Diagnostic Imaging
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Radiology Department
Angiography/Special Procedures
The Angiography Suite at St. Petersburg General Hospital is available for procedures for all types of vascular disease.
The Advantx LCA interventional angiography system is a valuable option for persons who are suffering from vascular disease. The process instantly exposes possible health-threatening problems and arterial blockage and makes it possible to see, diagnose, and treat the patient right away. The rotational angiography helps us to view the vessels total circumference besides being able to see the blood vessels throughout the body. The large 40cm image intensifier can cover a large anatomical area quickly.
The system is designed for such sophisticated procedures as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). A PTA is an interventional procedure where the physician uses a balloon catheter to open vessels or arteries narrowed by disease such as arteriosclerosis.
For more information, please contact the Radiology Department at 727-341-4853.
PET/CT
St. Petersburg General Hospital has a 16-slice GE Medical Systems PET/CT. The Discovery LS fuses the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with the Computer Tomography (CT) scanner. Combining PET and CT gives physician's two pieces of critical information to help them detect, diagnose and determine the best course of cancer treatment.
According to Allan Katz, MD, radiologist at St. Petersburg General Hospital, "it significantly reduces exam time for each procedure, which makes precise diagnosis more comfortable for patients. It can also mean better outcomes, especially in the battle with cancer."
"Reducing patient anxiety is a major factor with any medical treatment," agreed Anil Raiker, MD, oncologist at St. Petersburg General Hospital. The one-step, one appointment PET/CT scan significantly reduces the amount of stressful time a patient would normally have to spend on multiple procedures.
In a one 30-minute scan, the Discovery LS merges both metabolic and anatomic information into a single, information-packed image. The high resolution images can be electronically transferred to specialists anywhere for immediate review and expert opinion. This is a benefit to both the patient and the physician.
Ultrasound
Our ultrasound department is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for OB antepartum ultrasound, gynecological ultrasound, and general ultrasound.
The department performs ultrasound procedures in all the above areas and also performs ultrasound guided procedures for biopsies, aspirations, paracentesis, and thoracentesis.
Echocardiography
Our echocardiography lab is equipped with the latest cardiac transthoracic and transesophageal ultrasound system. The GE Vivid & is a fully digital system with enhanced tissue harmonic imaging with broadband flow imaging. The cardiologists have a workstation for evaluation and analysis of the images.
Specialized procedures performed in the Echocardiography Lab include the following:
- Diagnostic 2-dimenisional echocardiography with or without M-mode, color flow, mapping and Doppler
- Transesophageal echocardiography with multi-plane transducer
Non-Invasive Vascular Ultrasound
This discipline uses ultrasound waves to detect disease in veins and arteries throughout the body by using pulse wave and color Doppler. Most frequently performed exams are lower and upper extremity venous and arterial and carotid Dopplers. Other specialized exams to name a few are venous mapping, thoracic outlet syndrome, shunt testing, SMA Doppler and renal artery Doppler.
The images are viewed on PACS for interpretation by the physician.