Radiology

HYGEIA Hospital Diagnostic Radiology Division is equipped with:

• Four X-ray machines, with built-in flat-panel technology digital detectors. One of the devices is installed in the Emergency Department.
• Four remote-controlled C-arm digital fluoroscopy devices.
  – Three of these are biplane models and cover the needs of interventional and hemodynamic units. They are accompanied by workstations for analysis and processing of medical images.
  – The fourth is a single-plane device for performing conventional fluoroscopy exams. This device is equipped with a built-in flat-panel technology digital detector, pulsed fluoroscopy technologies and specially designed protocols for reducing the radiation dose. It is also accompanied by a workstation for analysis and processing of medical images.
• One digital panoramic X-ray machine for jaw and dental and cephalometric radiographies.
• Seven portable X-ray devices with digital tablet cassettes and four portable digital C-arm fluoroscopy devices for performing bed side X-rays and fluoroscopies in operating rooms.
• One Computer Radiography digital tablet scanner.
• One digital mammography unit with flat-panel sensor, at the Breast Imaging. This is accompanied by a stereotactic biopsy system.

Digital Procedures
All devices, including the CR units, are connected to the HIS and RIS digital file systems of both hospitals. Furthermore, all radiography exams are performed based on a work list, which limits to a minimum any errors when recording patient details.

All digital radiography images are stored in the PACS and are available to physicians at all times for reading them and making comparative assessments, thus limiting the need for films. Doctors reports are also stored into each patient’s medical record.

Outpatients receive printouts of their images and reports, as well as a CD/DVD with the digital images of their exams. All digital images are stored in the Department’s digital archive.

Digital imaging advantages:

• It practically eliminates technical errors associated with X-ray views and the need for frequent re-exposures to ionizing radiation.
• It minimizes the radiation dose.
• It ensures secure storage of diagnostic images.
• It offers fast and convenient access to diagnostic data for referring/attending physicians, even remotely using safe internet connection.

The following examinations are performed:

• All X-rays of the body (chest, abdomen, head, limbs and spine).
• All specialized tests for the digestive and genitourinary systems using contrast mediums. Specifically, these include assessment of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine (per os and enteroclysis) and large intestine, assessment of stomies and bariatric procedures, assessment of the biliary tract, intravenous urography and retrograde pyelography and urethrocystography, fistulography and hysterosalpingography.
• Cephalometric and panoramic dental and jaw X-rays
• Digital mammographies, either as screening tests or as diagnostic study over specific clinical findings.
• Localized placement of breast guide wires.
• Stereotactic breast biopsies.

Moreover, the cutting-edge technology of the flat-panel digital fluoroscopy device at HYGEIA Hospital assists in performing full-body spine radiographies for assessment of scoliosis and full-length radiographies of limbs for assessment of leg length discrepancies. The same machine is also used for rotational radiographies and cone-beam tomography for 3D reconstructions.