What is Neuroradiology?

Neuroradiology is imaging of the brain and spine. Neurologic diseases from trauma, infection, cancer and congenital diseases (a disease you were born with) are imaged with a variety of tests.

How do we image the brain and spine? Where are services located?

There are many modalities that can be used to image the brain, skull, and spine.

These include:

X-RAYS:  Xrays are taken at Bethesda North Hospital, located at 10500 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati.  X-rays are taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone number is 745-1114. You will need a prescription from your doctor in order to have an x-ray taken. X-rays are also taken 24 hours a day at  Arrow Springs Medical Facility in Lebanon, Ohio. The phone number is 282-7080.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE SCAN:   Nuclear medicine scans are performed at the Bethesda North Hospital and Arrow Springs Medical Center. These scans require a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled. The central scheduling phone number is 569-6777. Nuclear imaging is performed Monday through Saturday at Bethesda North Hospital and Monday through Friday at Arrow Springs.

CT or COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (also called Cat Scan):  CT's are performed at the Bethesda North Hospital and at Arrow Springs Medical Center. CTs require a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled. The central scheduling phone number is 569-6777. Outpatient CTs are performed at Bethesda North Hospital 7 days a week.  Outpatient CT scans are performed at Arrow Springs 7:00 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 7:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and Sunday. CT scans on an emergency  basis are performed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at both Bethesda North and Arrow Springs.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging):  Outpatient MRI scans are performed at Bethesda North Medicenter which is located adjacent to the main hospital. Some outpatient MRIs will also be performed at the main hospital. An MRI scan requires a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled. The central scheduling phone number is 569-6777.  Outpatient MRI imaging is performed at the Medicenter from 7am to 8pm Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 7 am to 10:15pm Wednesday and Thursday and 7am to 2:15pm on Saturday. Emergent MRI scans are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the main hospital.

MYELOGRAPHY:  Myelography is performed at the Bethesda North Hospital.  This exam requires a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled. Outpatient myelography is available Monday through Friday 7:30pm to 3pm.

ANGIOGRAPHY:  Angiograms are done at the Bethesda North Hospital. This exam requires a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled. The Bethesda North central scheduling number is 569-6777. Outpatient angiograms are available Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5pm. Angiograms on an emergent basis are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Imaging should I have?

The type of imaging will depend on the reason for the exam. Some diseases require only one type of imaging while others are best evaluated with a combination of tests. Your doctor, often in consultation with a radiologist, will determine the best test for you.

My doctor ordered an x-ray. What is it and what do I do?

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to light; however, of a shorter wavelength. They are invisible and are not felt. X-rays can penetrate solid objects such as the body producing a picture on film or a computer screen.

In neuroimging x-rays are used to evaluate the bony structures of the skull and spine.

My doctor ordered a Nuclear Medicine Scan. What is it and what do I do?

A nuclear medicine scan requires an injection of a low dose radioactive material into the blood stream followed by imaging of the affected portion of the body on a nuclear medicine camera.

One of the most common nuclear medicine tests is a bone scan. This can be used to evaluate the spine. It can evaluate bony pain, injury, cancer and infection. A bone scan will require an injection with delayed imaging 3-4 hours after the injection.

Occasionally the low dose radioactive material is injected into the spinal fluid after a lumbar puncture. This can sometimes help in diagnosing normal pressure hydrocephalus.

My doctor ordered a CT scan. What is it and what do I do?

A CT scan is an imaging modality that uses x-rays to obtain a cross sectional image (or slice) of the body. A CT scan produces an image with much greater detail than an x-ray.

CT is used commonly in evaluation of the brain especially following trauma. Subtle skull fractures are well visualized with CT. CT is the modality of choice in evaluation of bleeding in the brain. CT will also show the bony detail of the spine. It is often ordered in conjunction with MRI to evaluate the spine before and after spinal surgery.

A specialized test called a CT angiogram is done to evaluate the vessels of the head and neck. This test shows narrowing or blockage of the vessels. Aneurysms, which can occur in the vessels of the head, will also be seen.

A CT scan sometimes requires an injection of dye into the vein to evaluate the vessels and to enhance some disease processes. A short period of fasting is usually required if the scan is performed with contrast.

My doctor ordered a Myelogram. What is it and what do I do?

Myelography is a specialized test that requires an injection of contrast into the spinal canal following a lumbar puncture. You will be on a specialized x-ray machine with a table that can tilt. After the contrast is put into the spinal canal the table will be moved to evaluate the portion of the spine of interest whether it is the neck, mid back or lower back, and x-rays will be taken. Following the x-rays, you will have a CT scan to evaluate the spine with another modality.

After the myelogram you will stay at the hospital for about 4 hours for observation, before being allowed to leave.

My doctor ordered an MRI. What is it and what do I do?

An MRI uses a magnetic field that penetrates the body to form cross sectional images of the body part being imaged. No radiation is used for this exam. MRI is one of the most advanced imaging modalities available today. MRI shows the anatomy of the brain and spine in exquisite detail. The nerves extending from the brain and spine are also shown. Injuries to the nerves by disc disease in the spine are well shown by MRI.

MR angiogram is a way to image the vessels of the head and neck. This test will show narrowing or blockage of the vessels. Aneurysms will also be shown. It is similar to the CT angiogram.

An MRI scan requires lying still for approximately 45 minutes in an MRI scanner which is a tubular structure. Patients who suffer from claustrophobia may need oral sedation from their doctor before the scan. Some of the MRI scans require intravenous contrast. A short period of fasting may be required if intravenous contrast is given.

My doctor ordered an angiogram. What is it and what do I do?

An angiogram is a more invasive test that is sometimes required. This test requires intraarterial injection of contrast to evaluate the arteries. At Bethesda North, radiologists with additional training will be doing this procedure. You will lie on an angio table and x-rays will be taken of the vessels as contrast is injected. Following the procedure you will be monitored for a period of time before being allowed to leave.

I have had my test. What will happen?

A board certified radiologist will interpret your exam, and a report will be sent to your doctor. Any emergent results will be called to your doctor's office. Your doctor will contact you about the results.