The effectiveness of your medical care depends on an accurate diagnosis
and proper treatment. That’s why you want to select a comprehensive
healthcare center such as OU Health that combines the latest technology
for imaging and radiology with the experienced healthcare professionals,
doctors and care team who accurately interpret test outcomes and recommend
treatments.
Diagnostic Imaging & Interventional Radiology Close to Home
No matter where you live in Oklahoma or throughout the region, you can
stay close to home while you take advantage of innovative diagnostic imaging
and radiology services at OU Health in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Tulsa.
Call for an Appointment
Request an appointment or ask your doctor for a referral to
OU Health imaging and radiology specialists.
Through ongoing advancements in medical imaging technology, many tools,
such as X-ray, fluoroscopy or ultrasound, that once were part of basic
evaluation, now combine with more powerful, precise, flexible, comfortable
and easy-to-use approaches that significantly improve diagnosis.
With the pinpoint accuracy of high-resolution images and fast test results
delivered by the latest digital imaging and treatment technology otherwise
available at only a few places in the nation or around the world, your
OU Health doctors and care team can better identify areas of concern to
quickly recommend and begin treatment.
Image-Guided Precision for Minimally Invasive Treatment
By enabling radiology specialists to see and evaluate images of the body
as it moves and functions, advanced radiologic tools at OU Health also
become part of less invasive, image-guided treatment and surgical procedures
that help reduce harm to surrounding healthy tissue, reduce pain during
and after a procedure, reduce or eliminate hospital stays, and contribute
to quicker healing and faster recovery than traditional options.
Advanced Imaging Technology at OU Health
For everything from broken bones and routine screenings to treatment for
many types of cancer, brain tumor, heart disease, traumatic injury and
other health conditions, your OU Health doctors may incorporate the results
of imaging tests from our many innovative tools such as:
PET / CT and SPECT / CT hybrid imaging for high-resolution images of the
whole body and of body functions
1.5T (Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including wide-bore and
twin-speed options
3T MRI for exceptionally detailed images of affected and surrounding tissues,
as well as MRI fusion with ultrasound for navigated biopsy to improve diagnosis
Digital X-ray and fluoroscopy that minimizes radiation exposure with flexible
options for imaging all parts of the body to diagnose diverse situations
and support treatments including spine surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic
procedures, trauma care, interventional radiology, cardiac surgery and
intraoperative imaging during surgery
Interventional Radiology
As digital imaging continues to advance, OU Health’s expert radiologists
look for new ways to expand diagnostic and treatment options with emerging
technologies for routine services and challenging health situations that
affect soft tissues and internal organs.
The medical specialty of
interventional radiology uses this precise imaging to guide small tools through blood vessels and
around organs while performing minimally invasive procedures that combine
complex treatment planning software with moving and still high-resolution
images. Able to reach deep into the body through tiny incisions, if needed,
these procedures reduce risk and pain and help speed your recovery.
Typically used for cancer treatment, radiation therapy involves administering
prescribed doses of radiation, either externally or internally, to a specific
site in the body. As you and your OU Health care team review your specific
situation and decision factors, including the size, type and location
of the lesion, your options for tools and treatment may include:
External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) – Most common type; precise beam of radiation pointed at
part of body closest to internal tumor; small doses in multiple sessions
help reduce damage to surrounding healthy cells
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery with
Gamma Knife® Perfexion, one of only two in Oklahoma, often used to treat brain tumors, arteriovenous
malformation (AVM), chronic pain, trigeminal neuralgia
Linear accelerators (LINAC), including the most advanced Varian Edge®, as well as Varian
TrueBeam® Novalis, Varian Trilogy, Varian 2100EX, Varian Eclipse treatment
planning software and BrainLab’s iPlan for SBRT
Proton therapy with Mevion pencil-beam scanning and RayStation treatment planning software
– OU Health is only the second site in the nation to offer this option
Total body/skin irradiation as part of cancer treatment or preparation for bone marrow transplant
Internal radiation (brachytherapy)– Permanently or temporarily places a sealed radiation source, such
as a seed or other implant, as close as possible to the tumor source inside
the body or injects a radioactive medicine into a vein or body cavity;
your OU Health care team may offer:
High-dose rate (HDR) – Elekta (Nucletron) microSelectron with Oncentra treatment planning
system; often requires hospitalization with special shielding and limited
contact with care team and visitors
Low-dose rate (LDR) – Eye Plaque, Varian BrachyVision and Eye Physics treatment planning
system, Varian VariSeed LDR planning system for prostate implant; used
with permanent placement of small seed implant directly into tumor
Imaging & Radiology Services & Procedures
At OU Health’s Diagnostic Imaging Center, your imaging procedures
take place in a comfortable, private area with the support of knowledgeable,
compassionate specialists and care team members who accompany you throughout
the process. To ensure you receive prompt follow-up, accurate diagnosis
and timely treatment, your physician uses our Picture Archiving &
Communication System (PACS) to review images securely for evaluation and
for precision guidance during surgical procedures.
Bone Density (DEXA)
A bone density scan, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), uses very
small doses of ionizing radiation to measure your bone mass. From these
images, your OU Health doctor works with radiologic technicians to diagnose
bone conditions such as
osteoporosis and
bone cancer. With regular bone density scans, your doctor can visually track your
bone condition, recommend early treatments for osteoporosis or other health
issues and can make referrals to OU Health orthopedic physicians if needed.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure, uses a long, thin
tube called a catheter to inject dye into an artery in your arm or a vein
in your groin. Catheterization visualizes blood flow to your heart during
an X-ray or ultrasound imaging test and delivers medicine or other treatment
for your specific condition. At OU Health, your doctor may use cardiac
catheterization to diagnose conditions that, if left untreated, could
lead to heart attack, stroke or other health problems.
Computed Tomography (CT)
A computed tomography (CT) scan takes a series of X-ray images of your
body at different angles to create a cross-section of your bones, blood
vessels and soft tissues. CT scans provide more detailed images than X-rays
so doctors can easily diagnose diseases and plan appropriate treatments.
Your OU Health physician uses CT to find internal damage from an injury,
pinpoint tumors or blood clots, or monitor diseases and treatments.
Veran SPiN Navigation System
Through a low-dose CT scan while you breathe in and out, the Veran SPiN
Navigation System provides a 3D map of your lungs. Available in Oklahoma
only at OU Health, this advanced imaging procedure offers your doctor
a detailed view of suspicious lung nodules, which allows faster biopsy
and diagnosis to detect cancer in its early stages.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses a small probe that emits high-frequency sound waves.
When placed on your chest or abdomen, the probe helps visualize your heart’s
structure in 2D or 3D detail. Your OU Health physician examines your heart
as it pumps to develop an accurate diagnosis for your specific condition.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
During an electrocardiogram, a technician tapes small electrode patches
to your chest, arms and legs to measure the electrical activity of your
heart. Your doctor can see the speed of your heartbeat, the precise rhythm
of your heart and the length of time electrical impulses take to move
through your heart. Echocardiograms help your OU Health physician evaluate
chest pains or irregular heartbeats, diagnose the overall health of your
heart or measure changes that result from treatment.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy uses X-ray technology to capture a continuous image scan of
a specific part of the body as it functions. Detailed images help doctors
examine moving body parts, track the progress of instruments during a
procedure, or follow the movement of X-ray dyes. Your OU Health physician
uses fluoroscopy to better diagnose movement-related conditions in different
parts of the body and to assist when inserting devices for procedures
or treatments.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves
instead of X-rays to create detailed reconstructed images of your organs
and other body structures. Doctors use MRI scans to diagnose internal
health conditions and spot tumors. For concerns about radiation exposure,
MRI provides your OU Health physician with an effective alternative for
painless diagnosis of vulnerable areas such as your heart, brain or spinal
cord. When you get care through OU Health’s Stephenson Cancer Center,
you and your doctors gain access to 3T (Tesla) MRI, the advanced technology
with a stronger magnet that creates more detailed and higher-resolution
images of organs and tissues than other types of MRI, ensuring exceptional
diagnostic accuracy.
Mammography
Mammography, a form of low-energy X-ray technology, provides detailed images
that allow radiology specialists to examine breast tissue for screening
and early detection of breast cancer. As a partner in Oklahoma’s
Breast Health Network, OU Health offers extensive
women’s health services, including
mammography and breast imaging, as well as specialized
breast health care.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine, a specialized area of radiology, uses very small amounts
of radioactive substances called radiotracers to look at organs and their
functions. During a nuclear medicine scan, a radiologist injects radioactive
material or asks you to inhale or swallow it. As the substance gets absorbed
by body tissue, radiation detectors allow your doctor to study soft tissues
that don’t visualize well in X-rays without using dye. Your OU Health
physicians use nuclear scans to view functional issues in organs or bones
and develop an accurate diagnosis for your specific health condition.
Nuclear medicine also may serve as a treatment option for thyroid disease,
various cancers and many other health conditions.
PET/SPECT Scans
Two types of nuclear medicine imaging are positron emission tomography
(PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans. PET
scans use a radioactive sugar that cancer cells absorb in greater amounts
than do normal cells. SPECT scans use radioactive substances with antibodies
that stick to tumor cells. With a PET scan or SPECT scan, your OU Health
physician often can identify cancers and a variety of diseases earlier
than when using other imaging tests.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan uses focused sound waves to make detailed pictures of
your organs and body structures. Typically used to help confirm and track
pregnancy, ultrasound scans also allow doctors to diagnose a wide range
of health conditions, especially those involving soft tissues inside the
body, including the heart and blood vessels. Ultrasound scans also assist
doctors during medical procedures and when treating certain types of injury.
Mostly painless and safer than X-ray, ultrasound also helps your OU Health
physician capture images of tissues not possible with X-ray.
Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)
The specialized endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) system assists doctors
in procedures to look inside your lungs or take tissue samples in real
time. By examining detailed images of your lungs, airways, blood vessels
and lymph nodes during the procedure, your doctor can better navigate
through this non-surgical option for lung biopsy.
X-ray
During an X-ray, radioactive electromagnetic waves flow through the scanned
portion of your body to produce an image on film. In an X-ray image, body
tissue shows up as white, black or gray. The distinctions allow your doctor
to better isolate different types of information for accurate diagnosis.
Your OU Health physician uses X-ray imaging to diagnose disease or injury,
monitor therapy or treatment, or assist in procedures.
Your Expert Imaging & Radiology Team
You and your doctor can rely on the precision diagnostic results you receive
from your expert OU Health imaging and radiology team. You benefit from
advanced testing procedures performed by skilled technicians and radiologists
trained in the latest evidenced-based diagnostic techniques and using
nationally recognized best practices for your safety.
