Radiology Imaging

Health Resources:

Breast Health Getting regular checkups and performing breast self-exams are two important ways to keep your breasts healthy.

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women (other than skin cancer). This short assessment will help you determine if you have major risk factors.

Seeing more than meets the eye is the goal of radiology imaging services at Forrest City Medical Center. Radiology is the branch of medicine that uses radioactive substances, electromagnetic radiation, and sound waves to create images of the body, its organs, and structures for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. It has evolved into a high-tech science with advanced equipment to aid in imaging every aspect of the body.

With care and compassion, the medical staff of our radiology department delivers comprehensive diagnostic testing and screening services with 24-hour support to Forrest City Medical Center. A wide complement of radiology imaging services are available for both inpatients and outpatients. These services include:

Computerized tomography (CT) creates detailed images of your body’s internal organs using X-rays with computer technology. The doughnut-shaped scanner uses radiation to create cross-sectional images, or “slices,” that help physicians detect tumors, heart disease or internal injuries or bleeding. A CT scan may require that you not eat or drink if you have to drink a contrast liquid—which helps healthcare providers see body structures more clearly—or have a contrast dye injected before the test. The exam usually lasts less than an hour, including any preparations, though the actual scan may only last a minute or two. Forrest City Medical Center uses the GE Light Speed CT Scanner.
 

Fluoroscopy offers physicians the ability to study flow or motion in patients when necessary. Similar to an X-ray “movie,” fluoroscopy can include imaging of dynamic processes such as throat abnormalities.
 

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. Forrest City Medical Center uses the GE 1.5 Tesla magnet and upgraded software to produce fast scans with improved image quality. For patients who have pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be a safer imaging tool. (The devices may malfunction during an MRI scan).
 

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. 
 

Nuclear Medicine uses tiny amounts of radioactive materials to perform heart studies and diagnose bone cancer, bone infections and stress fractures. The radioactive materials are introduced into the patient’s body by injection, swallowing or inhalation. Special cameras that work with computers detect the radioactive materials to provide sharp images of the body.
 

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate organs in the body and commonly to examine fetal development. Detailed images are returned in real time, making ultrasound particularly helpful for guiding minimally invasive procedures—such as needle biopsies—and for visualizing organ, blood vessel and tissue movement.
 

Telemedicine and Teleradiology are also available services.

If you need an imaging study, you can feel confident in Forrest City Medical Center’s technology and the extensively trained team.

Early detection is key!

When it comes to disease, early diagnosis is key to effective treatment. If you need advanced imaging, you can get it close to home at Forrest City Medical Center. If you have questions, call our radiology department at 870-261-0225.