Imaging services at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital

Imaging services in Vidalia, Georgia

Meadows Hospital’s imaging services use state-of-the-art equipment to provide our patients in Savannah with top-quality care. Our comprehensive diagnostic imaging services allow our doctors to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, from broken bones to heart disease.

To learn more about imaging services available at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, please call (912) 535-5583.

Our imaging services

Our radiology department provides access to a full range of services that help treat and diagnose many injuries and conditions. Our services include:

• Body imaging
• Bone densitometry
• Computer tomography (CT) scan
• Fluoroscopy
• Interventional radiography
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Mammography, including 3D mammography
• Musculoskeletal imaging
• Neurological imaging
• Nuclear imaging
• Pediatric imaging
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Ultrasound
• X-ray

Imaging services for cancer diagnosis

Radiology is crucial in diagnosing many types of cancer. At Meadows Hospital, we use x-rays, CT scans, PET scans, ultrasounds, nuclear medicine and MRIs to help diagnose cancer. Imaging allows our oncologists to view inside the body without the need for surgery.

Breast imaging

Our dedicated breast imaging center offers screening and diagnostic 3D mammograms, so you have access to the imaging care you need to maintain your breast health. 3D mammograms give our doctors detailed images that help them identify abnormalities more easily and cut back on false positives.

Some women with certain risk factors, such as dense breast tissue, may require additional imaging. This may include a breast ultrasound and/or breast MRI. If you receive a breast cancer diagnosis after a mammogram, you can trust the cancer care team at our hospital to walk you through every step of your diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

To schedule a mammogram, please call (912) 535-5804.

Lung cancer screening

Our hospital offers an imaging program dedicated to the early detection of lung cancer. Patients that meet the correct criteria are eligible to receive a CT scan of the lungs. Screening is a critical tool in the prevention and early detection of lung cancer. Lung cancer is much more treatable in its earliest stages, so we do everything we can to catch cancer early and begin treatment.

To learn more about lung cancer screening, please call (912) 535-5804.

Specialized heart imaging

Our imaging services include an array of dedicated cardiac imaging procedures to help diagnose heart conditions. Our cardiology program provides access to:

• Echocardiography
• Electrocardiography
• Holter monitoring
• Nuclear cardiology
• Transesophageal echocardiography

Echocardiography

An echocardiogram (echo) is a specialized type of ultrasound imaging that closely examines the heart muscle. It provides a view of the heart and its valves, so your doctor can see how the heart is functioning. This is a simple, painless procedure.

Echocardiography can help detect conditions such as:

• Atherosclerosis
• Aneurysms
• Cardiomyopathy
• Congenital abnormalities
• Congestive heart failure
• Pericarditis
• Valve disease

Transesophageal echocardiography

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) gives a more detailed image of the heart compared to the echocardiogram. It provides a clearer image of the heart because the chest wall is not blocking the view.

During the procedure, patients will receive intravenous (IV) medications to numb the throat and sedate the patient. A flexible tube, called a probe, is passed through the mouth into the esophagus. A transducer, which simulates ultrasound technology, is at the end of the probe and provides a clear view of the valves and structure of the heart.

In addition to providing a clear image, a TEE procedure can show doctors how well the heart is pumping blood.

Electrocardiography

The electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) assesses the electrical activity of the heart. During an EKG, electrodes are placed on the body at specific locations. The electrodes give a graphic representation of the heart's electrical activity.

Holter monitoring

Holter monitoring is a type of EKG that allows your doctor to assess your heart over a longer period of time. Patients who undergo Holter monitoring wear a portable EKG device that records the heart's activity for a period of 24 to 72 hours.

This type of monitoring helps detects abnormal heart rhythms that may occur sporadically and cannot be found on a normal EKG.

Nuclear cardiology

Nuclear cardiology refers to imaging procedures that use nuclear medicine or radioisotope techniques to study the heart. We perform a radioisotope stress test to determine whether the heart is receiving enough blood.

During the stress portion of the radioisotope test, patients may be asked to exercise using a treadmill or bicycle. In certain cases, stress is induced using certain medications. The stress factor will enlarge the blood vessels to the heart. This allows the doctor to measure blood flow using an ECG or radioisotope tracer.

Prior to the procedure, electrodes are attached to the body. As the blood vessels get bigger, the small amount of radiation given off by the radioisotope tracer is detected with a scanning camera. If the heart's valves narrow or the blood vessels do not enlarge, there will be less of the tracer in those areas. Areas that take in less of the tracer identify problem areas.

Two sets of testing are performed, one is your baseline (while you are at rest) and one is the stress portion.