Diagnostic imaging is the aspect of radiology that most people know best—and with good reason. “Eighty to eighty-five percent of all diagnoses are made or confirmed in the radiology department,” says Leigh Shuman, MD, Chairman, Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging, Lancaster General Hospital.

But radiology involves much more than x-rays and ultrasound.

Radiologists like Dr. Shuman are doctors who specialize in the use of radiation (energy waves) to diagnose and treat various health conditions. Many radiologists receive subspecialty training in a particular area of radiology, such as:

Diagnostic Radiology – The use of external radiation to produce images of the body, its organs and other internal structures for medical diagnostic purposes.

Nuclear Medicine – The use of very small amounts of radioactive materials to create an image of the body and its organ functions and structure for diagnostic and treatment purposes.

Interventional Radiology – The use of imaging techniques to guide the insertion of small tools through the body to identify and treat a medical disorder without making a large incision.

Although each type of radiology has a specific role in healthcare, all of radiology shares one thing in common—being a part of a field that has progressed leaps and bounds over the last two decades.

“Technology is changing quickly,” says Tom Mushett, Administrative Director, Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging Services, Lancaster General Hospital.

Recent technological advancements involve faster scanning times, improved picture quality and the introduction of advanced diagnostic and treatment tools. For instance, the Lancaster General PET Imaging Center has helped patients tremendously since opening at the Lancaster General Health Campus in 2002. PET (Positron Emission Tomography) shows the body’s chemistry at work and is commonly used in the diagnosis and staging of cancer.

The multi-slice CT scanner is another tool that has gotten faster and more accurate. Previously CT scans were only used when dealing with brain tumors, strokes, chest conditions, kidney stones and diverticulitis. As Dr. Shuman explains, CT scans can be useful in lung cancer screening, virtual colonoscopies and to assess what is happening within the heart.

“Lancaster General is committed to investing in the future and in our patients,” Tom says as he discusses the newest evolutions in radiology equipment.

In addition to bringing in some of the finest quality diagnostic and treatment tools, Lancaster General has examined the way things are done to try to make life easier for the doctors and the patients.

To that end, the new Emergency Department and Trauma Center has its own radiology suite. “All the imaging for emergency department patients is now done there,” explains Tom. “ED patients are no longer transported outside the department. This helps reduce imaging waiting times for both the emergency patients and the patients who are already in the hospital.”

The hospital is also moving toward using a computerized system for viewing diagnostic images. Called the Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS), this new system uploads the images and distributes them electronically, thus reducing the need for films and enabling doctors to see images much faster.

By providing radiology and diagnostic imaging services at various locations throughout Lancaster County, Lancaster General has also made it convenient for patients to stop by a health center near where they work or live.

Many of these health centers feature state-of-the-art services provided in conjunction with the MRI Group. Some of the more advanced diagnostic imaging services that the MRI Group provides are:

• Breast MRI (MRM) – MRI for lesion detection and silicone leakage (available at the Health Campus)
• Cardiac Imaging (CMR) – non-invasive studies of the heart, including the ability to capture moving images of heart muscle and blood flow within the heart (available at the Health Campus)
• Open MRI – claustrophobic patients may choose to have an open MRI at Kissel Hill Health Center or Crooked Oak Medical Services.

“Every location has high-end equipment and all the images are interpreted by a radiologist from Lancaster Radiology Associates,” Dr. Shuman explains.

Scheduling is simple. Call 544-5941. You can choose your appointment by location or by the first available date. You can also schedule a screening mammogram or chest x-ray online.

A CT scan (CAT scan) is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect and diagnose breast disease.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of internal organs.

An x-ray is a diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs.

Return to Generally Speaking Fall 2004 Issue