Imaging services allow doctors to get a clear look at the inside of your body. Imaging can be used for the diagnosis of everything from cancer to broken bones. Our Imaging Services Barium Enema A barium enema is an X-ray exam of the colon. Contrast material is given through an enema and the radiologist uses fluoroscopy as the colon fills. Bone Density (DEXA) Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA, measures your bone density. The DEXA scanner uses two X-ray beams, each with different energy levels, and measures the difference between how much of the X-rays pass through the bone. The test helps monitor for osteoporosis. Cardiac Scoring Cardiac scoring is a CT scan (see Computed Tomography) that measures calcium deposits in your coronary arteries — the arteries around your heart. Calcium, or plaque, causes the arteries to narrow and increases your risk for a heart attack. Computed Tomography (CT) Computed tomography (CT) uses X-rays to create an image of a cross-section of your body. A CT — also known as a CAT scan or computed axial tomography — captures a series of images of your body, called slices, to see organs and other anatomical structures. A contrast medium, or dye, is sometimes used to provide better images. Digital Mammography With digital mammography, X-ray beams are captured on specially-designed digital detectors. The digital detector converts the X-ray beams into electronic signals, which are then sent to a computer. The radiologist can review the digital mammogram on a high-resolution computer monitor, zooming in and enhancing the image to make the most accurate diagnosis. Fluoroscopy Fluoroscopy and X-rays both use small doses of radiation to take internal images of the body. X-rays are still images, while fluoroscopy produces live images on a computer screen. Fluoroscopy services are available in Carrollton, at the Pavilion and the Hospital, and at Villa Rica. Gastrointestinal Imaging An upper GI is an X-ray of the stomach. You’ll drink a contrast material, called barium, while the radiologist takes images using fluoroscopy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Rather than using X-rays, MRI scanners use a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to construct images of the inside of a patient’s body. MRI services are available in Carrollton and Villa Rica. Nuclear Medicine Nuclear medicine uses a small amount of radioactive substance that is attracted to a specific organ. When you are placed under a special device, technologists capture an image of your organs affected by the dye. Nuclear medicine services are available in Carrollton and Villa Rica. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positron emission tomography (PET) produces images of tissue structures using small amounts of a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream. The substance may have to travel through the patient’s blood vessels for up to an hour, at which point the patient goes through a scanner to capture images of the substance as it moves through the body. No other imaging technique shows the internal chemistry of the body as well as PET. PET is available in Carrollton. Ultrasound Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs in the body. The sound waves are transmitted into the body and images are created from the echo of the sound waves as they strike different tissues and are bounced back. Ultrasounds are commonly used to examine the blood flow through blood vessels, to look at certain organs or to view babies before they are born. X-rays X-rays are radiation that passes through your body to capture images of internal body structures, such as bones or organs. Scheduling is easy. Your medical provider will need to give you an order for your imaging procedure. You can see which services are available at each Tanner facility on our What We Offer page. Have your order ready and call the applicable number below: Tanner Imaging Center | 770-812-5979 Higgins General Hospital | 770-812-9721 Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton | 770-812-9721 Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama | 770-812-9721 Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica | 770-812-9721