Touchstone Imaging Central Austin

An arthrogram provides more detailed information about your joints than a traditional x-ray, CT, or MRI can provide. A traditional scan can’t always pinpoint the problem because it is difficult to visualize some areas of the joint. An arthrogram is an imaging procedure that uses the injection of contrast in the joint and then uses x-ray, CT, or MRI to capture images that highlight various tissues in greater detail. Your provider is able to evaluate for small tears in tendons and ligaments or slight dislocations.

A CT scan, also known as a CAT scan or Computed Tomography, is a special kind of X-ray that takes pictures of a cross-section of a part of your body. CT scan images provide more detailed information than traditional X-rays are able to. CT scans are used to quickly examine people who may have internal injuries and may be used to observe internal organs and tissues of the body to diagnose disease or injury.

Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss, also known as osteoporosis. Because calcium in bones more readily accepts radio absorption, a bone scan easily identifies weakened areas and can measure the amount of calcium and other minerals in your bones and can detect stress fractures.

Fluoroscopy uses injected contrast dye and an X-Ray machine to take a continuous series of X-rays instead of individual snapshots. It is most commonly used to evaluate parts of your body that are moving in order to create a short video of your body system in motion. It is particularly useful for observing the digestive, urinary, respiratory, and reproductive systems and their functioning.

A myelogram is a specialized fluoroscopy, performed by a radiologist, that uses an injection of contrast medium into the space around the spinal cord to highlight the spinal cord and spinal nerves. A myelogram is particularly useful for those patients who cannot undergo an MRI for assessing spinal for disc abnormalities, nerve roots issues, and other spinal tissue concerns.

Ultrasound is a safe and painless procedure that is used to produce images of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves the use of a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. Ultrasounds are useful to scan internal organs, fetuses, and breast tissue.

An x-ray (radiograph) is a quick, 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 called electromagnetic waves. The various body tissues absorb the radiation differently, creating different shades in an image to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Calcium in the bones absorbs radiation the most, so bones appear bright white while soft tissues absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs and empty spaces appear black. X-rays are great for looking for broken bones or scarring in the lungs.