Persistent headaches that can’t be explained, pain or trauma caused by a fall or accident, or abdominal pain that doesn’t go away all are 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 multiple locations throughout the Sutter Santa Rosa service area, ensuring that your exam can be performed on the full range of medical imaging equipment by a certified radiologic technologist close to home. Your images will be interpreted by a highly skilled radiologist, stored in our electronic health record system and available to you and your physician.

Depending on your condition and medical question, the exam may be performed at one of our hospital radiology departments, outpatient imaging centers, outpatient imaging centers or care centers on state-of-the-art technology, including 64-slice CT and 3T MRI. Here are some of the services we provide.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A CT scan is an X-ray-based procedure in which multiple "slices" of data are acquired of the body part being imaged as you lie on a table and are advanced into a donut-shaped machine. Sutter's imaging locations use ultra-fast, advanced multi-slice CT, enabling the delivery of the lowest possible radiation dose. Common uses of CT include the detection of tumors, infections, internal bleeding and trauma, blood vessel blockages (CT angiogram) and colon cancer (CT colonoscopy), also called a virtual colonoscopy.

Echogardiogram

An ultrasound study of the heart, the echocardiogram uses sound waves to quantify how well the heart is pumping blood and enable the diagnosis of heart disease.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce images of great detail. Often the first choice when detailed images of tissue and organs are required, MRI is used to image many parts of the body. Because radiation is not required, MRI may be used in place of CT and other imaging modalities in children and pregnant women. Sutter locations offer a wide range of scanners, including wide-bore MRI for patients who become anxious in close spaces.

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 skin and emits and sound waves that are processed into pictures by a computer. Ultrasound often is used to distinguish breast cancer from cysts, diagnose abdominal pain and liver disease, detect kidney stones and blockages in the veins and arteries, and guide biopsies.

Vascular and 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 are 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. X-ray can also be used to screen for both breast and lung cancer.

Pediatric Imaging

Your pediatric radiologist is specially trained in the anatomy and needs of children.

Because children are smaller, still growing and more vulnerable to radiation, we follow the “Imaging Gently” guidelines to ensure that your child receives the lowest possible radiation dose if they need CT, X-ray, fluoroscopy or a nuclear medicine procedure. When possible, we substitute a different study, such as ultrasound or MRI, that does not entail exposure to radiation.

Anesthesia may be necessary for children undergoing an MRI. We have an outstanding team of board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists. Sutter Santa Rosa also has had great success without sedation by having a Child Life Specialist present during the procedure and using of a variety of techniques and distraction methods.