Radiology - Medical Imaging

Medical imaging is the area of medicine that uses X-rays, magnetic waves and ultrasound to obtain detailed images of the inside of the body. Doctors can then use those images to detect and diagnose illnesses and injuries, as well as to help develop treatment plans. The Radiology - Medical Imaging Department at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center offers medical radiology imaging services to residents of Enid, Oklahoma and the surrounding region. Below are descriptions of some of the imaging tests available at the main Radiology department of St. Mary's Regional Medical Center.

X-ray (Radiography)

X-ray (also called radiography) uses a very small dose of radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the most frequently used form of medical imaging and they are also the oldest. They are often used to help see bone fracture, injuries or infections; they are also used to locate foreign objects in soft tissue. In some cases, X-ray exams are used in conjunction with an iodine-based contrast material, which is injected, to help doctors see certain organs, blood vessels or tissue.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging test that creates detailed images of internal organs, bones and tissue. The images generated during a CT scan can be reformatted into three-dimensional images viewed on a computer monitor, printed out or transferred to other media.

We use a 64-slice scanner, which rotates around a patient's body using low radiation X-rays, to create high resolution slices (images). Because the scanner circles a patient's body about four times every second, patients lie inside of the CT machine for two to three minutes. CT scans at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center are performed by state-licensed, registered technologists who have specialized training and work under the supervision of board-certified radiologists.

Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening

If you smoke, or have quit within the past 15 years, our low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening test could save your life.

Find out if an LDCT lung cancer screening is right for you >

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create clear, detailed images of internal organs and tissues. Since X-rays are not used, no radiation exposure is involved. Instead, radio waves are directed at the body. This exam takes 30-50 minutes on average and consists of several imaging series. Many studies will require a small intravenous injection of a contrast agent. However, this agent does not contain iodine, an element used in other contrast agents for X-rays or CT scans. MRI is often used to evaluate or diagnose orthopedic (spine, extremity) or neurologic (brain, spinal cord) abnormalities.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) is the use of MRI imaging to study a patient's blood vessels after the injection of a contrast material. Unlike conventional angiography, which is an invasive procedure, MRA is noninvasive other than an injection with a needle to administer the contrast material. This technique can be used to obtain images of arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, aorta, neck, chest, limbs and pulmonary system.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a type of imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of organs and structures inside the body. It is used to view the heart, blood vessels, thyroid, brain, eyes, kidneys, liver, and other organs. It is not good for imaging bones or any tissues that contain air, like the lungs. During pregnancy, doctors use ultrasound to monitor the growth and development of the fetus. Unlike X-rays, ultrasound does not expose patients to radiation.

During an ultrasound test, the patient lies on a table and the technician applies a gel to the skin. This keeps air pockets from forming between the transducer and the skin, which can block ultrasound waves from passing into the body. The transducer sends out sound waves, which bounce off the tissues inside your body. The transducer then captures the waves that bounce back and the ultrasound machine creates images from the sound waves. These images can help doctors determine the location of a structure or abnormality, as well as information about its make up.