Radiology

The radiology department at Unicoi County Memorial Hospital is staffed 24 hours a day with registered Radiologic technologists with imaging expertise in the areas of CT, MRI, mammography, general radiography, ultrasound, both general and vascular, and bone densitometry. Board certified radiologists affiliated with Mountain Empire Radiology interpret radiology procedures completed at UCMH. Radiologists are physicians who interpret medical images to rule out specific diseases or injuries.

Below is a description of the imaging services available at UCMH.

Computed tomography (CT)

A CT scan is an imaging technique utilizing x-rays combined with a computer to produce multiple cross-sectional images, in rapid sequence. These images are pictures of slices through the body, much like slices from a loaf of bread. CT scans are used to diagnose many conditions, such as examinations of the head to check for bleeding, tumors, blood clots or signs of stroke, determine an organ's size, shape, whether a growth is solid or fluid -filled, and evaluate many different diseases. UCMH installed a new state of the art Philips multi-slice CT scanner in September 2004.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI is an imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field, combined with radio waves to stimulate the body's water molecules with a computer. Stimulated molecules release signals that are detected by the MRI scanner and produces cross-sectional images. MRI creates better soft-tissue scans than x-rays and is most commonly utilized to image the brain, spine, organs in the chest and abdomen, the heart and blood vessels and structures near bones, such as muscles and ligaments. UCMH provides MRI services with a ge-1.5 telesa mobile unit on Wednesday and Saturday of each week.

Mammography

Mammography utilizes low-dose radiation to image breast tissue and is the best way, at present, of detecting breast cancers during its early, more treatable stages. Mammography can detect breast lumps before they can be felt which could significantly increase a woman's successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends women have a baseline mammogram at the age of 35 and then begin annual mammograms at age of 40. UCMH provides mammography services Monday thru Friday is fully accredited by the FDA and is staffed by registered Mammographers with kind and caring attitudes.

General Radiography

UCMH provides general radiography, which is the most familiar imaging procedures for people. General procedures include x-rays of the chest, hands, ankles, feet, legs, spine, abdomen and other areas of the body. UCMH has two radiographic rooms to serve the patients needs.

Ultrasound: general & vascular

Ultrasound is a technique that sends sound waves into the body directed at specific organs or Vessels. As the sound waves strike the area of interest they bounce back as a series of echoes and the ultrasound machine detects those echoes, analyzing the information and creating an image. Ultrasound can be used to examine many areas of the body including the abdomen, gall bladder, breasts, female pelvis, prostate, scrotum, thyroid, the vascular system, and for pregnancy to assist the doctor in determining when the baby is due or the position of the baby.

Bone Densitometry

Bone densitometry is an imaging technique that measures a patient's bone mineral density, which is an indicator of bone strength. Bone densitometry can determine if a patient has osteoporosis, a degenerative disease that results in bones becoming brittle and subject to fractures. Postmenopausal woman are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that women older than 65 undergo a bone densitometry procedure every two years. UCMH installed a new state of the art hologic bone densitometry machine in January 2005.