Radiology Services
The Radiology Department at The Medical Center of Plano offers a full-service Diagnostic Imaging department with the latest state of the art technology.
A radiological exam is designed to capture an image or look inside a specific area of your body for the purpose of providing data to your medical team in order that they may make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best course of action. All imaging areas are staffed with highly competent technologists. Radiology interpretation and consultations are provided by board certified radiologists from the leading radiology physician group in North Texas - Texas Radiology Associates. Our group of radiologists possess over 30 years of experience offering a multidisciplinary array of specialties and subspecialties. This makes our centers fully capable of diagnosing your specific medical condition by providing you the expertise not typically found in other outpatient imaging centers.
The Medical Center of Plano utilizes the latest state-of-the-art technology in radiological imaging called PACS - Picture Archiving Communication System. This system creates a high resolution image allowing multiple practitioners to simultaneously view your digital image, thereby facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration. In addition, the images produced can be instantly compared with any previous imagines completed at all of The Medical Center of Plano imaging locations, creating a seamless approach to your diagnostic needs.
The Radiology Department provides its services to outpatients, inpatients, and emergency room patients. A physician's order is required for all imaging studies. A detailed description of each imaging service follows:
Breast Imaging Services
The Medical Center of Plano is an American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited, FDA and MQSA approved facility. Female technologists provide all mammography services. Among the services we provide are standard diagnostic and screening mammography, breast ultrasound, Stereotatic and/or Ultrasound guided breast biopsies, Fine Needle Aspirations of Breast Cysts, and pre-operative needle localization.
C.T. Scan
Often times referred to as C.T. or C.A.T. Scan, Computed Tomography is an effective tool that can see into areas of the body that cannot be seen on regular x-ray examinations. Normal x-ray films are two dimensional. The C.T. scanner uses x-ray detectors to sense how radiation is absorbed by different tissues. The detector system sends the information to a computer which transforms them into images we call "slices." These original images can be re-assembled into computer images that show structures in many different planes. Most commonly used C.T. procedures are of the brain, chest, abdomen and spine.
General Radiography (X-ray) and Fluoroscopy
This is the section of Medical Imaging that uses very small amounts of ionized radiation to create images of body parts. Traditional x-rays of skeletal structures are taken most often to diagnose injuries to bones and joints. Check x-rays are taken to reveal any process that changes the airspaces in the lungs. Soft tissue diagnoses can be made by administering "contrast media" by intravenous injection for functional studies of the urinary system. For the Gastrointestinal system the contrast has to be administered either by oral or rectal routes.
Interventional Radiology
The most common special procedure is the diagnostic imaging studies of an area or organ after the injection of a radio opaque contrast media. Interventional Radiology is a term that describes a procedure to correct an abnormal condition. Angioplasty, billiary drainage and abscess drainage are some examples of interventional radiology. There are several topics available on the Society of Interventional Radiology website at http://www.sirweb.org/.
M.R.I.
Although the images from a CT scan and MRI look similar they are totally different. The MRI does not use radiation. Instead, it makes use of a powerful magnetic field and radiofrequencies that cause the body's hydrogen atoms to move in and out of normal alignment. The process of re-alignment is recorded to produce pictures or images of your internal organs and structures. While CT scan can differentiate between soft tissues and bony structures, MRI is preferable when imaging soft tissues. Most commonly used MRI studies are of the brain, spine, knee, shoulder, abdomen and the vascular system.
Neurointerventional Imaging Services
Neurointerventional Imaging Services is a medical specialty dedicated to the treatment of vascular disease involving the Brain, Neck and Spinal systems using the latest minimally-invasive technologies. As a primary site in the TEXAS STROKE INSTITUTE, The Medical Center of Plano provides procedures to evaluate and treat disorders of the blood vessels of the head, neck and spine. Dr. Vallabh Janardhan, M.D., Director of TEXAS STROKE INSTITUTE, is a Board Certified Neurologist with extensive training in Endovascular therapeutics. The physicians use stents, balloons, microcatheters, coils, and other occlusive devices to treat Aneurysms, Vascular Malformations, Tumors and Vascular Occlusions. In the past, certain conditions that would have required open surgery might be eligible for consideration
of endovascular treatment.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, painless and cost-effective techniques to both image and in some cases treat disease. There is imaging following an injection or ingestion of a minute amount of radioactive tracer to evaluate the functions, conditions and abnormalities of internal organs or bony structures. Nuclear medicine studies are unique in that it documents function of organs in addition to structure. Most commonly used imaging procedures in Nuclear Medicine include Bone Scans, Lung Scans, Thyroid Scans, Renal Scans, Cardiac Scans, Liver Scans, Hepato billiary Scans, and Bleeding Scans.
Outpatient Radiology
The Medical Center of Plano offers Outpatient Imaging Services that provide a variety of radiology services, including: Diagnostic Radiology & Fluoroscopy, C.T. Scan, MRI, and Ultrasound.
The Medical Center of Plano’s Outpatient Imaging Services allow for easy access to our parking garage, online registration, and welcomes walk-ins for diagnostic imaging.
Outpatient imaging is open Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, with preparations for C.T. scans beginning at 7:00 am.
Our Address:
1600 Coit Road
Building 3, Suite 160
Plano, TX 75075
For a map of the facility, please click here.
If you have any questions about our outpatient imaging services, we can be reached at:
Phone: (972) 519-1537
Fax: (214) 473-7284
PET Imaging
Positron Emission Scanning combined with CT images acquired in the same session combines the ability to see not only anatomical references but to demonstrate the body's utilization of glucose. The Discovery LS PET/CT scanner combines the CT data with the PET data to show the exact location of tumors or other abnormal updates. The PET/CT Scanning exam requires injection of a minute amount of radioactive tracer.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a medical procedure based on the application of high frequency sound waves to image various body parts. It is based on the principle of sound waves "bouncing off" of structures and then being detected to provide structural images. Most frequently associated with imaging during pregnancy, ultrasound is used to diagnose and guide therapeutic procedures.
For current and accurate patient information about diagnostic radiology procedures, interventional radiology and radiation therapy, visit www.radiologyinfo.org or contact The Medical Center of Plano’s Radiology Department at (972) 519-1524.