Digital Mammography * Stereotactic Biopsy * DEXA Scanner * 64-Slice CT * Ultrasound * X-Ray
As part of your health care team, SVRHC is proud to offer the most advanced medical imaging technology available in Southern Arizona by highly skilled and experienced physicians and technologists, while service is delivered with a focus on care and compassion. The Carter Imaging Center houses several different modalities which include a 64-slice CT, Digital Mammography System, DEXA Bone Density Scanner, Stereotactic Biopsy services, X-Ray, and Ultrasound capabilities.
The Carter Imaging Center is located at 151 Colonia de Salud and is open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the phone number is 417-3621. While the Carter Imaging Center offers various modalities, the main hospital campus still provides imaging services minus mammography; however, our goal is to guide patients to come to the new building on an outpatient basis. There is virtually no wait time at the new imaging center so patients can get in and out in a very timely manner. The hospital is encouraging local physicians to remind their patients to come to the new imaging center. All of this advanced technology is housed in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere with easy access to parking and registration while private waiting areas and modern treatment rooms are part of the experience. Whether it’s a critical situation or a routine check-up, the caring and qualified staff will provide the service excellence you’ve come to expect.
SVRHC's Digital Mammography is located at the Carter Imaging Center. In addition to the latest in mammography technology, the new imaging center also has separate dressing and waiting rooms for men and women. Patients can have a private dressing room and can secure their belongings in a locker. They are then guided into a warm and comfortable waiting area while a brief health questionnaire is brought to them by a volunteer and then they are taken in for their mammogram. Results are available within 24 to 48 hours. A physician’s referral is required. Please call 417-3621 to schedule an appointment.
Biopsy is the most widely accepted method for definitively determining the presence or absence of cancer following detection of a breast abnormality. This new technique called stereotactic biopsy, takes a very precise biopsy of an abnormality that was previously detected during a mammogram. The availability of stereotactic biopsy has significantly lowered the number of open surgical procedures performed over the last decade. The location of the stereotactic biopsy table to our mammography services makes it extremely convenient to provide each service in one location for our patients. After we complete a stereotactic biopsy procedure, we administer another mammogram to double check that there aren’t other areas we would like to biopsy before the patient leaves. It’s very convenient having it right across the hallway because it helps patients receive services in a timelier manner. A physician’s referral is required. Please call 417-3621 to schedule an appointment.
New to SVRHC’s Carter Imaging Center is a Discovery S/L DEXA Bone Density Scanner made by Hologic. Dexa stands for ‘Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry’ and is the most accurate way to diagnosing diseases such as Osteoporosis or Ostepenia. This technology is much better at detecting bone density than a normal x-ray. It is the most commonly used test for measuring bone mineral density. The DEXA scan is a 5 minute procedure that could detect bone loss before it progresses. When undergoing this procedure, please be sure to wear pants with an elastic waist band so there is no meta. A physician’s referral is required. Please call 417-3621 to schedule an appointment.
Another new addition to SVRHC is a 64-slice CT. In computed tomography (CT) scanning, x-rays obtain image data from different angles around the body and then a computer processes that information to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs which is used to diagnose many different types of diseases. It can produce detailed pictures of any organ in a few seconds and provide sharp, clear, three-dimensional images, including 3-D views of the blood vessels, in an instant. A scan of the whole body, in search for a blood clot for example takes about 30 seconds. The technology has been particularly exciting for studying the beating heart as scans can be timed to use only images gathered between contractions, when the heart and its vessels can be seen without the blurring caused by motion.
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays). Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. Ultrasound is a useful way of examining organs of the body such as the liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, bladder, uterus, ovaries, an unborn child (fetus), scrotum, eyes, and thyroid.
An x-ray (radiograph) is a painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Radiography involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. As a result, bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black. X-ray images are maintained as hard film copy (much like a photographic negative) or, more likely, as a digital image that is stored electronically. These stored images are easily accessible and are sometimes compared to current x-ray images for diagnosis and disease management.
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