Ingalls Advanced Imaging

CT combines X-rays with computer technology to create the most detailed images of the body. Ingalls has four high-speed helical scanners that produce fast, high-resolution images that allow us to perform CT angiography and detailed 3-D reconstruction.

Interventional radiology is an innovative branch of medicine in which physicians treat diseases by using X-rays and other imaging techniques to "see" inside the body while they guide narrow tubes called catheters through the blood vessels and other pathways of the body to the site of the problem. Many of these minimally invasive procedures have replaced traditional surgery because they offer patients treatment options that are less costly and involve smaller incisions, less pain and shorter hospital stays. At Ingalls, we perform almost 12,000 minimally invasive procedures each year. That's more than any other hospital in the area.

Mammography is the only technique proven to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths in the United States. Mammography is a specially designed X-ray examination that can detect cancer long before a tumor is able to be felt. Accredited by the American College of Radiology, Ingalls offers the highest quality breast diagnostic program in the area. Appointments may be conveniently scheduled at any of our locations, but you may also take advantage of Walk-in-Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harvey, Calumet City, and Flossmoor, and on Fridays in Tinley Park.

Ingalls offers the most advanced open MRI system available today, as well as a high-field MRI scanner that enables the most comprehensive clinical capabilities in the industry. This method of diagnostic imaging, offered at multiple Ingalls locations, provides highly detailed pictures of the body and allows us to examine you without exposure to potentially harmful X-ray radiation. Open MRIs are just that — open on all four sides, allowing a family member or friend to stay with you and hold your hand during the procedure.

Why Choose Ingalls for Your MRI?
When the health of your family is at stake, it’s important your physician has access to the finest resources to make an accurate diagnosis. At Ingalls, we have a long history of offering the latest technology to diagnose and treat patients more effectively and less invasively, including through the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment available anywhere. For your convenience, we offer MRI at four locations throughout the South Suburbs.

• Superior image quality that offers doctors the most detailed pictures of your anatomy
• A spacious opening and shorter bore length for maximum patient comfort, especially for patients with claustrophobia
• Soothing lighting and decor
• Personal earphones for listening to music
• Scheduling of your exam available within 2 days
• Results given to your doctor within 24 hours

What is MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly sophisticated way to look inside the body without using X-rays. Using a powerful but harmless magnetic field and radiowaves, MRI can obtain detailed images of bone, soft tissue, organs and most other internal structures.

The strength of MRI is measured in units called Tesla. A 3 Tesla (3T) magnet is nearly twice as strong as a 1.5T magnet and allows radiologists to obtain very precise images of even the tiniest abnormalities. However, because most abnormalities can be clearly seen with a 1.5T MRI, 3T MRI is reserved for specific types of medical issues.

Uses of MRI
MRI is especially valuable for diagnosing:

• Brain and nervous system disorders
• Multiple sclerosis
• Tumors
• Certain diseases and conditions of the spine
• Hydrocephalus
• Stroke
• Traumatic injuries

Cancer
MRI plays an important role in the diagnosis, staging and treatment planning of cancer. MRI allows doctors to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue to precisely pinpoint cancerous cells within the body. It is also useful for revealing metastases. Because MRI provides greater contrast within the soft tissues of the body than a CT scan, it is often used for imaging the brain, spine, muscle, connective tissue and the inside of bones.

Musculoskeletal Problems
MRI can detect injuries, disorders and diseases affecting tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone marrow, etc. With the powerful 3T MRI available at our Flossmoor Family Care Center, we can evaluate ligaments in the smallest joints, such as the hand, wrist, ankle and foot with unmatched clarity and precision.

Ingalls provides a wide variety of standard nuclear medicine procedures. Nuclear medicine images can assist radiologists in diagnosing diseases and can be used to analyze kidney function, determine the presence of cancer and locate infection.

Ingalls is leading the way in filmless imaging with the addition of a new Picture Archiving and Communications System, now available at all Ingalls locations. With PACS, turnaround time for diagnostic imaging test results is faster and more efficient than ever. The system gives physicians the phenomenal ability to formulate a treatment plan right in their own office by viewing actual images such as X-rays, CTs and MRIs in digital format via an Internet connection. These images can be shared with patients at the time of their visit.

The 16-slice PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) Scan detects and localizes tumors more precisely while offering faster turnaround times for patients. The anatomically detailed information obtained from a CT scan is merged with the biological functions recorded by the PET scan to form an image that records living tissues and life process.

Radiation therapy, also known as radiation oncology, involves the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells while preserving normal tissue.

IGRT allows physicians to locate and target tumors quickly and accurately. With IGRT, a robotically controlled "arm" captures CT images on the day of treatment, pinpointing the position of the cancer just before treatment. This increased precision allows for higher doses of radiation, ultimately leading to more precise treatment and higher cure rates.

Doctors at leading cancer care institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — and now Ingalls Memorial Hospital — use a new technique called IMRT, a radiation therapy that shows promise in improving cure rates while reducing harmful side effects. This unique system delivers more consistent, precise radiation doses.

Ultrasound imaging uses high frequency sound waves to capture images in real time. These images can show movement of internal tissues and organs and enable physicians to see blood flow, heart valve functions and the first pictures of a fetus. A full range of diagnostic and interventional procedures, complemented by new state-of-the-art equipment, are available within Ingalls Ultrasound Department.

Ingalls 64-slice CT Scanner allows cardiologists to produce a multi-slice cardiac CT scan within a single 10 to 15 second breath hold. Thousands of images are formatted to generate a three-dimensional picture of the cardiac valves and chambers of the heart with a high level of detail. This allows a cardiologist to better evaluate the condition of the heart.