Radiology

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Sonography is the use of an ultrasound handpiece to create images used for diagnostic purposes. Sonography is a painless medical procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body.

For gynecology, sonography can be used to detect a wide variety of conditions. It can be used as part of a standard pelvic exam to find or rule out conditions such as internal bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, abscesses, pelvic masses, and endometriosis. At West Coast Women's Specialists, our high-tech 3D/4D ultrasound equipment can safely monitor and examine the reproductive system in the early stages of embryo development. It can also be used to predict premature delivery by examining the size of the cervix. It can screen for fallopian tube patency and detect ectopic pregnancies. We use sonography for complete fetal examinations. We can use sonography as an adjunct to mammography, helping assess masses detected in mammograms.

Sonography and its ultrasound waves have no risks or complications. The human body has no negative reactions to sound wave energy. 

A DEXA scan is a high-precision type of x-ray that measures bone density and bone loss. If your bone density is lower than normal for your age, it indicates a risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures.

DEXA stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. These tests first started to be used commercially just over 30 years ago. It sends two x-ray beams at different peak energy frequencies to the target bones. One peak is absorbed by soft tissues and the other by bone. The absorption of the soft tissue is subtracted from the total absorption, and this gives your bone mineral density.

Bone density scans are non-invasive, fast, and more accurate than standard x-rays. These tests deliver low levels of radiation and are used to assess bone density in postmenopausal women.

 A low level of radiation is delivered with DEXA scans. As with any x-ray, the amounts are quite low. 

A DEXA scan is used to determine your risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture. It can also be a tool for determining whether your osteoporosis treatment is working. These tests have dramatically improved the ability to detect bone loss. Before DEXA scans were introduced, standard x-rays could only detect bone loss when it was greater than 40 percent. DEXA scans can measure within 2 to 4 percent precision.

Beyond bone density, DEXA scans can also be used to measure body composition, lean muscle, and fat tissue. These scans are more accurate than the traditional body mass index (BMI) for determining excess fat.