ANRA provides Radiological services using innovative techniques to generate images of the body or part of the body for diagnosis and treatment.
X-rays
X-rays make use of electromagnetic waves to generate pictures of the inside of the body. Different amounts of light absorption by tissues in the body generate black and white X-ray images.
How to prepare for it?
Preparing for it needs no special preparation. One can avoid wearing clothes that have zips, buttons that can interfere with the images.
Wearing a lead apron around some parts of the body is sometimes recommended as prevention against radiation exposure. However, the amount of radiation you get from an x-ray is small that does not cause any harm.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound makes use of high-frequency sound waves to capture images of the body. It comes with the advantages of not using the radiation firstly, and secondly, it helps experts detect problems with organs, vessels, and tissues without making an incision.
Ultrasound also works as a guide to doctors when experts perform biopsies.
How to prepare?
If you are undergoing abdominal ultrasound, you need to fast for eight to 12 hours before your ultrasound. For many examinations, there may be the need to drink a lot of water and hold urine.
It is advisable to tell the doctor about the medicines or herbal supplements you take.
During an Ultrasound
Before the ultrasound, you need to wear a hospital gown followed by lying on the table with the section of the body exposed for which you need to undergo an ultrasound.
The sonographer applies a jelly-like substance to your body. It facilitates the transmission of sound waves and also prevents friction of skin to the ultrasound transducer.
Waves hitting the organs, bones and tissues generate a pattern on the screen. Computer records them, and experts interpret them.
The procedure takes 30 -45 minutes. You may require changing your positions to have better access.
Cleaning the gel from the skin completes the process and sets you free to carry your routine activities.
CT scan
CT scan uses computers and rotating X-ray machines to create a series of pictures across the body. It provides two or three-dimensional information about the interior of the body.
How to prepare for CT scan?
One needs to intake contrast dye before a CT scan. The purpose of contrast dye is to show up the internal structure more clearly.
The contrast dye may be injected into the body or administered through the rectum via an enema.
You may need to drink a liquid containing the contrast to make a dye enter body.
During CT scan
You need to wear a hospital gown and remove metallic objects that can interfere with the CT scan results. The doctor will help you to adjust you to the table that slides into the CT scanner. You will lie face-up on the table while the X-ray machine rotates around you and produce image slices of your body. Lying still on the CT scan machine is essential to prevent blurry images. The procedure takes 20 minutes to one hour.
Magnetic Resonance Test
MRI makes use of a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain series of cross-sectional images.
How to prepare
It requires less preparation at the end of the person. One must avoid wearing metallic accessories in any form as it interferes with the scanner.
A person with medical objects inside their body like cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, and pacemakers are not suitable candidates for MRI.
Doctors and other medical team ensure that person feels comfortable while lying on the scanner table.
DEXA SCAN
DEXA scan test measures the bone density and diagnoses osteoporosis. The test sends dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry through the body. Detectors in the DEXA machine measure the amount of radiation that passes through bones and sends it to the computer. Compilation and comparison of results help in evaluating the bone density.
Nuclear Medicine or Isotope Scanning
Radionuclide scanning facilitates detecting cancer, trauma, infection, or other disorders. It involves swallowing or injecting the tracer into a vein. The tracer emits X-rays similar to gamma rays. Special cameras spot and computers analyze the image. Organs or areas having problems send more intense gamma rays and appear as bright spots on the image. It is a painless procedure that lasts for few hours. It uses a small amount of radiation, but still, one should avoid contact with children or breastfeeding mothers for a short time.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy gathers moving images of the internal organs of the body. Continuous X-ray beams pass through the body or a part of the body that is under examination. Contrast substance enters the body via swallowing, enema, or an intravenous (IV) line in your hand or arm. Experts ask the person to assume different positions, move a specific body part, or hold the breath at intervals while positioned on the X-ray table. A Special X-ray machine produces the fluoroscopic images of the body structure being examined or treated. The time involved depends on the body part under examination.
PET scan
PET scan facilitates the examination of chemical activity in the body. It provides better insight into the internal structure of the body. Results are precise and accurate when PET scan combines with computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tracer is injected, swallowed, or inhaled, depending on which organ or tissue is under study. Traces accumulate in the areas of high chemical activity. These areas correspond to areas of disease and show as bright spots on images.
What is a Mammogram?
Mammography makes use of low-energy X-rays for diagnosing and screening the breast. It facilitates early detection of breast cancer, benign tumors, and cysts before the problem becomes prominent and noticeable. A mammograph cannot prove that an abnormal area is a cancer for which one needs to undergo biopsy. But it also helps in the early detection of the deadly disease. The development of digital mammography technology is improvising breast imaging. It makes it easy for doctors to be more precise whether the masses or calcifications in the breast indicate cancer.
ANRA has efficient radiological services that make us one of the few offering the best imaging services for the abdomen, breast, cardiovascular, nuclear, pediatric areas, to name a few amongst the many other radiology services we offer.