Rapidly Advancing Technology
Diagnostic imaging services are growing at an annual rate of eight percent nationwide. Northridge Hospital is committed to remaining at the forefront of this technology.
We have invested in advanced imaging technology and expanded our capabilities to include highly-trained subspecialty radiologists for quick and definitive diagnoses. We offer a wide-scope of subspecialties:
- Interventional Radiology
- Women's Imaging
- Neuroradiology
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
- Nuclear Medicine and CT/PET Imaging
- Cross Sectional Imaging
For more information on diagnostic imaging services call (818) 885-8500, ext. 5060.
New Digital Imaging
When you're facing a health problem, a quick and accurate diagnosis is key so treatment can begin as soon as possible. Thanks to the picture archiving communication system (PACS) available at top healthcare facilities in the country-including Northridge Hospital Medical Center-diagnoses are made faster and with greater precision than ever before.
With PACS, MRI and CT images are captured and stored with digital technology. These images are then transferred into the digital system replacing the need for large volumes of film that be misplaced, and that takes up valuable storage space.
Radiologists have immediate access to these images for diagnostic interpretation. Moreover, referring physicians can analyze and manipulate the images through a secure internet connection, whether at the hospital, office or home, providing second and third opinions for complex cases and reducing the need for patients to make multiple trips to their physicians.
PACS has opened the door to better patient outcomes and speedier diagnoses throughout the hospital -- from the Emergency Room to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and beyond. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where patients with brain injuries and other traumas depend on caregivers' split-second decisions, instant access to diagnostic images may mean the difference between life and death
Computer Tomography (CT)
Computerized tomography or CT, sometimes referred to as a cat scan, is a complex device that uses computers to create two and sometimes three-dimensional images of the human body. It is much more sensitive than standard X-ray procedures capturing "thin slice" images that capture subtle anatomic abnormalities including abnormalities of small blood vessels or subtle abnormalities of organ tissue, providing physicians with a powerful tool for the evaluation of neurological and many other diseases.
As a Trauma Center, our specialized team must react immediately to life-threatening injuries or sudden onset of disease. For example, arriving patients need immediate assessment with disease or acute injuries of the brain, chest, spine, or abdomen. Our new high-resolution 16 slice CT scanner provides two- and three-dimensional image resolutions with scans in seconds to detect significant abnormalities.
By examining the data on a computerized workstation two- and three-dimension images provided new and novel ways of isolating specific organs and blood vessels so that they may be more clearly visualized for the purposes of treatment. The time for a typical chest/abdominal scan used to be 40 seconds and now only takes 10 to 12 seconds. This multi-slice scanner not only produces Hi-Speed images with superb resolution but the images are electronically sent to the reading radiologist within just a few moments for immediate interpretation.
Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging is a relatively new and novel way of examining the human body using a high-powered magnetic field and radio waves. The images obtained are cross-sectional in appearance but provide a different type of information than CT. MRI has proved itself to be enormously powerful in the examination of diseases of the brain and spinal cord as well as musculoskeletal diseases disease of the knees, shoulders, spine, and other parts of the body.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a technique by which the body is scanned using a very highly specialized device following the injection of a radioactive isotopic agent. The agent most commonly used is treated by the human body much as sugar or glucose is. Since abnormalities of glucose metabolism are common in cancer, and infectious states, these areas are very easily detected.
PET scanning is particularly powerful in the evaluation and staging of many types of cancer and in the evaluation of neurological degenerative disease such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Before signs and symptoms of a disease surface, alterations in substance and structure take place, which PET can reveal. This may offer your doctor advance warning and the ability to intervene early in the course of some of these diseases.
Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Imaging
Nuclear medicine diagnostic examinations detect energy emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the patient. Northridge Hospital possesses the latest computerized gamma camera (nuclear camera) that allows very high-resolution images of the heart, lungs, brain, and bone for the purposes of disease detection and assessment of disease progression. This information is often combined with information from CT scans and MRI scans to provide an even more powerful analytic tool.
One of the commonly performed examinations is a cardiac nuclear stress test that demonstrates whether or not you have disease of the coronary arteries and how well your heart is functioning. Nuclear medicine tests can also detect the spread of various types of tumors such as breast, kidney, lung, thyroid, and others.
The addition of PET/CT imaging expands our capabilities by combining CT, which can determine whether an organ or tissue is injured, and PET, which shows if there’s been a change in its function. We also offer an Oncologic imaging program (tumor imaging) in which diagnostic imaging tools help with detection, diagnoses, treatment planning, and post-treatment management of cancer.
Our nuclear medicine and PET/CT imaging subspecialties are currently working to implement even more cutting-edge advances on both the diagnostic and therapeutic side. These individuals have one of the largest collective experiences in the performance and interpretation of PET/CT imaging in Southern California, performing more than 20 such examinations daily at our different centers.
Diagnostic Catheterization
Our physicians have a wealth of expertise and experience in interpreting images for diagnostic catheterization, which is a non-surgical procedure used to visualize coronary arterial disease and heart value problems as well as structural disease of the heart muscle.
The cardiologist inserts a catheter or thin plastic tube into an artery in the leg and then positions the tip of the catheter in the coronary arteries or cardiac chambers. By filming the injection of contrast material, which is visualized on X-rays, the anatomy of the coronary arteries and coronary heart disease can be assessed.
Our new digital catheterization laboratory provides a completely electronic platform allowing images to be instantly retrieved for review and comparison through an advanced electronic image management system. A technique called digital pulse fluoroscopy is utilized meaning less exposure to the patient, physician, and staff while maintaining high image quality.
Other procedures performed in this manner include electrophysiology studies (EP) that is used to examine the heart's electrical activity and pathways. Electrophysiology studies such as cardiac mapping are performed to diagnose arrhythmias or abnormal heart rates by locating small areas of abnormal heart tissue of the heart's normal electrical system.
Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology uses imaging to guide tiny instruments through the body to the areas of interest. These minimally invasive procedures are performed for either diagnostic or treatment purposes.
The interventional radiologist uses all the diagnostic imaging tools available for the purpose of assessing diseases of blood vessels and many body organs. Northridge Hospital has a particularly strong department of interventional radiology with specialty-trained physicians who are highly skilled in performing many lifesaving and palliative procedures.
The interventional radiologist is able to assist the patient, and referring physician, by helping to drain obstructed kidneys and bile duct systems, biopsy lung masses and other tumors. The development of these procedures has also reduced the need for surgery.
Our expanded interventional radiology team features radiologists with specific fellowship training and additional Board-certification (CAQ) in Interventional Radiology. At least one full-time dedicated interventionalist is on duty to serve you at Northridge Hospital.
Neuroradiology
Neurological imaging focuses on imaging and intervention of the spine, including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures to treat severe back pain caused by fractures in the vertebrae (guided by video X-ray images, surgical cement is injected into the fractured vertebra, providing strength and stability.) CT and MRI examination of the brain, including angiography are also performed.
Our neurological imaging team consists of fellowship-trained, subspecialists, who have each received the prestigious certificate of added qualification (CAQ) in neuroradiology from the American Board of Radiology and have undergone at least one, and in several cases, two years of fellowship training. Strongly believing that CT and MRI studies of the brain and spine should be interpreted by subspecialists, at least one neuroradiologist is dedicated and on site at all times.
