Ultrasound/X-ray Specialist

Ultrasounds are helpful in analyzing the anatomy of the human without the use of radiation. Instead, ultrasound relies on harmless sound waves that produce images of your body.

How do ultrasounds help with diagnoses?

Ultrasounds can help detect many health issues, including:

• Clots in your veins
• Narrowing of your arteries
• Enlargement of your heart
• Kidney and gallbladder stones
• Tumors in your breast or bladder

What types of ultrasound studies are available?

The team at Medical Imaging Center of Southern California turn to ultrasound for the following studies.

General Ultrasound

• Abdomen Ultrasound
• Pelvis Ultrasound
• Transvaginal Ultrasound
• Thyroid Ultrasound
• Doppler Ultrasound
• Venous Ultrasound
• Arterial Ultrasound
• Breast Ultrasound

Specialty Ultrasound

• ABUS- Automated Breast Ultrasound
• Hepatic Elastography
• Core Biopsy
• Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Breast
• Bone
• Scrotum Ultrasound
• Echocardiogram
• Ultrasound-Guided Drainage + Fluid Collection/Aspiration

Vascular ultrasound

Vascular ultrasounds of the body are helpful in detecting blood clots and other abnormalities in the veins and arteries and are usually performed when deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is suspected.

In addition to these, Dr. Jabour uses ultrasound for advanced studies of your pelvis or abdomen and he also offers advanced ultrasounds, including bubble echocardiograms and ultrasound electrographies.

To learn more about your ultrasound options, call Medical Imaging Center of Southern California.

ABUS- Automated Breast Ultrasound

ABUS is the most advanced technique to screen for dense breasts. Women with dense breasts are diagnosed more accurately with a combination of screening mammography and automated breast ultrasound. ABUS costs no more than regular ultrasound techniques and statistically has been determined to be able to improve breast cancer detection by 55% over mammography alone. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize your breasts and the doctor uses it to evaluate abnormalities, such as cysts and solid masses, which are often found during a mammogram or physical exam. It’s a suitable option for all women with dense breast tissue after a lump has been detected that’s difficult to see on a mammogram.

In addition to mammography, breast ultrasound is also used as a screening mechanism for patients who are asymptomatic but have dense breast tissue.

US-guided core breast biopsy

An image-guided core biopsy allows the radiologist to sample the tissue in your breast without surgery. The radiologist removes samples of breast tissue using a special core needle and then sends these tissue samples to the pathology lab for diagnosis. The results arrive between 2-3 business days after your biopsy.

Scrotum ultrasound

Ultrasound of the scrotum is a medical evaluation of the testicles. It uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize masses in the testicles and surrounding tissue and helps evaluate for pain and other disorders.

Echocardiogram

This ultrasound of the heart helps to visualize the anatomy and function of the heart. This is a dynamic technique that allows our cardiac imaging experts to image the moving functioning heart and valves.

X-Ray Specialists

Medical Imaging Center of Southern California

Radiology and Medical Imaging located in Santa Monica, CA & Beverly Hills, CA

As a diagnostic tool, the X-ray is often the first doctors use to get a quick look at what’s happening inside your body. At Medical Imaging Center of Southern California, under the expert guidance of Dr. Bradley Jabour, the team of radiologists offers a full array of X-ray services to patients. Call the Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, California, center for more information.

X-Ray Q & A

What are X-rays?

Medical Imaging Center of Southern California offers a variety of X-ray imaging to evaluate the anatomy of the body using electromagnetic radiation. X-rays can be helpful in evaluating fractures or breaks in the bones and they’re often the first diagnostic tool doctors turn to when they want to get a quick look at what’s happening inside your body.

The electromagnetic waves create a picture of your body using black-and-white shading because different parts of your body absorb the radiation at different levels. Your bones are very dense, and they appear the whitest on X-rays, while soft tissue shows up in lighter shades. Any spaces where there’s just air, like your lungs, appear black on an X-ray.

X-ray technology is also used for precision and accuracy in certain procedures in a process called fluoroscopy. Using fluoroscopy, the neuroradiologist uses X-ray technology to guide injections in order to deliver a contrast, which helps them better visualize the area to check for any abnormalities.

What are X-rays used for?

The following is a list of common uses for X-ray technology.

• Lung/chest X-rays
• Bone X-rays
• Spine X-rays (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
• Extremity X-rays
• Upper GI/barium swallow test
• Fluoroscopy
• Spinal myelography (cervical and lumbar)
• DEXA to measure the bone mineral density

What happens during an upper GI/barium swallow test?

Barium swallow tests use X-ray and orally administered contrast to dynamically visualize the function and anatomy of your esophagus with video and spot film.

A full upper GI study includes the study of the esophagus but also visualizes your stomach, duodenum, and small intestine. A CT scan with oral contrast can also be used to image the same pathology.

What is a myelogram?

A myelogram is a procedure where the neuroradiologist places a needle into your spinal canal (lumbar) and, under fluoroscopic guidance, injects contrast into your spinal canal in order to diagnose various abnormalities of the spinal canal. Often, a CT scan is performed after this contrast injection to further define the pathology.

For comprehensive X-rays, call Medical Imaging Center of Southern California.