Phelps County Regional Medical Center's Medical Imaging department offers comprehensive imaging services along with a dedicated and highly skilled team of registered professionals. Our state-of-the-art equipment and technology brings a new level of diagnostic imaging to South Central Missouri. Each of the tests described below will provide your physician with important information about your body. One or more of these tests may need to be performed to determine the location and specific type of problem you may have.

Bone Scan

A Bone Scan (Nuclear Medicine) is used to see if disease has entered your bones. It is similar to an x-ray in that it uses radiation to look at the condition of your bones. However, in this case, you take radioactive material (radionuclide) internally, via injection. The radionuclide travels in your blood and settles in areas where there is bone building or breaking down. This activity could be from cancer or perhaps arthritis or a recent bone fracture. The radionuclide sends out a weak radiation signal that is read by a machine called a gamma camera.

Nuclear Camera

You should feel no discomfort from the radionuclide or the scan. The radioactivity of this material lasts for a very short period in the body, and actually gives you no more total radiation than a typical external x-ray. This test is an important way to get information about whether disease has developed in the bones in your body much earlier than a normal x-ray would show a problem. The scan itself is done two to three hours after you take the radionuclide and takes about 60 minutes. After your injection, you will be asked to drink fluids and empty your bladder during the waiting period to flush the material from your urine and make the image of your bones clearer.

Ultrasound
An ultrasound machine uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create pictures of your body. You will have a special gel put on the skin where you are being scanned that helps conduct the sound. Then, the technologist will move a transducer that sends the sound waves around this same area. Ultrasound may be used externally or internally in the rectal or vaginal areas, depending on the area being scanned. You will not feel or hear the high-frequency sounds the ultrasound machine makes. The images appear on a TV screen and are recorded. You may be asked to drink lots of water and wait to urinate until after the exam to improve the image.

CT or CAT Scan

CT Scanner

Computed Tomography scan (CT or CAT) uses low energy x-rays and computers to create a cross-sectional image of your body. It provides much more information than a basic x-ray. A CT scan is performed while you lie on a long table that slides into a large circular opening in the imaging machine. The scanner will rotate around you, emitting x-rays and a buzzing noise. It is important to remain very still during the procedure. Sometimes an injection of contrast agent is given to help make the image clearer to the doctor. Some studies require you to drink oral contrast. You will be able to speak to the technologist while you are in the machine. The scan generally takes 10-20 minutes. Alert your doctor if you are pregnant or allergic to iodine.

MRI Scan

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine creates an image of the body using a large magnet. You will lie on a table that slides into the MRI machine. You will not feel the magnetic field, but you will hear some noise. It is important to remain very still during the scan. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and you will be able to speak to the MRI technologist the entire time. In the machine, do not wear: Jewelry Metal Objects Eyeglasses Dental Pieces.

MRI Scanner

Before the procedure, let the technologist know if you have a pacemaker, have had heart valves replaced, or have any metal in your body, including surgical staples, metal filings or permanent makeup. Also, let staff know if you have the tendency to become claustrophobic, have had a bullet wound or worked with metal (metal shavings risk).

PET/CT Scan
A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is generally used in combination with an MRI or CT scan. It uses a tracer material that sends a signal to different areas of your body that may be abnormal.

You will be asked to fast for two to twelve hours prior to the scan so that your body takes up the tracer effectively. Your glucose level will be measured prior to the scan. To take the scan, you will be injected or inhale a small amount of radioactive (radiolabeled) tracer material.

You should feel no discomfort from the tracer or the scan. You may also be given some medicine to help you stay quiet during the scan as well as some medication to reduce your bladder activity. You will then lie on a table that slides into a PET scanner. You may be lightly strapped in to help you hold still. It is important to remain very still during the scan. You will not feel the scan, but you will hear some noise as the scanner moves. The radioactivity of the tracer goes away quickly and you can be with your loved ones after the scan.

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