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The Radiology Departments at St. Joseph Medical Center and St.
Mary's Medical Center offer some of the most advanced
diagnostic radiology equipment in the metropolitan Kansas City and
Blue Springs communities. Our full-service department includes Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) capability, CT scans, nuclear medicine, mammography, interventional radiology, ultrasound and the St. Joseph Breast Center. We offer filmless digital medical imaging called PACS (Picture Archiving Communications System) giving physicians and medical center staff the ability to retrieve and view images and reports on medical center workstations.
 Our radiologists are trained in the latest technology and highly
skilled in interpreting the results of an exam. Evening and weekend
hours allow quick and convenient access to our services. Carondelet Health's CT scanners are the latest generation of CT
scanners. This means it is much faster and can produce images that
can detect cancer or other diseases in earlier stages. Both hospitals
employ registered vascular ultrasound technologists and utilize
the latest technology in ultrasound to assure that your examination
is of high quality. Our mammography technologists are all mammogram
certified and focus exclusively on breast health to provide the highest quality of care. We offer the latest biopsy techniques including breast MRI at St. Joseph. Mammography services at both medical centers are accredited by the American College of Radiology.
Our Radiology Departments offer:
- High Field strength MRI for improved accuracy
- Multislice CT scanners for faster studies with superior images
- Ultrasound machines
- Digital Mammography systems
- CAD (computer-aided detection)
- Breast biopsy services at St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center
- Breast center
- Breast center nurse navigators
- Radiation therapy
- Nuclear Medicine
- Interventional radiology at St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center
- PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography) at St. Joseph Medical Center
- Dexa Bone Density Scanners
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a non-invasive method which can produce
two- or three-dimensional images of what's going on inside the human
body. MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to provide
extremely precise pictures of body tissues such as the brain, spine,
joints and even blood vessels.
One of the unique features of MRI is its ability to image parts
of the body previously hidden from view by bone. The equipment produces
superior images, which are especially helpful in diagnosing strokes,
brain tumors, Parkinson's Disease and multiple sclerosis. Because
it can distinguish between different types of soft tissue, it is
especially beneficial in tumor diagnosis. MRIs are also very useful
tool to examine joints such as shoulders or knees. In many instances,
an MRI of the spine can eliminate the need to have other examinations
that involve needles and injections of contrast. MRIs accuracy have
the potential to reduce the number of current diagnostic surgeries.
It can also be used to monitor the success of treatments for disease.
The MRIs at St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center are a high-field strength system offering some of the quickest and clearest scans available
in Kansas City. The high field strength provides much clearer pictures than the low field strength open units. The magnets allow for early stroke diagnosis, which
can increase the chances of recovery and decrease disability from
stroke. Furthermore, the short length reduces significantly,
if not completely eliminating, a patient's claustrophobia. The design
of the magnet also will accommodate larger patients. All in all,
this short bore design will make your visit more comfortable.
CT Scanners
CT scanners also know as CAT scans stand for computerized axial
tomography. A CT scan uses x-rays and a powerful computer to produce
images of the body.
At St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center, the new CT scanners can capture multiple
pictures in one rotation. The faster scanning times produces
thinner slices and clearer resolution. This scanner allows health care professionals
to identify disease processes at earlier stages and streamlines
triages for emergency patients providing quicker feedback to surgeons. CT exams are also very useful in helping physicians perform accurate biopsies and look at structures inside your body.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is the imaging of structures of the body by recording
the echoes of pulses of ultrasonic waves directed into the tissues
and reflected back. Ultrasound is also used to examine vascular
structures such as the arteries which supply blood to the brain
and other regions of the body and to guide physicians in biopsies
of various areas of the body.
Obstetrical ultrasonography is fetal imaging via intermittent high-frequency
sound waves to visualize images of the uterus, fetus, placenta and
other surrounding pelvic structures. A licensed ultrasonographer
assists in performing the procedure, which is pain-free and has
no known harmful effects on your baby or you. Ultrasound is used
to determine gestational age and accurately date the pregnancy.
It's also used to rule out fetal malformation or abnormalities,
to determine the number of fetuses or to locate possible sources
of bleeding.
PET Imaging
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) imaging is a diagnostic tool that uses a camera and a small amount of radioactive tracer to show how body tissues are working. While other imaging techniques (CT scans or MRIs) can detect changes in the physical size or structure of organs, PET scans detect changes in the cellular function, allowing physicians to detect problems before they would show up in other imaging tests.
Before the scan, the patient is injected with radioactive material. The amount of radiation is small- about the same amount that is use in a normal X-ray. The scan is painless and there are no side effects. The PET scan offers a variety of advantages- it is less invasive than many procedures and tests and may lead to earlier treatment.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine is offered at both hospitals. For a nuclear medicine exam, a radioactive liquid is injected into the patient's vein. The nuclear medicine camera measures the radioactivity from the patient's body to evaluate the function of specific organs. These tests are used frequently to look at the heart function, the liver, gall bladder and bones. The radioactivity only lasts for a few hours and does not harm the patient.
For More Information
If you'd like to know more about our radiology services, please
call:
St. Joseph Medical Center
816-943-2270
St. Mary's Medical Center
816-655-5572
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