Computed tomography — more commonly called CT or CAT scan — is an advanced form of X-ray imaging that uses a computer to combine many X-rays into one detailed image to provide information on bones and soft tissues.

What is a CT Scan? How Do CT Scans Work?

As you pass through the ring of the CT scanner, it uses X-rays to take images of your body. A computer reconstructs the data into detailed images via computed tomography. At Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging, the images are taken on a 64-slice scanner, which means the CT scan procedure and exam is quicker and produces the highest quality images available — even pictures of your heart. Our scanner also comes with advanced technology that automatically minimizes radiation dose.

What you need to know about CT

Wondering what does a CT scan show? Well, the detailed images created by CT can help you and your doctor get a much better picture of your injury or disease. Using these layers, our trained radiologists can see greater detail, like the angles of a fracture or the size and shape of a mass or stone.

One of the advantages of CT is how quickly it creates this level of detail. Depending on the type of image your doctor has requested, your imaging may include contrast. This special material is swallowed or delivered to your vein through an IV. The CT machine will identify the contrast, which defines and highlights different structures and any abnormalities.

CT can be used for images of any body part, including bones and joints, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and the brain.

No matter which area of your body requires imaging, it’s important that you let Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging know if:

• You have any implants, body piercings or other metal that might get in the way of your image
• You are or might be pregnant
• If you have a condition like diabetes that affects your ability to fast before your scan
• If your doctor has ordered your CT with contrast, let us know if you have any history of iodine sensitivity or allergy to imaging contrast.

What to expect during your CT appointment

As with any medical imaging, it’s a good idea to leave your valuables at home when you come for your CT. It’s best to not wear jewelry or any other metal during your CT to ensure nothing blocks your image.

We invite you to wear comfortable clothing. If at all possible, we’ll let you stay in your own clothes for your scan.

If your CT includes contrast, you may have to come to Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging for the contrast a bit ahead of your actual scan. You’re welcome to bring a book or something else to do while you wait.

When it’s time for your CT, you’ll lie down on a table. The CT machine looks like a big donut. During your scan it may move around you. Most scans are less than sixty seconds.

After your CT

If you had contrast for your exam, it will pass through your system harmlessly over the next day or so. In the meantime, your radiologist will look through your CT image carefully and write a report with all the findings. That report is sent very shortly to the health care provider who ordered your CT. Your doctor will go over the results with you and help you plan treatment or next steps if necessary.

At any point during this process, you’re welcome to contact Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging at (360) 255-6330 with any questions or concerns you have.

You may think ultrasounds are just for pregnant women. While fetal, abdominal ultrasounds are a routine medical imaging exam that allows doctors to check on babies’ health before they are born, ultrasound is also used for many other reasons.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your organs, blood vessels, and other structures inside your body. Because ultrasound is fast and does not use ionizing radiation, it’s completely safe. This makes ultrasound a preferred imaging option for children and babies in particular.

How ultrasound works

Ultrasound uses a small tool called a transducer to send high-frequency sound waves into an area of your body. The transducer also receives the sound waves as they bounce back. The ultrasound imaging machine interprets those sound wave echoes to create an image of your internal organs and tissues.

Ultrasound transducers come in different shapes depending on which part of your body needs to be imaged. Most are just small rectangles.

Some transducers provide Doppler ultrasound. This type of ultrasound measures the pitch of the ultrasound waves, which allows us to check how blood is flowing in your veins and arteries. Doppler ultrasound can also check your baby’s blood flow during your pregnancy.

How ultrasound is used

Ultrasound is a safe and easy way to take a look at your organs and internal tissues. The sound waves of ultrasound respond differently to fluid than to tissue. This means ultrasound can create a different image than other kinds of medical images.

Using ultrasound, your radiology technologist can measure the size of your internal organs. Many options imaging options exist such as a thyroid ultrasound or liver ultrasound. We can also get a peek at your kidneys and ovaries. This gives us a great look for such common occurrences like kidney or gallbladder stones. Ultrasound can even measure the walls of your heart.

Because ultrasound isn’t good at “seeing” air or bone, it’s sometimes used together with X-ray or other medical images to give you and your health care provider a more complete look inside your body.

Most pregnant women have one or more ultrasounds during pregnancy. Ultrasound is completely safe for your growing baby.

A fetal ultrasound gives you and your doctor a chance to check on how your baby is growing and developing. If you wish, your diagnostic medical sonographer can usually reveal your baby’s gender too.

What to expect during your ultrasound

For most ultrasounds, you won’t have to change into a gown. If you need to change, we’ll supply the gown for you. It’s best if you leave your valuables at home.

During the ultrasound, you’ll lie down on an exam table. Your diagnostic medical sonographer, who is specially trained in ultrasound, will put a special water-based gel on your skin so the sound waves move into your body smoothly. Then they’ll move the ultrasound transducer — usually about the size and shape of a TV remote — across your skin in the area being imaged.

The technician will make notes in a computer as they take measurements of different organs. This doesn’t mean they found something worrisome.

If you’re having an ultrasound of your baby during pregnancy, your technologist will be able to point out different parts of your baby. You may even see your baby moving around. Some babies are even sucking their thumbs during their “photo shoot.”

After your ultrasound

After your ultrasound is complete, your medical images will be carefully reviewed by a Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging radiologist — a doctor specially trained in how to interpret medical images including ultrasounds.

In some cases, your radiologist will speak to you after your exam. Most often, your radiologist will generate a report for your primary care doctor or other referring provider.

That way, your regular doctor can discuss any findings in detail with you and make a plan to follow up or treat anything discovered during your ultrasound.

At any point during this process, you’re welcome to contact our ultrasound Bellingham, WA Advanced Medical Imaging office at (360) 255-6330 with any questions or concerns you may have. 

One of the most common medical imaging exams at Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging is X-ray. Painless and fairly quick, X-rays give you and your health care provider a look inside your body. You’ve likely had X-rays of your teeth at the dentist. Body X-rays are very similar.

X-rays are a simple, noninvasive and quick way to get a look inside your body. They can help your X ray clinic’s radiologist spot broken bones, foreign objects and even disease in certain parts of your body.

What is an X-Ray? How do X-rays Work?

X-rays use a tiny bit of radiation to provide images of inside your body. As the radiation passes through your body, denser tissue (like bones) block the radiation, while softer tissue (like skin) does not. A digital X-ray sensor captures the X-rays that pass through, leaving an image that can show bone fractures, foreign objects, organ abnormalities and more.

Even though you’ve heard radiation is dangerous, rest easy. Medical imaging X-ray uses very small amounts of radiation, similar to levels we all experience from the sun and natural substances in the ground. In fact, most X-rays have lower radiation levels than a cross-country airplane flight. Because the levels are so low, the benefits most often outweigh the risk. So, no, there’s no need to worry when getting a chest X-ray or having it done on other, sensitive areas of the body.

Because fetal cells are dividing at such a rapid rate, fetuses may be more susceptible to radiation than you are. Be sure to let us know if you’re pregnant. We will talk with you about your options and work to add shielding for your abdominal area if you need X-ray imaging.

What to expect during your X-ray

When your provider refers you for an X-ray at Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging, you can be seen on a walk-in basis.

We recommend you leave valuables, including jewelry, at home. Plan to arrive a few minutes before your appointment so we can go over any questions you have.

Depending on which part of your body needs to be X-rayed, you may need to change into a gown, which we will provide. Whenever possible, we let you stay in your own clothes.

You may also need to remove body jewelry if it’s near the part of your body we need to X-ray.

Our technologist will help you get positioned for your X-ray. Then they’ll move the X-ray machine into the right position for the X-ray you need.

If more than one image is needed, your technologist may help you reposition for a different angle. Let us know if we can help make you more comfortable as we get you in place. You won’t be able to feel the X-ray itself.

What is fluoroscopy and how does it work

While standard X-ray takes photos, fluoroscopy gives you and your doctor an X-ray video of what’s going on inside you.

Fluoroscopy can be used to find disease in the gastrointestinal tract — like your throat, stomach and intestines — by drinking a special oral contrast that can be seen with the X-rays. It can also help guide injections into your joints, called arthrography.

One type of fluoroscopy, called a hysterosalpingogram, produces a detailed image of your uterus and fallopian tubes. This can identify blockages in the fallopian tubes, usually due to scarring, that may make it difficult for patients to become pregnant.

Before fluoroscopy, you may have to eat or drink differently. We’ll let you know any instructions before your appointment.

If your scan will use contrast — a type of dye that is swallowed or given intravenously — you may be scheduled to arrive well before your actual fluoroscopy imaging so your body has time to process the contrast before this specialized X-ray begins.

After your fluoroscopy, the contrast will pass harmlessly through your body in a day or so.

As with X-ray, be sure to let your prescribing doctor as well as our staff know if you are or might be pregnant or have any medical conditions that might be impacted by fasting before your appointment.

If you’re scheduled to have contrast included in your fluoroscopy visit, we’ll need to know if you’ve ever had a reaction to contrast or have a sensitivity to iodine.

After your X-ray

Your X-ray films will be reviewed by a Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging radiologist specially trained to interpret your results.

Your radiologist will write a report and send the information back to your primary care physician or the health care provider who referred you for an X-ray. That way, your provider can follow up with you about any treatment that you may need or if you need any further images.

Whatever brings you to Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging for an X-ray, please know we are here to answer your questions and do anything we can to help your imaging exam be comfortable and as easy as possible for you.

At any point during this process, you’re welcome to contact Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging at (360) 255-6330 with any questions or concerns you have.