SERVICES

Plain X-Rays

Barium Tests

Obstetrics Ultrascan

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

Laboratory Services

Cystourethrogram

Radiography is the imaging of body structures using X-rays. X-rays are a form of radiation similar to visible light, radiowaves and microwaves.

X-radiation is special because it has a very high energy level that allows the X-ray beam to penetrate through the body and create an image or picture.

The benefits of plain radiography/X-ray are:

X-ray imaging is useful to diagnose disease and injury such as pneumonia, heart failure, fractures, bone infections, arthritis, cancer, blockage of the bowel, and collapsed lung, etc.
X-ray imaging is fast and easy so it is particularly useful in emergency diagnosis and treatment.
X-ray equipment is relatively inexpensive and widely available in hospitals and X-ray clinics and other locations, making it convenient for both patients and doctors, even in remote locations.

Barium swallow (or esophagography)

Is a medical imaging procedure used to examine the upper GI (gastrointestinal) tract, which includes the esophagus and, to a lesser extent, the stomach.

Barium sulfate is a type of contrast medium that is opaque to X-rays. As the patient swallows the barium suspension, it coats the esophagus with a thin layer of the barium. This enables the hollow structure to be imaged.

Pathologies detected on a Barium Swallow include:

Achalasia
Cancer of esophagus
Tracheoesophageal fistula
Schatzki ring
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD/GORD)
Zenker's diverticulum
Hiatus hernia
Obstruction of esophagus
Esophageal stricture
Cancer of stomach
dysphagia lusoria
eosinophilic esophagitis

Barium meal

This is similar to a barium swallow (above) but aims to look for problems in the stomach and duodenum such as ulcers, polyps, tumours, etc. You drink some barium liquid, but you then lie down whilst X-ray pictures are taken over your abdomen. It may take a little longer to do than a barium swallow.

Barium follow through

This test is similar to a barium meal but aims to look for problems in the small intestine. Therefore, you drink the barium liquid but then need to wait 10-15 minutes before any X-rays are taken. This allows time for the barium to reach the small intestine. You may then have an X-ray every 30 minutes or so until the barium is seen to have gone through all the small intestine and reached the large intestine (colon).

Barium Enema

Is used to look for problems in the colon, such as polyps, inflammation (colitis), narrowing of the colon, tumours, diverticula, etc.

Histopathology

This is the diagnosis and study of disease by expert medical interpretation of cells and tissue samples. The specialty determines the cause of death by performing autopsies and is integral to cancer management through staging and grading of tumours

It basically deals with the tissue diagnosis of disease. A tissue diagnosis can be made on the basis of biopsy material taken from the patient.

In summary, it refers to the microscopic

examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease

Hematology

When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. That is why it is important for you to know about some of the common blood disorders that may affect you

We do test to detect problems with the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting (hemostasis and thrombosis).

A voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray study of the bladder and urethra that is done while the bladder is emptying.

Why the Test is Performed

This test may be done to diagnose the cause of urinary tract infections, especially in children who have had more than one urinary tract or bladder infection.

It is also used to diagnose and evaluate:

Difficulty emptying the bladder
irth defects with the bladder or urethra
Narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the bladder (urethral stricture) in males
Urinary reflux from the bladder up into the kidney

Is an X-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus andfallopian tubes and the area around them. It often is done for women who are having a hard time becoming pregnant(infertile).

Why It Is Done;

Find a blocked fallopian tube. An infection may cause severe scarring of the fallopian tubes and block the tubes, preventing pregnancy. Occasionally the dye used during a hysterosalpingogram will push through and open a blocked tube.
Find problems in the uterus, such as an abnormal shape or structure, an injury, polyps, fibroids,adhesions, or a foreign object in the uterus. These types of problems may cause painful menstrual periods or repeated miscarriages.
See whether surgery to reverse a tubal ligation has been successful.

Both are imaging scans used to look at

a passage in the body. A fistula is an

abnormal connecting tube connecting

two organs, such as the bowel or bladder,

or between an organ and the skin. A sinus

is an abnormal track or cavity that opens

to the skin.

A fistulogram shows a fistula and a

sinogram shows a sinus tract. The scans

allow doctors to see the connecting tube

or track more clearly.

Contrast (once called as x-ray dye) is used to identify the start of the fistula/sinus, its pathway and what organs are involved.

Fistulogram or

Sinogram

Is a test used to diagnose a blocked salivary gland or duct in your mouth. The procedure uses X-rays. It is also called a ptyalogram

Your physician may recommend a sialogram if you have any of the following symptoms:

a constant abnormal or foul taste in your mouth
inability to fully open your mouth
discomfort or pain when opening your mouth
dry mouth
mouth pain
face pain
swelling over your jaw in front of your ears
swelling of your face or neck

Sialogram

A venogram is an X-ray test that takes pictures of blood flow through the veins in a certain area of the body.

During a venogram, a special dye (contrast material) is put into your veins so they can be seen clearly on an X-ray picture. A venogram looks at the condition of your veins and the valves in your veins.

It can show the veins in your legs, pelvis, or arm; the veins leading to theheart; or the veins leaving your kidneys.

A venogram is commonly used to:

assess the status of a vein or system of veins
find blood clots within the veins
assess varicose veins before surgery
find a vein in good condition to use for a bypass procedure or dialysis access
help a physician place an IV or a medical device, such as a stent, in a vein
guide treatment of diseased veins.

Venogram

A myelogram uses X-rays and a special dye called contrast material to make pictures of the bones and the fluid-filled space (subarachnoid space) between the bones in your spine (spinal canal).

A myelogram may be done to find a tumor, an infection, problems with the spine such as a herniated disc, or narrowing of the spinal canal caused by arthritis.

A myelogram is done to check for:

The cause of arm or leg numbness, weakness, or pain.
Narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis).
A tumor or infection causing problems with the spinal cord or nerve roots.
A spinal disc that has ruptured (herniated disc).
Inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
Problems with the blood vessels to the spine.

A myelogram may help find the cause of pain that cannot be found by other tests, such as an MRI or a CT scan.

Myelogram

3D/4D Scans

The latest developments in ultrasound imaging are the three-dimensional scanning and the 3D in real time. They are known as 3D/4D scans, and have come to revolutionize the obstetrical practice.

With this technology we can enjoy the incredible experience of seeing the features of babies and observing their movements before they are born. We can now follow the development of babies inside the womb, study their physical characteristics, and discover how their movements get more sophisticated as the pregnancy progresses.

What are the advantages of the 3D/4D scanning?

They offer insights, for example, in the morphology and function of areas as sensitive as the cranial structure or the circulatory system.
Useful for the detection of foetal abnormality, especially in face, extremities, chest, spine and central nervous system
Allows to monitor the development of the fetal movements, whose alterations can indicate the existence of pathologies of the neurological system.
The facility for monitoring foetal movements in real time is also very useful in the implementation of uterine punctures, shortening the duration of the procedure even in the most complicated cases.
Numerous pathologies of the uterine cavity, the fallopian tubes and the ovaries can now be studied in detail from the three-dimensional reconstructions of the female reproductive tract that this technology allows
Equally outstanding is its application to the detection and assessment of ectopic pregnancies, ovarian cysts, endometrial polyps or uterine myomas.

A 3D scan is now sufficient to detect these problems that before were only visible by subjecting the patient to invasive techniques such as hysteroscopies, laparoscopies or hysterosalpingographies.

Conventional 2D scan

A 2D ultrasound is the standard procedure used during obstetric ultrasound. It is the one used to produce 2 dimensional images of what is happening inside the mothers and baby’s body. Generally, all pregnancy ultrasounds are still done using 2D technology.

A baby’s gestation, growth, heartbeat, development and size can all be seen clearly using 2D ultrasound. The position of the placenta, cord and lie/position of the baby can also be clearly seen.

The images from a 2d ultrasound tend to be in black and white and have the same level of detail as a photographic negative. Depending on how the baby is lying and their position in the uterus, different images will be seen.

The 2D basic ultrasound is a very useful diagnostic tool, and will remain so. Every mother should have the standard ultrasound during her second trimester (18-22 weeks) to screen for abnormalities.4D and 3D ultrasounds are not intended to replace 2D ultrasound.

Ultrasound - Guided Biopsy

It involves the removal of cells from a suspicious area within the body using a thin needle and hollow tube called a syringe. During ultrasound-guided biopsy, the physician passes a needle through the syringe into the area or organ being examined and uses it to remove the tissue or fluid sample. Ultrasound is used by the physician to guide the needle to the appropriate area. The sample of tissue or fluid then is evaluated in the laboratory to determine your diagnosis.

Biopsies can be performed using surgery if the suspicious area is near the skin’s surface or can be removed during surgery. If the suspected tumor is deeper in the body and cannot be seen or felt by the physician, he or she may decide to perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy.

The main advantage of an ultrasound-guided biopsy is that it does not require an incision, although there is a disadvantage in some cases when the needle may not be able to remove enough tissue for analysis.

2D obstetrics/ gynecology studies/ pelvis

Pelvic ultrasound is usually performed to assess the pelvic structures in patients with various gynaecological complaints such as heavy or painful periods, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, difficulty getting pregnant, suspected ectopic pregnancy, bleeding after menopause, risk of cancer etc.

It is also useful when a Gynaecologist or the GP suspects on clinical examination that the woman may have a mass in the pelvis

2D pelvic ultrasound has been established for several decades as the most reliable and effective way to image the uterus, ovaries and the surrounding structures.

Ultrasound-guided intervention

Ultrasound-guided intervention has enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth because its many advantages over other guidance modalities have been recognized. The decreased procedure time, increased accuracy, and safety of procedures performed under ultrasound guidance are of obvious benefit to radiologist and patient alike for all interventional applications.

Lesions once considered unsafe to sample are now reasonably approached with ultrasound guidance. As equipment technology continues to improve and radiologists increasingly recognize the benefits of guiding procedures with ultrasound, the shift of procedures away from CT and fluoroscopic guidance will continue and ultrasound guidance will become the guidance method of choice for most interventional procedures.