The Value of Subspecialization

Radiology is a specialty field of medicine just like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology. Radiology does not focus on a single body part or disease, rather it encompasses virtually every part of the body and hundreds of medical conditions.

What makes Advanced Radiology Services unique? While all of our board-certified radiologists are skilled at multiple radiology techniques needed to diagnose a broad spectrum of medical conditions, each radiologist also has a subspecialty. This means that they have each developed, through training, fellowships and/or professional experience, a greater level of proficiency in a given area of radiology. Also, many of our radiologists have obtained a Certificate of Added Qualifications for their respective subspecialty.

Each year our radiologists perform hundreds of procedures within their respective subspecialties. In fact, within several of the subspecialties listed, our radiologists read more images than any other radiology practice in Michigan. This gives them the experience needed to provide patients and their referring physicians with in-depth information required to make informed and timely medical decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Below is a brief description of our subspecialties:

Body Imaging focuses on all areas of the body except the head, neck and spine. Body Imaging techniques primarily include body CT, MRI, conventional X-ray, arthrography, and image-guided biopsy. To further enhance this subspecialty, Body Imaging is divided into divisions focusing on musculoskeletal, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and cardiovascular imaging. The list of services is comprehensive and includes nearly every type of radiology procedure available. Our radiologists participate in the Lung Cancer Multi-Specialty Clinic at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, which involves a team of cancer specialists meeting with a patient at a single appointment.

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Breast Care Services uses the most effective techniques available for the early detection of breast cancer. Services include mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, galactography, needle localization, aspiration, and ultrasound-guided or stereotactic breast biopsy. To assist in the interpretation of mammograms, our radiologists in the Grand Rapids division use Computer Aided Detection technology, which allows even more breast cancers to be found at the earliest stages. Computer Aided Detection technology will be implemented in Kalamazoo in the fall of 2005. Our radiologists participate in the Breast Cancer Multi-Specialty Clinic at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, which involves a team of cancer specialists meeting with a patient at a single appointment.

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Cardiovascular Imaging uses MRI, high speed CT, nuclear medicine imaging, and PET imaging to diagnose heart diseases including congenital malformations of the heart, coronary artery disease, and inflammatory conditions of the heart muscle. Specialized exams are able to assess cardiac viability after a heart attack and perform Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring as a screening test to assess the risk of clinically unsuspected heart disease. CT angiography and MRI angiography are able to non-invasively study the arteries supplying the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and legs, sparing many patients from conventional angiography.

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Emergency Radiology involves performing and interpreting imaging examinations on acutely ill and injured patients seen in the Emergency Department. These tests include the use of the most modern and advanced technology available, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and digital imaging. Emergency Department physicians frequently include these examinations as part of the initial evaluation of patients with illnesses such as pneumonia, to severe, life-threatening injuries from motor vehicle accidents. Our radiologists provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We provide personal consultation with staff physicians and physicians-in-training, as well as services to other hospital emergency departments through the use of teleradiology (the electronic transmission of images from remote locations) any time of the day or night.

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General Radiology and Fluoroscopy uses X-ray technology to diagnose disease and injury inside the body. X-ray is used for chest and abdomen exams, bone studies, and intravenous pyelograms (IVP). A specialized x-ray machine called a fluoroscope is used to conduct esophograms, upper GI series, barium enemas, cystograms, and hysterosalpingograms.

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Interventional Radiology involves the use of minimally invasive tools and techniques to treat diseases with significantly less trauma, recovery time, and costs less than conventional surgery. Using various imaging techniques, our interventional radiologists guide the insertion of small instruments and tools through the body to identify and treat medical disorders. Interventional Radiology procedures are categorized as vascular and non-vascular. Vascular techniques include angiography, angioplasty, endovascular stenting, embolization and thrombolytic therapy. Non-vascular procedures include biopsies, drainage of abscesses/cysts, feeding tube placement, vertebroplasty, and radio frequency ablation.

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Musculoskeletal Radiology uses cutting-edge technology, including MRI, CT, radiography, fluoroscopy, and ultrasound, coupled with subspecialty expertise to assist referring physicians in the diagnosis and management of their patients with musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to diagnostic imaging services, musculoskeletal interventional services include joint, bursa, and tendon sheath injection procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Bone biopsy, and fluoroscopic videotaped examinations are also available.

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Neuroradiology is a subspecialty that uses various techniques to diagnose disorders of the head, neck, and spine, and locate tumors, traumatic injuries, and cerebrovascular disorders including stroke, aneurysms, vascular malformations and carotid stenosis. Neuroradiologists employ a wide range of techniques, such as carotid/cerebral angiogram, CT, discogram, MRI, lumbar puncture, myelogram and fluoroscopy. This subspecialty also includes Interventional Neuroradiology which allows for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular abnormalities, such as aneurysms and other vascular malformations within the brain, without surgery.

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Nuclear Medicine involves the use of small amounts of radioactive materials to create an image of the body and its organ functions and structure for diagnosis and treatment. Radiopharmaceuticals help identify abnormalities early in the progression of a disease, sometimes before problems may become apparent with other tests. Nuclear Medicine procedures include renal scans, thyroid scans, lung scans, bone scans, hepatobiliary scans, gallium scans, heart scans, brain scans and PET scans.

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Pediatric Radiology is a subspecialty of radiology focused on improving the health and well-being of neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. Children get different diseases and have different psychosocial needs than adults. Our Pediatric Radiologists are trained to use all imaging modalities (nuclear medicine, ultrasound, x-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluoroscopy) to provide a diagnosis. Because some procedures involve exposure to radiation, our Pediatric Radiologists employ special consideration when children undergo examinations using radiation. Stringent protocols have been established to minimize any risks.

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Ultrasound (or Sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image. This technique does not involve ionizing radiation. Since images are obtained real time, our radiologists are able to observe motion and consequently assess function as well as anatomy. Common examinations include evaluation of blood vessels, gallbladder, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, uterus and ovaries, urinary bladder, thyroid, fetus, musculoskeletal structures, and heart.

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