Diagnostic Imaging Offers Many Views of Life

McLaren-Lapeer Region's Diagnostic Imaging Center helps physicians to see what is ailing you and gives them precise information with which to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

CT SCANNING
The hospital has the area's newest CT scanner, a General Electric HiSpeed NX/I scanner. Technologists using the scanner find it simpler, yet more versatile while radiologists viewing images see more detail. The new imaging rotation speed enables more images to be taken in less time.
"This device helps us to serve more patients and improve patient scheduling for exams," said Kenneth Tarr, D.O., of Lapeer Radiologists. "GE is renowned for their quality and we are happy to have this new CT scanner available for the community."

Nearly any body organ, such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands, lungs and heart, as well as blood vessels, and the spinal cord, can be imaged.

MRI IMAGING
Patients and physicians in the area now have access to the latest-generation magnetic resonance imaging scanner (MRI). McLaren-Lapeer Region offers a new fixed MRI system on site. MRI provides images using a very powerful magnetic field and radio waves, thus avoiding X-ray exposure. MRI imaging is a very powerful tool in diagnosing head, heart, abdominal, spinal, and other conditions.

ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound (US) imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, is a method of "seeing" inside the human body through the use of high-frequency sound waves. The sound waves are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. Ultrasound is used to assess the condition of the mother and baby during pregnancy and to check for abdominal and vascular conditions. Ultrasound is also a valuable tool for diagnosing breast and prostate cancer. McLaren-Lapeer Region has three ultrasound examination rooms and technicians are dedicated to the ultrasound studies.

MAMMOGRAPHY
Offered at McLaren Community Medical Center-Lapeer.

MAMMOTOME (minimally invasive breast biopsy)
The Mammotome is an outpatient breast biopsy procedure that is performed in less than an hour and allows women to return to their normal routine immediately afterwards.  They leave with only a small bandage that covers an incision about the size of a match head.

Procedures with the Mammotome involve the one-time insertion of a probe directly into the area of the breast that appeared suspicious, based on a physical exam or a mammogram finding.  The doctor guides the probe through the use of ultrasound or stereotactic imaging systems.  Once inside, the Mammotome gently vacuums, cuts and removes tissue for examination.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Angiography is a type of x-ray that is done to image blood vessels in various parts of the body, including the heart, brain, and kidneys, so as to determine whether the vessels are diseased, narrowed, enlarged or blocked altogether. After passing a catheter through an artery leading to the body area of interest, a contrast material is injected to highlight the vessels when x-rays are taken.