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X-RAYS
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An
X-Ray provides an image that can be used to evaluate
bones, joints and degenerative lesions in the spine.
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CAT
SCAN (CT)
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Used
primarily when problems are suspected in the bones
or when a patient can’t obtain an MRI
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MAGNETIC
RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
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The
most common test to evaluate the lumbar spine. Evaluates:
*Vertebral bones * Discs * Joints * Nerves * Soft
tissues
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MYELOGRAM
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Where dye is injected into the spinal column and then
the area is flexed and x-rayed.
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DISCOGRAPHY
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Discography
is a diagnostic procedure used to determine the level
of the painful disc.
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EMG
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The
EMG/Nerve Conduction Study is a useful test to study
the nerves in the arms and legs.
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BONE
DENSITY
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Bone
density testing is fast, painless, and noninvasive.
During a test, patients lie fully clothed on a padded
treatment table while the machine scans one or more
areas of bone. The entire test normally takes only
minutes.
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BONE
SCAN
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A
Bone scan in Nuclear Medicine is a procedure which
involves two steps:
The
patient is asked to arrive 3 hours before their
actual scan to receive an injection of a small amount
of radioactive tracer that is "tagged"
to a calcium like material. Usually the tracer is
injected in a vein in the arm of the patient. In
some instances, other sites of injection are used
especially for those patients that had difficult
veins to find. The "radiopharmaceutical"
has no side effects and because of this, the patient
can be released from the department for 3 hours
to give the calcium time to circulate and be taken
up by the bone. There are no dietary restrictions
so the patient may eat before and after the injection.
After
the three hours have elapsed, the patient returns
to the Nuclear Medicine department for their scan.
The patient is placed on a table a head to toe scan
is performed by a "gamma camera".
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