Diagnostic Imaging at Patients Medical Center - Pasadena, TX

CT (computerized tomography) body imaging is a diagnostic tool that provides a detailed look at the organs of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. CT body imaging provides detailed views from many angles and cross-sections of the organs, bones, and soft tissues, and blood vessels, and often incorporates contrast dye to narrow in on a specific area.

Computerized tomography (CT) neuro imaging is a diagnostic tool that provides detailed views of the brain from many angles and in specific “slices” throughout. CT brain scans are used to detect and monitor injuries, tumors, and brain diseases, often with the assistance of contrast dye.

Liver and kidney biopsies are diagnostic procedures performed by removing a small piece of organ tissue for evaluation, typically with the use of a biopsy needle. The biopsied tissue can be closely examined to determine the presence and/or severity of liver or kidney disease.

A neck biopsy is a diagnostic procedure that removes a small sample of tissue from a lump in the neck (e.g., from the thyroid gland) to be analyzed in a lab. Performed with a biopsy needle, an ultrasound is typically used to guide the procedure.

A prostate biopsy is a diagnostic procedure to detect prostate cancer if a prostrate screening has shown any abnormality. A biopsy needle is used to remove a small sample of tissue or cells from the prostate gland (in males), which are then examined under a microscope.

Thyroid/lymph node biopsies are minimally invasive diagnostic procedures that use a fine needle to remove a small sample of tissue or cells from the thyroid gland or lymph nodes for examination in a lab. Typically, these biopsies are used to determine the presence or progression of cancer.

A minimally invasive diagnostic procedure to remove infected fluid from the body, most commonly in the abdomen or pelvis. During the procedure, an interventional radiologist uses imaging guidance to insert a thin needle or catheter into the affected area to drain the abscess fluid.

Biliary interventions are minimally invasive procedures performed to open or unblock bile ducts. Bile ducts refer to the passageway (that digestive fluid flows through) between the liver and gallbladder. When these ducts become narrowed or blocked, bile cannot pass into the small intestine, resulting in infection.

Carotid/cerebral angiograms are diagnostic procedures that utilize contrast dye and X-ray imaging to closely examine the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain, and the blood vessels of the brain. They are used to spot any narrowing or other abnormalities that present high risk for aneurysms or strokes.

A catheter angiography is a diagnostic/treatment procedure that generates imaging of the blood vessels. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) inserted through a limb or the groin is used to inject contrast dye that allows the blood vessels to show up in detailed X-ray imaging, revealing blockages, aneurysms, and other abnormalities.

Catheter directed thrombolysis is a nonsurgical method of treating blood clots. Often used in cases of deep vein thrombosis, which can cause pulmonary embolism, the procedure involves inserting and running a catheter to the clot-affected area and, through it, injecting clot-dissolving medicine or removing it by suction if necessary.

Coil occlusion of aneurysms is a minimally invasive procedure to treat cerebral (brain) aneurysms. A catheter is used to insert tiny, platinum coils into the aneurysm, blocking more blood from entering the aneurysm. Coil occlusion is most often used to treat unruptured aneurysms.

CT angiography is a medical test that combines a CT scan with an injection of a special dye. That dye produces pictures of blood vessels and tissues in a part of the body.

A musculoskeletal CT (computerized tomography) is a diagnostic imaging tool that provides detailed views of the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments, and is used to detect muscle and bone damage and diagnose conditions such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone cancer, muscular dystrophy, and tendinitis.

A computerized tomography (CT) virtual colonography is a diagnostic imaging procedure used to examine the colon for polyps and cancer. It’s a minimally invasive alternative to a traditional colonoscopy that provides detailed X-ray imaging.

Dialysis and fistula declotting and interventions use angioplasty and stenting procedures to open up narrowed blood vessels and improve blood flow in patients receiving kidney dialysis. Dialysis requires a fistula and graft to grant the doctor access to the blood vessels to withdraw and replace the blood being treated, and these may become blocked or narrowed.

Embolization of bleeding, tumors, and vascular lesions is a procedure used to stop internal/arterial bleeding, as well as to cut off blood supply to (and thus shrink) tumors and aneurysms. Embolization is performed by inserting blocking materials (e.g., small metal coils) through a catheter.

Extracranial and intracranial angioplasty is a treatment for the narrowing or blocking (stenosis) of the carotid artery — extracranial when it’s outside the skull, intracranial when it’s inside the skull. Angioplasty (with or without stenting) is a minimally invasive procedure to widen/open blocked blood vessels.

Inferior vena filter placement and removal are procedures involving a small device (filter) in the inferior vena cava (IVC) in order to prevent blood clots, particularly deep vein thromboses, from traveling to the lungs. The IVC is located in the abdomen and carries blood from the lower body (e.g., legs and pelvis) back to the heart.

Interventions for arteriovenous malformations (abnormal connections between veins and arteries) of the brain and spine include endovascular coiling/embolization, surgical resection, and stereotactic radiosurgery, depending on the location of the malformation and whether it is ruptured or unruptured.

Paracentesis and thoracentesis are procedures used to remove built-up fluid from the body, often caused by cancer or infection. A paracentesis removes fluid from the (peritoneal) abdominal cavity. A thoracentesis removes excess fluid from the pleural cavity, between the lungs and the chest wall.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to treat portal hypertension (high blood pressure at the liver). With X-ray imaging guidance, a small metal coil is placed in the portal vein to the liver, holding it open to keep a clear channel for blood flow and reduce blood pressure.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroids that preserves the uterus. UFE is a radiological procedure that uses a catheter and contrast dye to direct small polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles into the fibroids to block blood flow and therefore deprive them of nutrients, shrinking them.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures that treat vertebral compression fractures in the spine, often the result of osteoporosis, by injecting bone cement into the vertebra. In kyphoplasty, a balloon first creates space in the center of the vertebra to restore height, which is then filled with bone cement. Both are guided by radiology and contrast dye.

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

The CyberKnife allows patients to lie comfortably on the procedure table without anesthesia while the robotic arm moves, without touching them, to treat all areas of the tumor.

A heart, or cardiac, CT scan is used by a physician to view your heart and blood vessels. These scans create detailed images, which can help your doctor to detect any problems.

A heart MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the structures within and around the heart.

Radiofrequency ablation is one of the most common ablation methods for small tumors. It uses high-energy radio waves. The doctor inserts a thin, needle-like probe into the tumor through the skin. A high-frequency current is then passed through the tip of the probe, which heats the tumor and destroys the cancer cells.

Transarterial chemoembolization or TACE places chemotherapy and synthetic materials called embolic agents into a blood vessel feeding a cancerous tumor to cut off the tumor's blood supply and trap the chemotherapy within the tumor. It is most often used to treat liver cancer but may also be used in patients whose cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Chemoembolization may be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with surgery, ablation, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a catheter with a small balloon on the tip is inserted into a blocked blood vessel to widen the artery and restore blood flow. Sometimes angioplasty requires the placement of a stent (a metal mesh tube) in the artery to help keep it open permanently.

Intracranial stenting is a treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) — the hardening of the arteries in the brain, which causes recurrent stroke and ischemic attacks —by placing small stents in the affected blood vessels.