Ultrasound experts at Scott & White use this safe form
of radiology to help diagnose disease.
In
many cases, a mother sees her
child for the first time as an
image on an ultrasound monitor.
This joyous moment may be ultrasound’s
most popular application, but physicians
rely on this mode of imaging to detect
many diseases throughout the body as well.
Also known as sonography, ultrasound uses
high-frequency sound waves to create
images of organs and systems in the body.
It is especially good at discovering
abnormalities in soft-tissue organs.
“Scott & White offers a comprehensive
spectrum of ultrasound services,” says
Rodney Hajdik, MD, a radiologist and
chief of the Section of Ultrasound at Scott
& White Healthcare. A wide variety of
procedures are offered at locations in
College Station, Round Rock, Temple,
and Waco.
Radiologists work with sonographers,
professionals who operate the technology
to produce images. In Temple, they will
perform about 26,000 exams this year
alone, which the radiologists will evaluate
to determine whether disease is present.
Another 17,000 exams will be performed
in College Station, Round Rock, and
Waco. Twenty-four sonographers and 25
radiologists play a pivotal role in
diagnosing disease and ultimately deciding
patients’ treatment paths.
Ultrasound’s broad capabilities
Ultrasound is one method of imaging
organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
It can also detect gallstones. Ultrasound
also can check on how well a kidney,
pancreas, or liver is functioning after it
has been transplanted. “With Doppler
ultrasound we can actually monitor the
blood flow through veins and arteries. This
in combination with other diagnostic
procedures can give medical specialists a
picture of how the patient’s body is
functioning,” says Donna Harris, technical
“The sonographer and the radiologist
work as a team to search for abnormalities
or signs of disease.”
—Ms. Donna Harris
sw.org | Summer 10 THE CATALYST
11