer peace of mind to our patients.

Services

Greene County Medical Center's imaging department provides a full range of exams used to detect serious diseases such as cancer, arthritis, infection and heart disease. Services available include:

3D Mammography

A mammogram is an imaging examination of the breast by means of X-rays. They are specifically used for screening and diagnosis of breast cancer and other diseases. Types include:

• Screening (yearly)
• Diagnostic

Mammo Mondays
Walk-In Mammograms are available each Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for qualified patients.

• The patients last mammogram must have been at least one year prior and those images must be at Greene County Medical Center and available for review.
• Mammo Monday’s are for screening mammograms only. If a patient is experiencing any symptoms, they will need to contact their primary care provider and schedule a diagnostic mammogram.

Calcium Scoring Test

Calcium Scoring, or coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, is a non-invasive test using a CT (computed tomography) scan to check the patient’s coronary arteries for the presence of calcium deposits. The presence of calcium in the arteries that supply blood to the heart is a sign of plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), which can lead to heart disease. Testing helps providers assess a person’s risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and future health problems, like heart attacks. Calcium Scoring is:

• A valuable tool for:
  • Adults between 40 and 70 
  •  A way to get a clearer picture of heart disease risk with one or more risk factors for heart disease
  • For those with one or more risk factors for heart disease:
    •   Family history
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • Diabetes or prediabetes
    • Are smokers
    • Have metabolic syndrome
• A way to measure changes over time and develop treatment plans
• Quick, generally taking under 10 minutes
• Completely painless

Universal calcium scoring (Agatston score) is as follows:

•  0: No calcium present means low risk of heart disease
•  1-99: Mild calcium indicates a low to moderate risk of heart disease
• 100-399: Moderate calcium buildup puts the patient at moderate to high risk of heart disease
• 400+: Extensive calcium seen in the scan indicates a high risk of heart disease or cardiac event(s)

General Radiology (X-Ray)

Normally short in duration, general examinations assist in evaluating any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-rays. Examinations take a deeper look into:

• All bones in the body
• Barium/Gastro-intestinal studies

Ultrasound

Using no radiation, an ultrasound is a painless procedure that obtains images from inside the human body through the use of high frequency sound waves. With no harmful effects, ultrasounds focus on organs such as:

• Thyroid
• Breast
• Abdomen (includes liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, aorta, pancreas)
• Pelvis (includes bladder, uterus, ovaries)
• Testicles
• Obstetrics
• Arteries and veins to evaluate for blood clots and/or narrowing of vessels

CT Scanning (Computed Tomography)

A CT scan is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Combining special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers, CT scans examine cross-sectional views of the body. Examined body parts include:

• All body parts
• Brain, Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis
• Arteries to evaluate for blood clots and/or narrowing of vessels
• Cardiac Scoring
• Scans to follow up cancer treatment

CT Lung Screen

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States - and almost 85% of lung cancer occurs in current or former smokers.

A simple CT lung screen can detect lung cancer early, before symptoms start.  Adults are considered to be at high risk for lung cancer if:

• They are between 55-77 years old
• They are asymptomatic (show no signs or symptoms of lung cancer)
• They have greater than a 20-pack year history (one pack year = smoking one pack per day for one year)
• They are a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years

The CT lung screen is a simple, non-invasive test that takes only 15 minutes to complete. A referral is required. For more information, talk to your provider or call imaging.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Utilizing radio waves, a strong magnet, and a computer, MRIs utilize the magnetic properties of tissues and body fluids to record images. As a painless and noninvasive exam, MRIs are specifically used to diagnose disorders of the:

• Brain
• Extremities
• All spines (neck, upper and lower back)
• Abdomen
• Arteries and veins to evaluate narrowing of vessels

Nuclear Medicine

A nuclear medicine exam is an imaging procedure that diagnoses abnormalities in different systems throughout the body. Each system has a specific radiopharmaceutical used when providing a diagnosis. The systems include:

• Skeletal 
• Cardiac
• Renal
• Endocrine
• Gastrointestinal 

Dexa Bone Densitometry (Bone Density)

Dexa is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that often affects women after menopause but may also be found in men. Osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of calcium, as well as structural changes, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile, and more likely to break.

PET/CT Scanning

 Combines the PET (positron emission tomography) scan, which shows metabolism and the function of cells, with the CT (computed tomography) scan, which shows detailed anatomy, into one.

This scan is mostly used for cancer treatment planning.