Diagnostic Imaging/Radiology

To schedule an appointment: 978-322-2450

Saints Medical Center's Radiology Department boasts leading edge diagnostic equipment and technological resources that are complemented by board-certified radiologists, state-licensed technologists, a critical care registered nurse and a personalized approach to patient care. Services include x-ray, SPECT.CT and CT scanning, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET scanning. The department is accredited by the American College of Radiology, the Food and Drug Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Digital Mammography
Diagnostic services include the latest advancement in digital mammography, which significantly improves visualization of breast tissue over conventional methods that rely on film. A digital mammography exam usually takes less than half the time of traditional film-based exam, and the radiologist will gain viewing options never before possible.

Digital images give better visibility of the breast, particularly near the skin line, chest wall and in women with dense breast tissue. Another advantage is that digitized images can instantly be sent electronically to any destination, whether it's across the country or just down the hall to another physician.

Stereotactic breast biopsy offers the most advanced technology to obtain tiny samples from an abnormal breast mass for examination to confirm if the abnormality is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A less invasive alternative to open surgery, stereotactic biopsy lets patients return to normal activities as soon as the procedure is completed.

Interventional Radiology
Saints Medical Center is the only hospital in the Merrimack Valley region to offer a new procedure called  endovascular stent graft , which is performed when a weak area of the abdominal aorta expands or bulges. An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone, but it is most frequently seen in males over 60 with one or more risk factors. The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture, which can lead to shock or even death.

This minimally invasive procedure is performed using long, thin tubes called catheters that are threaded through the blood vessels from a few small incisions in the groin area through which to thread the catheters. During the procedure, an interventional radiologist and a vascular surgeon use live x-ray pictures on a video screen to guide a fabric and metal tube to the site of the aneurysm. The recovery time for endovascular stent graft is usually shorter than open surgery with a brief hospital stay of only two or three days.

Carotid Stenting
Saints Medical Center is the only regional community hospital to offer this less invasive procedure in which a slender, metal-mesh tube called a stent is inserted inside the carotid artery to increase blood flow in areas blocked by plaque. Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, can cause the build up of plaque as part of the aging process. Eventually, enough plaque may build up to reduce blood flow through arteries, or cause blood clots or pieces of the plaque to break away and block the arteries in the brain beyond the plaque. Qualifying candidates have a decreased hospital stay, usually overnight, with no surgical incision. A specially trained Saints interventional radiologist, with assistance of a vascular surgeon, performs the procedure via a tiny incision in the groin to insert the small catheters.

EndoVenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)
This is a less invasive management of varicose veins. A thin laser fiber is inserted, under ultrasound guidance, via a tiny entry point in the skin. Local anesthesia is injected around the vein and laser energy is delivered to the faulty vein. A full length stocking is applied at the completion of the procedure and walking begins immediately.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) also known as uterine artery embolization, is a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure. Fibroid tumors are very common and for many women do not cause any symptoms, but in some cases can cause very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain. This procedure blocks the blood flow that supplies the fibroids which, over time, causes them to shrink. It is performed in the interventional radiology suite utilizing moderate sedation and analgesia.

New CT Suite
Saint's Medical Center's new CT Suite includes two high-tech scanners that rely on significant diagnostic technology and creates a new realm of clinical applications, including enhanced organ perfusion studies, coronary artery imaging and pulmonary imaging. Combining unparalleled image quality with speed it can produce detailed pictures of any organ in rapid time and provide sharp, clear, three-dimensional views of the blood vessels. Our CT scanners provide many clinical applications, including angiography, virtual colonoscopy and cardiac imaging.

Computed Tomography (CT)
CT uses x-rays and a computer to make an image of sections of the human anatomy that shows organs, bones, and tissues in greater detail than traditional x-rays. CT scanning involves the injection of a contrast medium by intravenous line (IV) that helps to produce a clear and detailed image.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a complex diagnostic tool that allows radiologists to view the functioning of the tissues and organs inside the body. PET images rely on different colors to show various levels of cell activity. Saints' diagnostic imaging specialists rely on PET to determine neurological conditions, heart disease and the spread of cancer.
 
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
When a CT scan is laid over a PET scan, doctors can pinpoint the exact location of unusual cell activity as well as view the level and extent of any abnormality. PET/CT is a new imaging tool combines two different types of imaging into one technologically advanced procedure. PET/CT together produce a more accurate picture of the body than either PET or CT alone. PET/CT is highly regarded as the ideal diagnostic test to detect cancer. The procedure greatly assists the specialist in deciding the best treatment possible for the diagnosed medical condition. We are proud to offer the only PET/CT services available in the Merrimack Valley region.

SPECT•CT
Saints Medical Center is the first hospital in the region to offer patients an advanced medical imaging technology that combines single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) to enable physicians to detect heart disease, cancer and other diseases earlier and target treatments with greater precision. Previously, this combined technology was only available in Boston.

The Symbia® TruePoint™ SPECT•CT system allows physicians to obtain more detailed information and increased image clarity in a single, non-invasive procedure than is possible through separate procedures.

By providing complete information about the exact location, size, nature and extent of disease, the SPECT•CT technology allows physicians to make diagnoses with pinpoint accuracy, anywhere in the body. With earlier and more accurate diagnosis, physicians can plan treatment more effectively and provide feedback on treatment efficacy, as well as potentially avoid unnecessary invasive surgery and reduce the risks of necessary surgery. As a result, physicians can better individualize their clinical decision-making and ultimately achieve better outcomes for patients.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Performed in the Saints CT Suite under general anesthesia, this minimally invasive approach for treating certain tumors is conducted through a technique that uses electrical energy to create heat and destroy tumors. This highly effective diagnostic service can be used for tumors up to seven centimeters in size. Patients having this procedure experience a short hospital stay of only one to two days.