Imaging Services

During this test, the patient lies in a doughnut-shaped machine that takes pictures of the body. The scanner is used in combination with a digital computer to create "slices" of different organs of the body, making it possible to detect diseases sooner than with a regular X-ray.

To prepare for a CT scan

Wear loose, comfortable clothing free of metal snaps and zippers, if possible. When you arrive, your child will be asked to remove metallic jewelry, watches, hair pins, hearing aids, removable dental work and glasses if they are in the area being scanned.

If your child is having a CT scan of the abdominal area, they may need to drink a liquid contrast. This will be given to them, with instructions, in advance. Your child may be asked to not eat or drink anything for four hours before their scan. Your child's health care provider will instruct you which medications, if any, cannot be taken.

The scan typically takes 30 minutes or less. Your child will be asked to hold very still in specific positions as instructed by a technologist. Your child may be asked to hold their breath during some scans to reduce blurring on the images. If the scan requires the use of a contrast, your child may be given another contrast material during the scan by IV injection. This may make your child feel warm inside, but the sensation only lasts a few moments and is not painful. After the scan, your child will be asked to drink plenty of fluids. 

The CT scanner at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited.

Interventional Radiology uses minimally invasive techniques such as port insertions, biopsies, and vertbroplasties to treat a number of conditions. Interventional procedures often carry less risk, require smaller incisions and take less recovery time than surgery. These procedures are done by a Interventional Radiologist who is a board-certified physician with advanced training in minimally invasive treatments that use imaging guidance.

Preparation for this scan varies by patient based on the test being conducted. To learn more, visit http://www.greenbayradiology.com.

An MRI is a non-invasive and painless procedure in which radio waves and powerful magnets linked to a computer are used to create remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues without the use of radiation.

To prepare for an MRI
For your child's safety, they will be asked to put on a patient gown for the test. Clothing with metal or pockets will not be allowed in the scanning room. Certain types of metal in the area being scanned can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the images. It is important that metal objects are not brought into the scanning room. Your child will be asked to remove their jewelry, watch, hairpins, bobby pins and hearing aids. A typical exam lasts between 30 to 60 minutes for each body area being scanned. You should allow extra time because the exam may last longer than expected. 

The magnet makes a “knocking” sound as images are being taken. In between scans, the machine is quiet. The MRI technologist will provide your child with either ear plugs or headphones for them to listen to music during their exam.

The MRI at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited.

This scan combines functional information from a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) exam with the anatomical information from a computed tomography (CT) exam.

The advantage of CT is its ability to take cross-sectional images of your child's body. The PET exam pinpoints metabolic activity in cells and the CT exam provides an anatomical reference. When these two scans are fused together, your child's physician can view metabolic changes in the proper anatomical context of their body.

To prepare for a PET/CT scan

When you arrive for your child's appointment, we will review your child's history and any past exams. For the PET portion of the exam, your child will receive a tracer material injection. For most studies, your child will wait for the radiopharmaceutical to distribute itself in their body, typically 45 minutes to an hour. Your child will be asked to relax and no reading or TV is permitted. Then, during the exam, your child will lie very still on a comfortable table that will move slowly through the scanner as it acquires the information needed to generate diagnostic images. The PET/CT scan itself should last about 45 minutes, but the exam procedure can vary depending on what we are looking for and what we discover along the way. Plan to spend two to three hours with us.

Our PET/CT scans are accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

During an ultrasound, your child lies on an examination table and a clear gel is applied to the areas of the body being studied. This helps the transducer make firm contact with your child's body. It is then moved back and forth over the area of interest and uses high frequency sound waves to obtain images.

Ultrasound at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is accredited by ACR.

X-ray, commonly referred to as radiography, uses ionizing radiation to provide images of the body. Radiography is used in many ways to diagnose disease and injuries. Some common exams are X-rays, GI fluoroscopy exams and joint injections (arthrograms). Preparation for this scan varies by patient based on the test being conducted