PET/CT MULTI-SLICE CT
3D/4D ULTRASOUND BONE DENSITOMETRY
X-RAY

PET/CT

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Hoboken Radiology offers state-of-the-art technology in nuclear imaging with the introduction of the GE Healthcare Discovery PET/CT 690 Elite scanner, the latest in PET/CT systems with Time of Flight technology. Hoboken Radiology is the first and only facility in Hudson County to offer PET/CT and provides patients throughout Northern New Jersey with the highest quality of care. As part of our quality control and concern for your well being, PET/CT’s are not only read by our highly trained Board Certified Radiologist, but are also overread by an expert in the field. PET/CT patients are thoroughly prepped by our courteous staff and receive our Administrator’s personal cell phone number to answer any questions or concerns they may have after normal business hours including weekends.

What is PET/CT?

PET/CT combines two machines into one. The PET component is used in gathering physiologic activity within the body while the CT component is used to attain anatomical information. The two components are then fused, creating one image. The result is greater diagnostic accuracy in localizing abnormalities within normal structures in the body compared to just PET or CT alone. Hoboken Radiology has also received ACR Accreditation for its utilization of PET-CT in patients with cancer to determine the location and extent of tumor growth and to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, brain tumors and seizures. ACR Accreditation means that Hoboken Radiology meets the high standards established by the American College of Radiology.

PET/CT is used for the following types of imaging:

Oncology (Cancer) Neurology (Brain Function)

PET/CT improves diagnostic confidence and can reduce the need for biopsies and unnecessary surgeries. Diagnoses can be made earlier, with greater accuracy allowing better treatment and planning in patient care. PET/CT scans are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.

In Oncological applications, PET/CT scanning is performed by injecting the patient’s arm with a radioactive sugar (glucose) called FDG-18 (Fluorodeoxyglucose.) After waiting at least an hour to allow the sugar to circulate, the PET/CT scan is then administered. Cancerous cells are metabolically more active than normal cells, and therefore metabolize more sugar for energy. Because of this, cancer cells then appear as “hot-spots” compared to normal cells. The PET component measures these “hot-spots” while the CT component supplies anatomical reference points. Fusing the components together allows our Board Certified Radiologists to pinpoint the location of the abnormality.

In PET/CT Bone Scans, instead of utilizing FDG-18 (Fluorodeoxyglucose), patients are injected with Sodium Fluoride (F-18-NaF) due to its uptake ability within bone. After waiting at least 45 minutes to allow the Sodium Fluoride to circulate, the PET/CT Bone Scan is then performed. Bone Scans are performed to assist in the management of patients with or at risk of developing bone metastasis. Bone Metastasis is the process in which cancer cells from an original or primary tumor site break away and spread to a bone or bones. Lung, breast, prostate, thyroid and kidney cancer have a higher tendencies to metastasize to the bone. PET/CT Bone Imaging is more accurate than traditional Tc-99m Radionuclide Bone Imaging for both malignant and benign lesions of the skeleton due to its increased sensitivity and specificity. PET/CT Bone Imaging is a direct replacement technology for traditional Tc-99m Radionuclide Bone Imaging.

In Neurological applications, PET/CT scanning is performed by injecting the patient’s arm with a radioactive sugar (glucose) called FDG-18 (Fluorodeoxyglucose.) After waiting at least 30 minutes to allow the FDG to circulate, the PET/CT scan is then administered. Since the brain has a higher uptake of glucose for energy than other normal cells, the brain automatically appears as a large “hot-spot”. With Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia, certain parts of the brain are not as metabolically active as normal brain cells. Therefore our Board Certified Radiologists detect “cold-spots” compared to normal brain cell glucose uptake. The PET component detects these “cold-spots” while the CT component supplies anatomical reference points. Fusing the components together allows our radiologists to localize these abnormalities and determine whether they result from Alzheimer's Disease, another form of dementia, or normal brain aging.

PET/CT improves diagnostic confidence and can reduce the need for biopsies and unnecessary surgeries. Diagnoses can be made earlier, with greater accuracy allowing better treatment and planning in patient care. PET/CT scans are covered by Medicare and private insurance companies.

About The Procedure

Prior to your scheduled appointment, you will be contacted by our staff and given the prep for the scan. Free transportation is available if needed. On the day of your exam you will be asked to fill out some forms. After reviewing your medical history, our highly trained technician will inject you with a contrast agent (FDG-18 or F-18-NaF) and instruct you to rest, minimizing any type of physical activity. The resting period (or uptake time) varies depending on the type of PET/CT Scan being administered. After resting you will be asked to lie flat on a PET/CT table which will then move towards the specific areas of the body that are being examined. During the exam you will be able to see out of either end of the scanner as well as in between as you are never fully enclosed with our open designed PET/CT. The technologist will be in communication with you via a two-way microphone as you are constantly visually monitored throughout the exam. Scan time on the table is approximately 30 minutes, but total exam time can range anywhere from 2 to 3 hours - allowing time for the computer to generate the images as well as preparation time for the patient and contrast uptake.  After the exam you will be helped off the table and given juice. The exam is then read by one of our Board Certified Radiologists, overread by our PET/CT Specialist and a report is generated and forwarded to your physician.

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Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)

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A CAT (Computer Assisted Tomography) Scan is also known as a CT scan. Our Multi-Slice CT scanner performs spiral scans using cross-sectional x-rays (called slices) of the body. These extremely thin slices are acquired using a low dose X-ray beam, minimizing radiation exposure and generating greater detail than a regular X-ray can provide. The results are detailed visualizations of internal organs as well as soft tissues. Our Multi-Slice CT is also ACR Accredited which means it meets the high standards established by the American College of Radiology. Hoboken Radiology also complies with the Image Gently campaign, an initiative of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, whose goal is to increase the awareness of the opportunities to lower radiation dose in the imaging of children.

About The Procedure

Depending upon the type of CT Scan being administered, you may be asked to drink a flavored liquid (oral contrast) in order to better evaluate a specific area of the body. Certain CT Scans require the use of another type of contrast that is administered intravenously. You will be asked to lie flat on a CT table which will then move so that the specific area of the body that is being examined can be scanned. During the exam you will be able to see out of either end of the scanner and are never fully enclosed. The technologist will be in communication with you via a two-way microphone as you are constantly visually monitored throughout the exam. The exam time can range anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes per study. The CT Scanner is a Multi-Slice machine which minimizes actual table time and exposure to x-ray’s. The exam is then read by one our Board Certified Radiologists and a report is generated and forwarded to your physician.

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3D/4D Ultrasound (including Sonohysterogram & Doppler)

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Ultrasound uses sound waves to create internal images of the body. It detects reflected sound waves from internal organs and utilizes that information to generate images of the body’s internal structures. Ultrasound is safe and painless. Because Ultrasound’s imaging is based on sound and not radiation, it is safe to use when imaging the growing fetus and mother. Ultrasound also has a wide range of applications in radiology as it is used to view many internal organs and structures such as the:

What About 3D/4D?

Our 3D/4D Ultrasound allows us to generate a 3 Dimensional image from the information gathered by the transducer as well as to generate a motion capture called 4D. That allows for the capability to not only look at the growing fetus in a mother but to generate a 3D image of the baby and capture the baby in motion as well. Our 3D/4D Ultrasound is also ACR Accredited which means it meets the high standards established by the American College of Radiology.

About The Procedure

Depending on the type of Ultrasound being administered, the procedure may vary. Generally, a hand-held device called a transducer is placed on the patient's skin. A gel is applied to assist the transducer in transmitting sound waves into the body. The transducer then sends sound waves into the body and receives the reflected sound waves. This information is then processed by a computer and images are then generated and displayed on a video monitor. Our 3D/4D capabilities generate a 3D image as well as real time motion capture called 4D. These images are then read by our Board Certified Radiologists and a report is generated and forwarded to your physician.

Nuchal Translucency/First Trimester Screenings

Nuchal Translucency/First Trimester Screenings are offered to pregnant women to assess the risk of their baby having Down’s syndrome (also known as Trisomy 21) and Trisomy-18. The screenings must be performed exactly between 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy and combines measurements collected from both an Ultrasound exam and blood test. While both the ultrasound and sample collection are performed at Hoboken Radiology, blood test results are generated by an independent outside lab. Hoboken Radiology is a registered center with the Nuchal Translucency Quality Review (NTQR) Program with both our sonographer and radiologist certified in administering these screenings.

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Bone Densitometry (DEXA)

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A Bone Density exam is used in diagnosing Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break or fracture. If left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a fracture in the bone occurs. The areas where these fractures typically occur are in the hip, spine, and wrist. Hip and spine fractures can be severe and debilitating. Millions of men and women are at risk of Osteoporosis, with women being four times more likely than men to develop the disease. Bone Density exams (or DEXA Scans) have become an important tool in the fight against Osteoporosis, allowing early diagnosis of the disease and impacting patient care before symptoms develop.

About The Procedure

A Bone Density exam or DEXA Scan is quick, easy and painless. At the time of the exam, the patient will be asked to lie down on the scan table in a relaxed position. The patient is asked to wear comfortable clothing, so that disrobing is not necessary. The exam takes about 10 minutes. Our scanner is a full body scanner that passes over the spine and hip and measures the density of the bone. Results are then reviewed by one of our board certified radiologists and a report is forwarded to your physician.

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X-Ray

 

Diagnostic radiology involves the use of X-rays to see inside the human body. An image is produced by allowing a small amount of radiation to pass through the body which is then recorded on photographic film or by a digital detector. Different parts of the body will absorb x-rays in varying degrees. Bone absorbs much of the radiation while soft tissue allows more of the x-rays to pass through. As a result, bones will appears white on the x-ray while soft tissue will vary with different shades of gray. Examples of such examinations include x-rays of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities.

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