PDF FORMS
PATIENT REGISTRATION & CONSENT FORM
BONE DENSITOMETRY INITIAL VISIT PATIENT HISTORY
BONE DENSITOMETRY FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION
MRI SCREENING SHEET
PRIVACY NOTICE
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
Prior to your first visit for this exam, please complete MRI FORMS
Please click here for exam prep information.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a strong magnetic field, radio frequency waves, and a powerful computer to produce clear and detailed pictures of the human body without the use of x-rays. Many areas of the body can be imaged without any pain or discomfort to the patient. MRI is widely used to detect sports-related injuries of the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow and wrist.
The images allow the radiologist to see even very small tears and injuries to ligaments and muscles. MRI of the brain can detect tumors or disorders of the eyes and inner ears. Some techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) are sensitive to blood flow and visualization of major blood vessels can be obtained. A radiologist, with extensive training in MRI, will analyze the images and send a report to your doctor who will then review your report with you.
ULTRASOUND
Prior to your first visit for this exam, please complete Ultrasound forms.
Ultrasound imaging, also know as ultrasound screening or sonography, is a way of obtaining an inside view of the human body using high frequency sound waves. No x-rays are involved in the ultrasound scanning technique.
Ultrasound equipment is comprised of a unit that looks like a computer monitor mounted on a console. A transducer, a small, hand-held, non-invasive device that looks like a microphone, is gently moved across the patient’s body surface by the sonographer in order to generate an image. Gel is spread onto the skin and the transducer is pressed firmly against the skin to obtain the image. Most exams take about 30 minutes to complete.
Most women are familiar with obstetrical ultrasound which is commonly used in determining the size, age, position (and sometimes the sex and number) of their unborn baby or babies.
Abdominal ultrasound is used to examine both soft tissue and organs (such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and aorta). With this information, radiologists can determine the causes of pain, such as gallstones or kidney stones, size of masses and cysts, or other abnormalities. Because the images are live, an ultrasound enables doctors to study blood flow in arteries and veins on a “real-time” basis. This allows treating physicians to determine potential blood clots or plaque build-up within the vessel walls.
Back to TopCOMPUTERIZED AXIAL TOMOGRAPHY (CAT SCAN)
Prior to your first visit for this exam, please complete CT FORMS
Please click here for exam prep information.
Computerized Axial Tomography, sometimes referred to as a CAT scan or CT scan, is a patient-friendly exam that involves little radiation exposure while producing cross- sectional images of the body.
CAT scans can be performed on all body parts, most commonly on the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis. Often, no additional diagnostic work-up is necessary and patient treatment can begin immediately. Once a scan is completed, a radiologist who is a board-certified physician who has specialized in diagnostic imaging, interprets the findings of the scan and reports them back to your referring physician.
The CT scanner looks like a large bagel tipped on its side, called a gantry, and a table, which can be elevated while the patient moves through the “bagel hole”. A CT room also contains a control area located adjacent to the scanning table. This control area is where the technologist can communicate with the patient, plan the study, check and film the study and electronically transmit the images to the radiologist’s workstation.
Recent advances in computerized technology now make it possible to perform Virtual Colonoscopies. This is a CT scan which, much like an endoscopic colonoscopy, requires a special diet and prep the day prior to the test. Unlike conventional endoscopy, however, a CT virtual colon screen is not invasive, does not need require a patient sedative and takes less than one-hour to complete.
Back to TopENDOVENOUS LASER VEIN TREATMENT (EVLT)
Prior to your first visit for this exam, please complete EVLT forms.
New Less Invasive Varicose Vein Treatment is Here
By Daniel J. Kase, M.D.
Register Citizen September 26, 2005
For those who suffer from varicose veins-up to 25 percent of all women and 18 percent of all men-there’s a relatively new, minimally-invasive procedure available in northwest Connecticut. As Litchfield County’s only fellowship-trained interventional radiologist, I am pleased to be able to offer this minimally invasive outpatient procedure to our community. We are offering this service at Advanced Medical Imaging located in our new outpatient facility at the Hungerford Diagnostic Center, 220 Kennedy Drive, Torrington, CT.
We all know what varicose veins look like: those ropy, bluish bulging veins that can cause pain, swelling, bruising and aching, and occasionally, can even burst. Varicose veins are most often caused by the failure of valves within the greater saphenous vein, a major vein that connects to many other veins in the legs. When valves in the greater saphenous vein fail, blood flows backwards (a condition called “reflux”) and transmits pressure down the leg to other veins. When blood pools in veins close to the surface of the skin, varicose veins are the result.
Greater saphenous vein reflux is quite common. Heredity, gender and age are common causes of varicose veins. The traditional surgical treatment called “stripping” requires general anesthesia, two weeks of immobility and pain, and at least a month of recovery time. Unfortunately, there is also significant risk for substantial nerve and tissue damage with this surgery.
Now, however, I can offer area residents a vastly improved procedure: endovenous laser treatment or EVLT. While the goal of EVLT is the same-elimination of the greater saphenous vein and rerouting of blood flow to healthy veins-the method is very different. Using only a local anesthetic, a catheter is thread through a tiny incision near the knee, up the greater saphenous vein and to the groin. Once the catheter is in place a laser fiber is inserted into the catheter and delivers laser energy to close the walls of the vein, stopping the flow of blood. The entire procedure takes from 30 to 45 minutes and the patient walks out of the office, facing essentially no recovery period at all. Not only is EVLT quicker, less invasive and less painful then surgical stripping, it’s actually more effective. Ninety to 95 percent of EVLT patients gain immediate and lasting relief from varicose vein symptoms. Not surprisingly, the streamlined EVLT procedure also costs less, one-tenth the cost of surgical stripping, and it is covered by most major insurers.
In summary, EVLT is a quick, comfortable, inexpensive, less invasive, more effective solution for varicose veins and it is available here in Torrington. If you have questions or would like to set up a consultation for varicose vein disease, please call Advanced Medical Imaging or Dr. Daniel Kase at 860-489-7314.
Back to TopPrior to your first visit for this exam, please complete X-Ray forms.
Radiography involves exposing a body part to a small dose of radiation to produce an image. General x-ray includes the evaluation of the chest, spine, hips, pelvis, abdomen, skull and extremities. General x-ray imaging is the fastest and easiest way for a radiologist to view and assess broken bones, joint and spine injuries. If test results do not correlate with clinical findings or if symptoms persist despite a negative x-ray result, other imaging techniques may be recommended.
A chest x-ray may be used to detect an enlarged heart, TB or pneumonia. A spine x-ray may be used to evaluate a curvature of the spine (Scoliosis). Abdominal x-rays can show the presence of air or fluid in the abdomen and the size and shape of abdominal structures.
There is no special preparation required for most x-rays. You will be asked to remove jewelry, eyeglasses, hairpins, dentures and any other metal objects that could show up on the image. You may be asked to change into a gown so that no buttons, snaps, zippers, or metal will interfere with the examination. Patients should expect to hold still and to be placed in various positions. Breath holds are necessary for many examinations.
Back to TopPrior to your visit for this exam, please complete Bone Density forms.
Throughout life our bones are continuously changing. They go through cycles of bone loss and the formation of new bone. Osteoporosis occurs when these cycles are no longer in balance with each other. In other words when the breakdown of bone (osteoclast activity) occurs at a faster rate than the rebuilding of new bone (osteoblast production).
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone to become brittle, thin and therefore may enable someone to be at greater risk for a fracture. This process can take years to occur and the majority of individuals may never have any sign or symptoms of the progression of bone loss until a fracture occurs. Tiny micro fractures may be happening in the spine (backbone) that does not cause any serious onset of symptoms. Only with significant collapse of a vertebral body will a patient experience severe back pain. At this time the damage from osteoporosis has already begun. If osteoporosis is allowed to progress, you can lose several inches in height and your back can become hunched over ( kyphotic). At this time you are at greater risk for future fractures in the spine, hip and wrist. Minor trauma may cause these fractures to occur. The most important fact is that early detection can prevent excessive bone loss and therefore prevent fractures from happening.
DXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorption) bone density studies are now available. This study can be ordered by your physician to find out the density level of your bones. A DXA scan is a painless, non-invasive procedure. No needles, no contrast agents, and no special preparations are necessary in order to have the test. You are only asked that you do not wear anything with buttons, snaps or zippers. Wearing pants with an elastic waistband will allow you to remain fully clothed during the study. During the procedure you will be lying on a soft padded table on your back. The scanner will make a sweeping motion over your lower back and then the unit will scan both of your hips. The data acquired will than be analyzed and evaluated by a Radiologist.
Your bone density results are called T-scores. The T-score is comparing you to a normal young adult at peak bone mass. Therefore, the study evaluates how your values deviate from the optimal bone mass of a 25 to 30 year old individual.
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YOUR T-SCORE 0 to -1 |
WHAT IT MEANS NORMAL |
Low bone mineral density increases your risk for fracture. Therefore, it is important for you to have a baseline bone density test in order for your physician to be able to monitor your rate of bone loss and if necessary your response to therapy.
Bone density test should be considered for:
- Women who are post menopausal. It has been documented that the greatest bone loss for women can occur within five years following menopause.
- Women who have gone through premature menopause.
- Men or women on long term steroid, anticonvulsant and thyroid medication.
- Men, women or children with chronic diseases which require therapies that can affect bone metabolism.
- Men, women or children with anorexia nervosa.
- Children with growth disorders, metabolic diseases, delayed puberty, malnutrition.
PDF FORMS
PATIENT REGISTRATION & CONSENT FORM
BONE DENSITOMETRY INITIAL VISIT PATIENT HISTORY
BONE DENSITOMETRY FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION
MRI SCREENING SHEET
PRIVACY NOTICE