Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnostic services include mammography, ultrasound, CT- and ultrasound-guided needle biopsies, sentinel node biopsy and stereotactic breast biopsy. Ridgeview and affiliated clinics offer up-to-date cancer treatments including surgery, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and clinical research trials.

• CT Scan, or computed tomography, is advanced imaging provided through rapid three-dimensional reconstructions of body organs and major blood vessels to help detect abnormalities. CT scans use X-rays to take pictures of your blood vessels, tissues, bones or organs.
• MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses a magnetic field and applied radio waves to create high-resolution images of body structures, tissues and fluids to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of medical conditions.
• Nuclear Medicine is the use of a low-dose, radioactive tracer to diagnose and treat abnormalities of organs and soft tissues.
• PET/CT Scan or Positron Emission Tomography and Computerized Tomography, uses the highly sensitive PET scan to pick up the metabolic signal of actively growing cancer cells in the body, while the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the internal anatomy that reveals the size and shape of abnormal cancerous growths.
• X-Rays create images for all areas of the body. This test evaluates a variety of different body parts. X-rays are produced by means of a source that radiates X-rays through a particular body part. As the X-rays pass through the body they are weakened by the many types and levels of tissue encountered.
• Epidural Injections are administered to relieve back pain. An epidural steroid injection is a procedure in which the radiologist inserts a needle into the epidural space in your lower back. Through this needle, medication is injected that helps decrease the inflammation within the lumbar and sacral nerves and may provide pain relief for a period of several weeks to several months.
• An ultrasound machine creates images that allow various organs in the body to be examined. The machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives these reflected waves and uses them to create a picture. Unlike with an x-ray or CT scan, there is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.
• Musculoskeletal Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body. It is used to help diagnose sprains, strains, tears and other soft tissue conditions. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive and does not use ionizing radiation. Ridgeview Imaging Services now offers Musculoskeletal Ultrasounds of many orthopedic issues, including: ultrasounds of shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips knees, ankles and feet.
• Interventional radiology uses imaging to help guide the doctor when inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body.
• DEXA Bone Densitometry or a bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone. This test helps your health care provider detect osteoporosis and predict your risk of bone fractures.

Heart Scan Calcium Screening

Heart Scan Calcium Scoring is a simple noninvasive procedure that uses advanced, high-speed X-ray technology to create a picture of your heart's arteries. It measures the calcium deposits that are part of artherosclerotic plaque within your arteries. Doctors use this to calculate your calcium score.