Diagnostic Imaging at Reston Hospital Center includes:

• 64-slice CT scanner - takes double the images as a conventional CT scanner; faster images show more detail with less motion; faster images cover larger area while contrast dye is still circulating
• 3T MRI* - magnet that is twice as strong as the conventional MRI; shows more detail in less time; especially useful for imaging blood vessels in the brain in stroke diagnosis.
• Open MRI*--combines comfort and speed with high-field performance. The spacious opening helps anxious or claustrophobic patients to relax.
• 3D color ultrasound - three-dimensional technology rather than the conventional two-dimensional picture; allows greater image selection for more precise diagnosis of abnormalities
• 4D ultrasound- includes everything that a 3D ultrasound would provide, plus the fourth dimension-time and movement. Giving clear, moving three-dimensional pictures of your baby. That means a new dimension of information for you and your doctor.
• Digital mammography - creates digitized pictures rather than conventional film views; improved detection of abnormalities especially in dense breasts; two new units will be available late this spring.
• DexaScan - scans for the density of the bones. This device is essential for the diagnosis of orthopedic disorders such as osteoporosis.
• Fluoroscopy- a study of the moving structures of the body-similar to an X-ray movie. It is used in many types of examinations and procedures, such as barium x-rays, cardiac catheterization, arthrography (visualization of a joint or joints), lumbar puncture, placement of intravenous (IV) catheters (hollow tubes inserted into veins or arteries), intravenous pyelogram, hysterosalpingogram, and biopsies.
• Intravenous Pyelogram- An intravenous pyelogram, also called intravenous urography, is a diagnostic x-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
• Barium x-ray is a radiographic (x-ray)--examination of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Barium x-rays (also called upper and lower GI series) are used to diagnose abnormalities of the GI tract, such as tumors, ulcers and other inflammatory conditions, polyps, hernias, and strictures.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)* - shows metabolic activity in the body; can help physicians detect alterations in biochemical processes that suggest disease before changes in anatomy are apparent with other imaging such as CT or MRI.
• Interventional Radiology- involves both diagnosis and treatment using radiology. These procedures treat ever-widening range of conditions inside the body by inserting various small instruments or tools, such as catheters or wires, with the use of various x-ray and imaging techniques (i.e., CT scanners, MRI scanners, ultrasound scanners). Interventional radiology offers an alternative to the surgical treatment of many conditions and can eliminate the need for hospitalization, in some cases.