Persistent headaches that can’t be explained, pain or trauma caused by a fall or accident, or abdominal pain that doesn’t go away are just a few reasons your physician may send you for a diagnostic imaging exam. With the remarkable ability to see under your skin and into your organs, diagnostic imaging provides answers to medical questions previously only understood through exploratory surgery.

We offer diagnostic imaging services at 85 locations throughout Northern California, ensuring that your exam can be performed on the full range of medical imaging equipment by a certified licensed professional close to home. Your images will be interpreted by a highly skilled radiologist, stored in our enterprise electronic health record system, and available for review by your physician.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A CT scan is an X-ray-based procedure. Multiple "slices,” or pictures, are acquired of the body part being imaged while you lie on a table that quickly passes through a donut-shaped machine. Sutter Health’s imaging locations use ultra-fast, advanced multi-slice CT, enabling the delivery of the lowest possible radiation dose. Having a CT scan is an accurate, painless and noninvasive way to evaluate and detect injury or disease and may help identify the cause of unexplained pain.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI uses a strong magnetic field, radiofrequency waves and a computer to produce images of great detail. MRI is helpful in evaluating the brain, muscles and organs. Because radiation is not required, MRI may be used in place of CT and other imaging modalities in children and pregnant women.

Ultrasound

Also called sonography, ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation to produce images of your organs, blood vessels and other structures within your body. A small amount of gel is placed on the skin and a wand called a transducer is pressed against the area being examined. The wand emits sound waves that are processed into pictures by a computer. Ultrasound, in conjunction with mammography, is often used to distinguish solid breast masses from cysts. Ultrasound is also used to detect disease, evaluate the organs of the abdomen and pelvis and guide biopsy procedures.

Venous Imaging

Doppler ultrasound measures the direction and speed of blood as it moves through vessels, enabling the detection of clots, blockages and venous insufficiency. CT and MR angiography may used to diagnose peripheral artery disease, the narrowing or hardening of arteries in the legs and arms. This exam usually requires the injection of a contrast agent which allows the radiologists to better observe the blood as it moves through your limbs.

X-ray and Fluoroscopy

X-rays can be taken as single frame pictures or moving pictures to see an internal organ in action, called fluoroscopy. Both X-ray and fluoroscopy machines use a small amount of radiation to acquire the images, commonly used to diagnose fractures, chest congestion and blockages in the gastrointestinal tract and other organs.