Ultrasound: History and Applications

Not long ago, we extolled the virtues of MRI technology, arguably one of the greatest tools in medical history. The MRI has achieved superstar status for its ability to peer noninvasively into the body and provide physicians and surgeons with critical information that was once available only through surgery.

But in lauding MRI, we may have failed to recognize the great benefits of an earlier noninvasive pioneer, the ultrasound, which, though overshadowed by MRI, continues to deliver accurate scanning information for a variety of suspected conditions.

Ultrasound’s medical usage roots date back to 1942 when Doctor Karl Theodore Dussik, a neurologist at the University of Vienna in Austria attempted to locate brain tumors and cerebral ventricles by measuring the transmission of the ultrasound beam through the skull. At that time they named the procedure “hyperphonography,”

Today, ultrasound is most widely recognized for its role in fetal imaging to determine whether any abnormalities exist and to determine the position of the baby.

Other women’s health uses for ultrasound include breast imaging, screening for high-risk pregnancies and pelvic examinations for possible conditions such as internal bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease and pelvic masses.

Ultrasound is also useful in the diagnosis of heart disease, where it can provide vital information about the structure and function of the heart and circulatory system.

Other applications include assistance in detecting abnormalities in the prostate or testicles, gallstones, liver damage and kidney dysfunction.

The doctors and staff at Hilltop are pleased to continue their commitment to advanced technology with the use of ultrasound for a variety of diagnostic situations. For the convenience of patients and for the efficient management of their case, we also offer:

• Fast report turnaround, including stat reports upon request
• Board-certified, subspecialty radiologists
• Walk-in X-rays – no appointment needed
• Open MRI, CT and Ultrasound services
• Most insurances accepted, plus Medicare, WC and more…
• Convenient location near the 80 freeway across from the Hilltop Mall
• Caring, compassionate staff

Welcome aboard!

The hallmark of any successful organization is its commitment to continuous improvement. Think of the best American companies - Apple® comes to mind first - and you’ll think of innovation and progress.

Hilltop has not made a policy over announcing our continuous improvement – and perhaps here we can learn a lesson from Apple – we’ve just tried to go about our business, which is providing quality imaging with accurate reporting in a timely manner.

Our referrers have noticed, for example, drastically improved MRI image quality. They have noticed the recent addition of dexa capabilities and now, they are noticing the addition of a new staff member who has already raised our service bar.

Some of you may know Gena Webb, our new physician liaison, for Gena has been visiting local physician offices in another capacity for several years.

But that’s not why we brought Gena on board. Gena is here because she represents that which we strive to be: committed to imaging excellence, committed to superior patient care and committed to superior communication with our referrers, each and every day.

It may seem as though Gena is reporting to us. After all, we hired her. But her real responsibility is to you; to providing you with the best possible facilitation of your orders. In that way, she does answer to you. By reciprocating the communication, by telling Gena what it is you need and when, we work as partners in the improvement process; in the advancement of quality care for our mutual patients.

Apple would approve.

(To reach Gena, please call our office at (510) 223-5122.)

Alzheimer's Research Continues

If it is not a “silent killer” as other diseases have been called, it is certainly a “silent debiliator,” and a serious one at that.

The disease is osteoporosis and it is far more common that most professionals realize. Consider the statistics from the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

• Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older.
• In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.
• While osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person's disease, it can strike at any age.
• Of the 10 million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men.

In response to the alarming increase in osteoporosis cases, Hilltop has invested in technology that delivers the best of fan-beam and pencil-beam densitometry by combining rapid throughput and superb image quality with excellent precision and a 10 times lower dose.

The technology is the GE Lunar Prodigy and it is now being offered to patients in our Richmond location.

There are so many benefits to the Prodigy technology. Among them are:

- The Prodigy is the only densitometer with SmartFAN™ which eliminates image magnification, blurring, and high patient dose inherent in competitive fan-beam densitometers. It automatically locates the bone thus eliminating the need for scout scans.

- The DualFemur test feature minimizes time and operator effort for a complete study of both femurs. The simplified user interface guides the operator through all measurement and analysis procedures.

- The GE Medical Prodigys excellent precision allows confident monitoring of small changes in patient bone density. AutoAnalysis ensures repeatable results with minimal operator intervention.

- The high-resolution images facilitate easy identification and exclusion of artifacts The advanced solid-state array detector is energy sensitive, an exclusive feature that allows image acquisition with 10-20 times lower dose than competitive fan-beam densitometers. Thus, results are clear and simple to interpret.

The doctors and staff at Hilltop are pleased to continue their commitment to advanced technology with the addition of the Prodigy. For more information, please contact us at (510) 223-5122.

Ode to the MRI

If someone were to compile a list of the ten most significant developments in the treatment of human health, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be at or near the top. Today, there are approximately 30 million MRIs performed in the United States each year. Statistically, that means that one in ten Americans can expect to have an MRI performed sometime in 2010.

MRI is the technology gift that keeps on giving. Each year, it seems that the list of MRI applications grows by leaps and bounds. Recently, for example, researchers at the American Journal of Psychiatry, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Columbia University reported that provide that brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia risk are detectable in babies only a few weeks old.

And how did they do this? Safely. The amazing safety record of the MRI is yet another reason to laud its contributions. In 2007, there were approximately 27,500,000 MRIs performed in the United States. That same year, there were only 114 accidents reported. That is a .000004 chance, a statistic of which almost any industry or profession would be proud. And it should be noted that the term “accident” is all-inclusive, that is, the numbers include incidents in which no patient received any long-term health complication.

MRI emits no radiation and allows physicians to peek inside the body to determine the state of tissue to assist in developing treatment protocols. Not all that long ago, the same result was obtained only through surgery.

At Hilltop Imaging and Diagnostic Center, we appreciate this medical workhorse every single day. We show our appreciation by maintaining strict safety standards and by maximizing the patient experience during what is often a difficult time.