Radiography

Advancements in technology allow us to provide highly sophisticated diagnostic services. The ELIH Radiology / Imaging Department provides exams that are important tools that physicians utilize to diagnose and treat patients. The patient-care team of physicians and nurses includes technologists, each experienced in a specific modality of radiological testing. This dedicated ELIH team of health care professionals is available to serve you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Diagnostic Imaging

Superior, filmless radiography is routine at Eastern Long Island Hospital featuring the Carestream (formerly Kodak) Computer Radiography System. All routine diagnostic radiography exams are provided for Emergency Room patients, outpatients, and inpatients using advanced, filmless, computer radiography equipment in Radiology. Additionally, portable x-ray or fluoroscopic equipment is at the ready for diagnostic imaging of patients unable to be transported to radiology, or in the operating room or pain management center. 

CT Scan(Computerized Tomography)
The multi-slice Siemens CT scanner enables us to image the vessels of the heart, and other areas of the body, without having to perform invasive procedures. Some of the CT exams will require that you do not have anything to eat at least 4-8 hours prior to the exam. Often an injection of intravenous contrast is administered during the CT scan. For these patients, recent blood test results are required. You may also be asked to drink a liquid called barium prior to the exam. It is a fat-free, no calorie substance, and always tastes better when chilled.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
This modality uses a powerful magnet to produce images of your body. Usually there is no preparation for this exam. Often an injection of contrast is administered during the exam, for this reason, recent blood test results are required for all patients. If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, you are NOT a candidate for an MRI. The MRI questionnaire will establish whether an MRI can be performed safely.

Ultrasound
These exams are done using sound waves very similar to the sonar waves used in submarines. Some of the ultrasound exams require that you do not have anything to eat at least 4-8 hours prior to the exam. Other exams may require you to drink a specified amount of liquid to fill your bladder and retain a full bladder through completion of the exam. The lights in the room will be dim during your exam and the ultrasonographer may use a gel type of lotion on the body part to be examined.

Mammography
ELIH offers both screening and diagnostic mammograms. Patients do not have to have a prescription to have a screening mammogram but you will need to provide the name of a physician, who you wish to receive the report of your exam. Diagnostic mammograms require a prescription. To achieve the most accurate interpretation (reading) patients are required to bring previous mammograms for comparison at the time of mammogram appointment. ELIH also provides breast needle localizations if there is a need for breast surgery.

Nuuclear Medicine
An intravenous injection of a radioisotope is necessary for the majority of Nuclear Medicine exams. Sometimes there are delays between the injection and the imaging in order to give the body time to absorb the radioisotope and become visible on a special camera. Some exams require a consultation and record of present medications prior to scheduling.

Radiologist
A Board Certified Radiologist on duty Monday through Friday during day. Weekends and after hours interpretation by electronic transmission of exam images is provided.


A radiologist is a physician who specializes in the interpretation of medical images of the body.
After the medical images are acquired the images are interpreted (read) by a radiologist. After the radiologist has dictated his findings the exam report is transcribed and is sent to the physician who ordered your exam. If there is a need for another physician to receive the results of your exam please inform the receptionist in the radiology department. 

Scheduling Your Exam
CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121. Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment. For Ultrasound appointments, call 631-477-5421 An appointment is necessary for digestive track and/or urological exams requiring fasting from midnight prior to the exam or other preparation. For other routine diagnostic exams (i.e. chest, skeletal, etc.), an appointment is not required, but is recommended for more timely service.


 

---

 
When can I get my x-ray taken?
Generally, your provider will want you to complete your exam immediately so he can expedite your treatment. In some cases, you may be asked to return to the X-ray Department before your next visit

Why do I need an x-ray?
Your provider may order an x-ray examination for one of two reasons: 
1) to rule out fractures or other pathology
2) to confirm a diagnosis. 
Both of these reasons will assist your provider in determining the best course of treatment.

Are x-rays bad for me?
X-radiation is also ionizing radiation and there is always some danger with any radiation exposure. New technology incorporates high-speed film with high-speed intensifying screens producing diagnostic films while utilizing minimal amounts of radiation. In addition, new high-frequency equipment coupled with restricting the area exposed, reduce the amount of radiation to the patient even more. Your provider will weigh the danger of x-ray exposure against the value of the examination.

What if I am pregnant?
First, you should inform your provider of your condition or the possibility that you may be pregnant. Your provider will then determine if the x-ray exam is still indicated and if so, may instruct the technologist to add additional shielding and/or to abbreviate the examination.

Will this x-ray hurt?
There are no discernible sensations during the actual exposure to x-radiation. However, some of the positions the technologist may instruct you to assume may aggravate or intensify existing pain. The technologist may incorporate pillows, sponges and other positioning devices to alleviate as much discomfort as possible.

Can you tell if the muscle or ligament is damaged?
Normally no. Most diagnostic x-rays demonstrate the bony structures. However, often times swelling and fluid in the joint space can also be demonstrated on the films. As a rule, muscle and/or ligament damage are diagnosed during the provider's examination of the injured part.

How long will it take?
The actual exposure takes only a fraction of a second. Most of the time spent is in preparing the patient for examination and then positioning the patient for different exposures. Once the examination is completed, it only takes a few minutes to develop and prepare the films for viewing by your provider.

Can my friend accompany me into the exam room?
No. Although the technologist uses shielding and minimal amounts of radiation to the patient, any unnecessary radiation exposure is strongly discouraged.

The arrival of the Siemens Magnetom Symphony 1.5 Tesla MRI Scanner puts ELIH in the forefront of diagnostic capabilities.

MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This modality uses a powerful magnet to produce images of your body.
Usually there is no preparation for this exam.  Often an injection of contrast is administered during the exam, for this reason, recent blood test results are required for all patients.

Scheduling Your Exam

An appointment is necessary for digestive track and/or urological exams requiring fasting from midnight prior to the exam or other preparation. For other routine diagnostic exams (i.e. chest, skeletal, etc.), an appointment is not required, but is recommended for more timely service.  Often we are able to accommodate your imaging needs on the day that you call for an appointment. However, exams that require preparation may have to be scheduled on a later date

If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, you are NOT a candidate for an MRI.  The MRI questionnaire will establish whether an MRI can be performed safely.   

CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121.
Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment.

 

---

What are the uses and advantages of a MRI scan other types of scans?
MRI scanners are good at looking at the non-bony parts or "soft tissues" of the body. In particular, the brain, spinal cord and nerves are seen much more clearly with MRI than with regular x-rays and CAT scans.

Also, muscles, ligaments and tendons are seen quite well so that MRI scans are commonly used to look at knees and shoulders following injuries.

A MRI scanner uses no x-rays or other radiation. A disadvantage of MRI is it’s higher cost compared to a regular x-ray or CAT scan. Also, CAT scans are frequently better at looking at the bones that MRI.

---

You will most likely be lying on a special table that moves into the center of the magnet. Prior to going into the magnet you will be offered earplugs to reduce the noise that you hear. You will then hear some "hammering" noises while the scanner is preparing for scanning and taking the pictures. During this hammering noise, it is important not to move, as this would blur the pictures.

You may also feel some vibration during the hammering noise and some slight movement of the table during the examination.   Some patients will be given an injection in their arm of a substance that improves certain types of pictures. This substance, called a "contrast agent", is very safe and is unrelated to the iodine used for CAT scans and kidney x-rays.

 

 

 

---

MRI is quite safe in the majority of patients.

Certain patients may not be able to have an MRI. These include people who get nervous in small spaces (claustrophobic) and those with implanted medical devices such as aneurysm clips in the brain, heart pacemakers and cochlear (inner ear) implants. Also, people with pieces of metal close to or in an important organ (such as the eye) may not be scanned.

Also, certain metal objects that we common have on our persons like watches, credit cards, hair pins, writing pens, etc. may be damaged by the MRI scanner or may be pulled away from our bodies if we go into an MRI room.

Also, metal can sometimes cause poor pictures if it is close to the part being scanned. For these reasons, patients are asked to remove these objects before entering the MRI scanner.

 

Mammograms

Yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams remain the most effective method for detecting breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stage.

Experience the high-tech, soft touch mammogram Compassionate Care with Confident Results Eastern Long Island Hospital is certified as a Softer Mammogram Provider®, a distinction awarded only to an elite group of healthcare facilities that offers MammoPad® as standard of care. We provide every woman with a digital mammogram that includes the MammoPad breast cushion. Digital mammography is the latest advancement in breast imaging. It uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor, and transmitted and stored just like computer files. Digital mammography provides high quality breast images and special tools that allow the radiologist to see more detail than ever before. This advanced imaging technology helps clinicians detect breast cancer at the earliest stage possible. In addition to offering superior mammography technology, Eastern Long Island Hospital offers a warmer, softer mammogram by using the MammoPad breast cushion for every patient. MammoPad has been clinically demonstrated to reduce discomfort, associated with mammograms, for most women. This breast cushion is “invisible” to X-rays and does not interfere with the image quality of the mammogram. For more information or to schedule a softer mammogram, please call 631-477-5121.

Computer Assisted Diagnosis (CAD) adds a virtual second opinion for every patient, quickly and onsite in addition to the skillful eye of the board certified radiologist team at ELIH.

PREPARATION

• Do NOT use powder or deodorant the night before or morning of your exam. 
• Bring previous mammograms.
• To achieve the most accurate interpretation (reading), all patients are asked to bring previous mammograms for comparison at the time of the exam 
• If you are scheduling a diagnostic mammography (not a screening) you also need to bring a physician order (prescription) with you.
• To schedule your appointment click here  or  CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121. 
• Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment.  

 

---

Mammograms are probably the most important tool doctors have to help them diagnose, evaluate, and follow women who've had breast cancer. Safe and highly accurate, a mammogram is an X-ray photograph of the breast. The technique has been in use for about thirty years. 

Mammograms don't prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. For example, mammograms have been shown to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 35% in women over the age of 50; studies suggest for women between 40 and 50 they may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 25–35%.

Leading experts, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Radiology now recommend annual mammograms for women over 40. Finding breast cancers early with mammography has also meant that many more women being treated for breast cancer are able to keep their breasts. When caught early, localized cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal (mastectomy). 

Mammograms aren't perfect. Normal breast tissue can hide a breast cancer, so that it doesn't show up on the mammogram. This is called a false negative. And mammography can identify an abnormality that looks like a cancer, but turns out to be normal. This "false alarm" is called a false positive. To make up for these limitations, more than mammography is needed.

Women also need to practice breast self-examination, get regular breast examination by an experienced health care professional, and, in some cases, also get another form of breast imaging, like ultrasound or MRI scanning.

---

Who should have a mammogram?
Medical and health professionals agree every woman starting at age 40 should have a mammogram taken on a regular basis, usually every one or two years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your physician may suggest that you begin having annual mammograms taken at an earlier age.

Who is at risk for breast cancer?
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The risk for breast cancer increases with age and for women with a family history of the disease. However, women with no history of breast cancer are also diagnosed with the disease.

---

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ages 40-55.

Don’t become a statistic. Breast cancer is highly detectable through mammography screening. The earlier it is discovered, the greater a woman’s chance for survival.   
Breast Cancer Facts  

• Every three minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 13 minutes, a woman dies from the disease.
• The American Cancer Society estimates more than 193,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and more than 40,000 will die from the disease. 
• Early diagnosis and treatment are key to surviving breast cancer. 
• Less than one-third of American women follow doctors’ guidelines for having a mammogram, according to the breast cancer advocacy group Y-ME. 
• Studies from the National Cancer Institute show that 96 percent of women whose breast cancer is detected early live five or more years after treatment.

 

---

Mammogram appointments are scheduled thru central registration at (631) 477-5121 A physician prescription is required.

•  You should also know when your last mammography was performed. 
  (Must be 12 months since last screening mammography for routine screening test.)
•  If you are a first time mammogram patient at ELIH please bring your old records and previous films.
   

 PLEASE

•  Wear a two-piece (top and bottom) garment 
•  Remember that if you have breast implants it may require additional time scheduled for your exam. 
   

 DO NOT

•  Do not use perfume, powder, or deodorants on the day of your exam.

Bone Density Testing Exams

Bone Densitometry tests are painless, noninvasive, and safe. These tests compare your bone density (strength) with standards for what is expected in someone of your age, gender, and size.  Additionally it is compared to the optimal peak bone density of a healthy young adult of the same gender.      

Bone density testing can help to:

• Detect low bone density before a fracture occurs.
• Confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you have already fractured.
• Predict your chances of fracturing in the future.
• Determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment, if the test is conducted at intervals of a year or more.
  
   

Quick and painless osteoporosis detection

Some women are at greater risk for osteoporosis - the decrease of bone mass and density as a result of the depletion of bone calcium and protein - than others. Your physician can help you determine your risk of developing osteoporosis by taking your personal and family medical history, and by performing a bone density test or bone mass measurement. There are two ways to find out you have osteoporosis: breaking a bone and getting a bone density test. Breaking a bone is painful, expensive and debilitating. Getting a bone density test is not. It is never too late to help your bones be healthier.

Just as it is important to know your blood pressure or height, it is important to know your T-Score, which is your bone density test result. For most women, the time to watch your T-Score is shortly after menopause when declining estrogen levels no longer protect your bone density. Knowing your T-Score and risk factors help you and your physician decide how aggressively you should address osteoporosis prevention and treatment.    

 

Scheduling Your Exam

An appointment is necessary for digestive track and/or urological exams requiring fasting from midnight prior to the exam or other preparation. For other routine diagnostic exams (i.e. chest, skeletal, etc.), an appointment is not required, but is recommended for more timely service. Often we are able to accommodate your imaging needs on the day that you call for an appointment. However, exams that require preparation may have to be scheduled on a later date.


CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121. Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment.  

---

 


If you have one or more of the following risk factors for osteoporosis, you may want to consider having a bone density test:

• You have already experienced a bone fracture that may be the result of thinning bones.
• Your mother, grandmother, or another close relative had osteoporosis or bone fractures.
• Over a long period of time, you have taken medication that accelerates bone loss, such as corticosteroids for treating rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions, or some anti-seizure medications.
• You have low body weight, a slight build, or a light complexion.
• You have a history of cigarette smoking or heavy drinking.
   

---

A bone density test, also known as bone mass measurement or bone mineral density test, measures the strength and density of your bones as you approach menopause and, when the test is repeated sometime later, can help determine how quickly you are losing bone mass and density. These tests are painless, noninvasive, and safe. They compare your bone density with standards for what is expected in someone of your age, gender, and size and to the optimal peak bone density of a healthy young adult of the same gender. Bone density testing can help to:

• detect low bone density before a fracture occurs.
• confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you have already fractured.
• predict your chances of fracturing in the future.
• determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment if the test is conducted at intervals of a year or more.
   

---

Bone Density Test

The test itself will take about 10 minutes, but allow 40 minutes for your appointment.

You will be asked to lie flat on a special table. The bone density machine's mechanical arm will scan your hip and spine (unless otherwise requested by your physician).

Your radiation exposure is extremely small, approximately 1/10th of that found in a chest x-ray.

Special Considerations
Do not take a daily calcium supplement until after the scan. If possible, please avoid wearing metal on your torso (e.g., snaps, underwire, and zippers).

The test is not recommended for women who are pregnant, or think they may be.   

Ultrasound


These exams are done using sound waves very similar to the sonar waves used in submarines. Some of the ultrasound exams require that you do not have anything to eat at least 4-8 hours prior to the exam. Other exams may require you to drink a specified amount of liquid to fill your bladder prior to the exam. The lights in the room will be dim during your exam and the ultrasonographer may use a gel type of lotion on the body part to be examined.       Scheduling Your Ultrasound Exam Appointment

Often we are able to accommodate your imaging needs on the day that you call for an appointment. 
However, exams that require preparation may have to be scheduled on a later date. 

To schedule an Ultrasound exam, CALL 631-477-5421

CT Scan (Computerized Tomography)

The multi-slice Siemens CT scanner enables us to image the vessels of the heart, and other areas of the body, without having to perform invasive procedures. Some of the CT exams will require that you do not have anything to eat at least 4-8 hours prior to the exam. Often an injection of intravenous contrast is administered during the CT scan. For these patients, recent blood test results are required. You may also be asked to drink a liquid called barium prior to the exam. It is a fat-free, no calorie substance, and always tastes better when chilled.

Scheduling Your Exam

An appointment is necessary for digestive track and/or urological exams requiring fasting from midnight prior to the exam or other preparation. For other routine diagnostic exams (i.e. chest, skeletal, etc.), an appointment is not required, but is recommended for more timely service.


Often we are able to accommodate your imaging needs on the day that you call for an appointment. However, exams that require preparation may have to be scheduled on a later date.


CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121. Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment.


To schedule an appointment for Ultrasound, CALL 631-477-5421

 

Nuclear Medicine 

An intravenous injection of a radioisotope is necessary for the majority of Nuclear Medicine exams. Sometimes there are delays between the injection and the imaging in order to give the body time to absorb the radioisotope and become visible on a special camera. Some exams require a consultation and record of present medications prior to scheduling.   Scheduling Your Exam

An appointment is necessary for digestive track and/or urological exams requiring fasting from midnight prior to the exam or other preparation. For other routine diagnostic exams (i.e. chest, skeletal, etc.), an appointment is not required, but is recommended for more timely service.
Often we are able to accommodate your imaging needs on the day that you call for an appointment. However, exams that require preparation may have to be scheduled on a later date.
CALL Central Registration at 631-477-5121. Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM to schedule your appointment.
To schedule an appointment for Ultrasound, CALL 631-477-5421