This procedure is performed at:

Larchmont Medical Center I & II, Mt. Laurel
Medford Medical Center
Willingboro Imaging Center

Radiography

The oldest, but by far the most frequently used imaging procedure in radiology today, is still general radiography (X-ray). Radiographs are still the easiest and most accurate way to assess for broken bones, pneumonia and other lung abnormalities and to quickly assess the abdomen for possible bowel obstructions or kidney stones. Radiographs are obtained by exposing your body to a small dose of X-ray radiation which passes through your body and exposes a sheet of film in a special cassette that is positioned behind the body part being imaged. The amount of radiation needed to take the picture is very minimal and has been shown not to significantly increase the risk of causing cancer or other medical problems.

For general radiography, there is no specific patient preparation. For some exams, you will be asked to change into a gown so that your clothes do not cause any artifacts on the pictures that are obtained. If there is any chance that you could be pregnant, please tell our technologist. X-rays can be damaging to a developing fetus and should not be performed on pregnant women unless there is a strong medical indication that outweighs the potential risk to the baby.

 

Fluoroscopy

This procedure is performed at:

Larchmont Medical Center II

Medford Medical Center

Willingboro Imaging Center

Fluoroscopy uses a special X-ray machine that both produces a picture on a television screen and allows spot films to be obtained. The most common use of fluoroscopy today is to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract. Upper GI studies are exams in which you will drink a mixture of barium and gas-producing crystals. The gas is used to distend the stomach and esophagus and the barium coats the lining of the bowel so that it can be seen on X-rays. Upper GI studies can be used to identify ulcers, hiatal hernias, gastroesophageal reflux and tumors of the stomach and esophagus. If your doctor suspects that there are abnormalities in the small intestine, the exam can be continued and films are taken as the barium passes through the entire small bowel. That study is called a small bowel follow through and can identify obstruction, stricture or inflammatory changes in the small intestine.

Barium enemas are a test used to examine the colon (large intestine) for polyps or tumors. In order to examine the colon, an enema tube is gently inserted and the colon is coated with barium and distended with air. Multiple X-rays are then taken which show the lining of the colon. While barium enemas can be somewhat uncomfortable, they are safer, less painful, and nearly as accurate as colonoscopy.

All of the gastrointestinal exams require patient preparation. If you are scheduled for an upper GI then you should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your test. Patients having barium enemas need to perform a special prep to cleanse the colon. This involves taking laxatives, an enema and a clear liquid diet. The prep instructions for the barium enema can be picked up at your doctor's office or at our office.

IVP

Intravenous pyelograms are a test used to evaluate the kidneys, ureters and bladder. This exam can be used to look for obstruction of the kidneys, kidney stones and tumors of these organs. During the test, an injection of iodine contrast is given which is excreted by the kidneys. When the kidneys excrete the contrast they become denser to X-rays and can be seen on the films that are taken. By taking multiple films, one can assess for possible obstruction of the kidneys which can be caused by stones or tumors. Recently, ultrasound and CT scanning have been used to evaluate for these same problems. These three tests provide complementary information about the urinary tract and sometimes more than one of these tests may need to be performed to evaluate your problem.

Some patients are allergic to the contrast that is used for IVP's. Our staff will ask you questions prior to the test in order to determine if you are at an increased risk for an allergic reaction. If you are felt to be at increased risk for a reaction, we will contact your doctor and either suggest an alternative test (CT or US) or arrange for you to receive premedication with a steroid to reduce the chance of any allergic reaction. We will also ask that you not eat for six hours prior to your study so that your stomach is empty during the test.

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