Diagnostic Imaging

A wide array of imaging services is available at Southampton Memorial Hospital. Among those are:

• X-rays view bones and help physicians examine the chest.
   
• Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) is an X-ray procedure that combines many X-ray images with the aid of a computer. CT is distinguished from other imaging tools like traditional X-ray or MRI by its ability to display a combination of soft tissue (like muscle, tissue, organs and fat), bones and blood vessels all in a single image. Radiologists perform CT scans to diagnose brain, spine, lymph node, sinus, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, bowel and blood disease.
   
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of your head, body, muscles and blood flow. Because an MRI provides a clear view of internal organs and tissues, it helps physicians diagnose injuries and other health conditions much faster than with other technologies.
   
• Ultrasound, also known as sonography or ultrasonography, is an imaging tool that does not involve exposure to radiation. Instead, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to look at organs and structures inside the body.
   
• Nuclear Medicine involves the use of radioactive isotopes to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Information gathered during nuclear medicine procedures is more comprehensive than other imaging  techniques because it describes organ function, not just structure. This results in many diseases and cancers being diagnosed much earlier.
   
• Mammography, a special X-ray of the breasts, can detect lumps and other forms of breast disease that may be too small to be felt even by an experienced examiner. Early detection affords the best opportunity for a cure. The mammography program is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).
   
• Bone densitometry measures the density of the spine, hip and other bones—the most frequent sites of fracture—and compares it to an established norm to produce a score. This number helps your physician determine your risk of developing osteoporosis. A bone density test is a relatively simple, quick and painless way to determine your bone health.

Our radiologists are board certified by the American College of Radiology and licensed in Virginia. Call 757-569-6108 for more information or to schedule an appointment, call 757-569-6408.