Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Lexington

Diagnostic X-ray imaging is the utilization of ionizing radiation in a regulated, safe environment to produce high quality images of various parts of the body. The staff at BIDMC – Lexington provides routine diagnostic X-ray to a large population of pediatric and adult patients. Diagnostic X-ray exams include:

• Chest
• Abdomen
• Bone
• Head
• Spine

As with all radiology exams, an order from your physician is required.

All of our licensed technologists are registered through the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) and are trained in adult and pediatric imaging.

Exam Preparation

• No special preparation is necessary.
• Women should alert their physician and technologist if you are or may be pregnant.

What To Expect

• X-rays are fast, easy and painless. Depending on the body part imaged, you may be asked to change into a hospital gown.
• Any jewelry or metal objects, such as a belt, will need to be removed.
• You will be seated, standing or lying on a table depending on the type of X-ray you are to have. The technologist will put you in the proper position to obtain the best view. The image will then be taken.
• The technologist will ask you to wait a short period of time to determine if the images are satisfactory and assess if any additional imaging is needed.

Exam Results

CR or computerized radiography is utilized at BIDMC – Lexington, so all images are stored on a computer. This aids in immediate viewing, which shortens the time for interpretation and reporting.

Upon completion of your exam, a radiologist from either BIDMC in Boston or Boston Children's Hospital will interpret your exam. Your results will be sent to your referring doctor.

Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Walk-in basis, no appointment needed.

Ultrasound is a safe, painless diagnostic procedure that utilizes high frequency sound waves to produce an image of various internal organs and structures within the body. There is no ionizing radiation involved. The sound waves enter the body, and then bounce back from the tissues and organs in a pattern to produce an image on a screen.

These images are instantaneously transmitted onto the radiology's PACS (Picture Archive and Communication) system for immediate interpretation by our radiologists.

Types of Exams

The following ultrasound examinations are performed at BIDMC – Lexington:

Abdominal Ultrasound

An abdominal ultrasound looks at the gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, liver, pancreas and spleen. It also includes a view of the aorta and retroperitoneum.

Exam Preparation:

• Please do not eat or drink anything for six hours before the exam.
• Routine medications may be taken with water.
• If you are diabetic, consult with your doctor.

Obstetrical Ultrasound

An obstetrical ultrasound exam looks at the uterus, ovaries and fetus. The fetus is checked to make sure that its size is appropriate for its age. The fetus is also checked to make sure the fetal anatomy is structurally normal.

Exam Preparation:

• You may eat regular meals prior to an obstetrical ultrasound exam.
• If you are less than 14 weeks pregnant, drink 32 ounces of water prior to your arrival.
• If you are more than 14 weeks pregnant, there is no preparation needed.
• If you are scheduled for a Biophysical Profile, please eat a meal or snack one hour before the exam.

Pelvic Ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound in females looks primarily at the uterus and ovaries, but the bladder may also be visualized. In males, the pelvic ultrasound usually focuses on the bladder and the prostate gland.

The sonographer (technologist who performs the exam) will put a warm water-based gel on the skin surface. The gel helps to transmit the sound waves by excluding air. An instrument called a transducer, which is about the size of a microphone, will be moved over the skin surface by the sonographer.

When more detailed views of the uterus, ovaries or surrounding tissues are required, a special sterilized high resolution probe may be utilized by scanning through the vagina.

Exam Preparation: 

• You may eat regular meals prior to the exam.
• The only special preparation is to have a full bladder at the time of your exam. Therefore, you should drink 32 ounces of water (four eight-ounce glasses, or one quart), before the exam. Start drinking it one hour before the exam, having it completed 45 minutes prior to your exam.

Small Parts Ultrasound

High resolution small parts ultrasound is most frequently utilized to evaluate for possible abnormalities in the thyroid and parathyroid glands, in the scrotum and testis, in the breast, and occasionally at other superficial sites of possible abnormality.

Exam Preparation:

• No special preparation is necessary.

Vascular Ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound exam looks at the blood vessels to see whether there are any areas of dilatation, narrowing or blockage. The vessels most frequently looked at are in the neck, arms and legs, including both arteries and/or veins.

Exam Preparation:

• No special preparation is necessary.

BIDMC – Lexington Also Provides These Types of Ultrasound Exams

• Nuchal Lucency (early risk assessment of fetus)
• Renal (kidneys and bladder)

What Will Happen in the Ultrasound Room?

Your doctor will order the specific ultrasound examination that they feel is clinically indicated. Upon entering the ultrasound room, you will be asked to lie down on an examination table. The sonographer then will explain the examination they are about to perform. The part of the body to be examined will be uncovered. The sonographer will apply warm ultrasound gel to the skin surface, which allows the sound waves to transmit into the body. The sonographer will move a small instrument called a transducer over the area to view and record images as necessary.

Ultrasound exams do not hurt. But if you are already having some pain in the areas to be scanned, let the sonographer know if you are feeling discomfort. The average examination takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the exam ordered.

Who Will Do the Ultrasound Examination?

A specially trained licensed sonographer who is registered through the ARDMS (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers). All staff are trained in adult and pediatric imaging.

Exam Results

Upon completion of the exam, your exam will be reviewed and interpreted by a radiologist from BIDMC in Boston or Boston Children's Hospital. Your doctor will be contacted with the results.

Hours

Monday – Friday: 7:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The BIDMC – Lexington mammography department is designed to meet the special health care needs of women in one convenient community location. Our goal is to provide excellent service and emotional comfort in a relaxed atmosphere. We understand the busy lives that women lead today and we offer extended hours during the week to meet those needs.

Screening and Diagnostic Mammograms

Screening mammography is performed on women without symptoms who are over the age of 40. The purpose of screening mammography is to look for any early signs of breast cancer. The majority of these mammograms show no abnormality.

Diagnostic mammography is performed to resolve a particular question related to the breast.

Diagnostic mammography is done in one of several situations:

• If a woman has any signs or symptoms, such as a lump, breast pain, nipple discharge, unexplained skin changes of either breast, new or unexplained asymmetry of the breasts
• If a woman has a personal or family history of breast cancer
• If an indeterminate abnormality is seen on a screening mammogram

Hours

Ultrasonography is the technique of using sound waves to create an image of part of the body without the use of radiation. It does not duplicate the information found on a mammogram, but is used as a complimentary evaluation. It is particularly useful in distinguishing fluids from solids and is therefore often used to detect cysts (small, fluid-filled structures) within the breast.

Most breast ultrasound exams are performed to answer a specific question that may have been raised regarding a particular area of your breast. Such questions might arise as the result of a mammogram showing an abnormality or by examining the breast.

Hours

Mondays and Thursdays: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Breast imaging at BIDMC – Lexington performs two types of ultrasound-guided breast procedures:

• Ultrasound-Guided Cyst Aspiration: An ultrasound guided cyst aspiration is a procedure by which the radiologist removes fluid from inside a breast lump. This procedure is guided by ultrasound. The ultrasound produces images of your breast that guide the radiologist in locating the exact area of the cyst.
• Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy: An ultrasound guided breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure by which the radiologist removes tissue samples from inside the breast abnormality. This procedure is guided by ultrasound. The ultrasound produces images of your breast that guide the radiologist in locating the exact area of the breast abnormality.

Exam Preparation

Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs for five days before the procedure, unless told otherwise by your doctor. You may also need to stop taking blood-thinning medications. Examples include clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin) or ticlopidine (Ticlid). Talk to your doctor. 

The biopsy procedure will take approximately one hour. Biopsy tissue sample processing takes approximately one week, and your doctor will be contacted with the results of the procedure.

Hours

Mondays and Thursdays: Times vary

Bone density testing is used to diagnose patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures of hips, spine and wrist. Osteopenia shows early signs of bone loss.

Insurance Coverage

Most insurance companies will pay for a bone density test once a year, however, some insurance plans allow testing to be performed every two years. Although insurance referrals are not required, your referring physician must submit an order for this test to be performed.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Refrain from taking calcium supplements 24 hours prior to your test. The day of your test, please wear comfortable clothing, preferably free of zippers and other metal works. Please call us if you are scheduled for another test the week prior to your bone density test involving radioactive tracers, such as upper GI's or barium enemas.

Hours

Days vary: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.