Mills-Peninsula Diagnostic Imaging

Persistent headaches that can’t be explained, pain or trauma caused by a fall or accident, or abdominal pain that doesn’t go away all are reasons your physician may send you for a diagnostic imaging exam. With the remarkable ability to see under your skin and into your organs, diagnostic imaging provides answers to medical questions previously only understood through exploratory surgery.

We offer diagnostic imaging services, ensuring that your exam can be performed on the full range of medical imaging equipment by a certified radiologic technologist close to home. Your images will be interpreted by a highly skilled radiologist, stored in our enterprise electronic health record system, and available to you and your physician.

Depending on your condition and medical question, the exam may be performed at one of our hospital radiology departments, with state-of-the-art technology, including multi-detector CT and 3T MRI. Here are some of the services we provide.

Computed Tomography (CT)

CT uses a combination of X-rays and sophisticated computerized reconstruction to produce cross-sectional images (slices) of the body in much greater resolution than standard X-rays. CT images of internal organs, blood vessels, bone, soft tissue, muscles and fat provide greater clarity and reveal more details than traditional X-ray exams.

Our board-certified radiologists use their expertise to interpret CT images from our technologically advanced CT scanners to diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.

In cases of trauma, CT can quickly identify the extent of trauma to the liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and other internal organs. CT can also play a significant role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases that can lead to stroke, kidney failure or even death.

Computed tomography is used for cancer in several ways to:

• Help plan radiation therapy or surgery.
• Determine whether the cancer is responding to treatment.
• Detect or confirm the presence of a cancer tumor.
• Provide information about the size and location of the cancer tumor and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
• Guide a biopsy (the removal of cells or tissues for examination under a microscope).

Mills-Peninsula Health Services offers CT appointments at two locations: Burlingame (complimentary shuttle service from the parking lot) and San Mateo (complimentary self or valet parking).

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Positron emission tomography is a nuclear medicine technique that provides images of metabolic processes in the body. Most commonly, PET is performed using a radioactive form of glucose (a simple sugar) to create images of glucose metabolism. PET scans are extremely sensitive to the alterations in glucose metabolism that can result from pathologic conditions such as cancer (increased glucose metabolism) or Alzheimer’s disease (decreased glucose metabolism).

In a combined PET/CT scan, a PET scan is obtained immediately after a CT scan. The CT scan provides excellent detail, which when viewed with the images from the PET scan, allows precise identification of sites of abnormal metabolism. A typical PET/CT scan extends from the “eyes to the thighs,” and typically takes only 30 minutes.

Uses:

• Oncology – PET/CT scans can be used to better determine the likelihood that an abnormal finding is malignant and to guide a biopsy or surgery. PET/CT scans can also be used for staging of malignancies, identifying the possibly multiple sites of involvement with greater accuracy than a CT scan alone.
  
  Post-treatment PET/CT scans can more accurately evaluate response to therapy. This can help an oncologist, radiation oncologist or surgeon consider changes in therapy earlier in the course of treatment. PET/CT scans can also more accurately identify sites of recurrent disease in people with a history of prior cancer and suspicion of tumor recurrence.
  
  Research has shown that PET/CT scans not only improve care through more accurate staging, evaluation of response to therapy and identifying disease recurrence, but they also lower healthcare costs by reducing unnecessary biopsies, surgeries and additional imaging studies.
• Heart Disease – PET of the heart (cardiac PET) is more accurate than other types of non-invasive stress tests in finding coronary artery disease. Cardiac PET is also the most accurate method of determining if the heart muscle remains functional after a heart attack. This helps determine which people can benefit from transplant, coronary bypass or angioplasty procedures.
• Neurology – PET/CT of the brain can be used to assess people with seizure disorders and provides the earliest diagnosis of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
  
  Our board-certified radiologists at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center are highly trained at interpreting PET/CT images and work closely with your treating doctors to guide therapy and follow-up.
  
  We provide access to clinical images and reports using the picture archive and communication system. By having all your imaging procedures done at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, our radiologists will have instant access to your clinical history. This is a service independent clinics are unable to provide.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most advanced medical diagnostic tools. MRI involves the use of a powerful magnet, radio waves and computer technology to create images. It allows a doctor to see detailed images of the body and internal organs without surgery or the use of radiation. MRI can evaluate virtually all areas of the body is often used to visualize the brain, spine, bones, joints, abdomen and pelvis. The detailed images can detect subtle abnormalities such as disc abnormalities in the spine and tendon and ligament tears in the shoulder and knee.

Unlike low-field open or standing MRI scanners, the MRI scanners at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center are conventional, state-of-the-art, high-field magnets including a 3 Tesla magnet. These provide the highest quality images and are interpreted by our board-certified radiologists who have subspecialty training in musculoskeletal, neurological and body magnetic resonance imaging.

MRI scans are also playing a larger role in the detection of breast cancer due to recent technological advances in both hardware and software used. One development is the creation of computer aided detection  software, which assists in detecting and localizing lesions within breast tissue. Here at Mills-Peninsula, we are excited about our new dedicated breast MRI table and coil.

Mills-Peninsula offers the convenience of two locations: Burlingame (complimentary shuttle from the parking lot) and San Mateo (complimentary self or valet parking). We offer early morning, evening and Saturday appointments, as well as doctor-requested same-day MRI appointments. Our scheduling staff will be pleased to assist you with the pre-authorization process required by your insurance provider.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound has been used by sonographers and radiologists to image the human body for over 50 years and has become a widely used health diagnostic tool. Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive procedure used to examine internal organs without radiation. No needles or injections are used in ultrasound. Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of tissues and organs. It is an effective diagnostic tool that can help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and determine proper treatment.

Our board-certified radiologists have all had special training in ultrasound. Mills-Peninsula Health Services will interpret your images and quickly send a report to your referring provider. We provide access to clinical images and reports using the picture archive and communication system.

Ultrasound procedures available include:

• Obstetrical ultrasound: First, second and third trimester imaging is used to monitor fetal development and evaluate for anomalies. By having all your obstetrical fetal ultrasounds done at our facility, our radiologists will have instant access to your clinical fetal history. At the time of your delivery at our Family Birth Center, your obstetrician will have access if needed. This is a service independent clinics are often unable to provide.
• Pediatric ultrasound: head, abdomen, kidney, pelvis and hips.
• Pelvic ultrasound.
• Abdominal and gallbladder.
• Liver and abdominal aorta.
• Kidney and bladder.
• Upper and lower extremities.

Ultrasound is also increasingly being used in trauma and first aid cases, with emergency ultrasound becoming a staple of most emergency medical technical response teams. And is also used in remote diagnosis cases where teleconsultation is required, such as scientific experiments in space or mobile sports team diagnosis.

X-ray and Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a modern noninvasive imaging technique that uses x-rays and a barium contrast agent to obtain moving images of a person’s internal organs as they function. A fluoroscope consists of an X-ray source and fluorescent screen between which a person is placed. Barium sulfate coats the walls of the digestive tract (positive contrast), which allows the shape of the digestive tract to be outlined as white or clear on an X-ray. Air may then be introduced (negative contrast), which looks black on the film.

This allows our board-certified radiologists to observe and diagnose concerns involving a person’s stomach, esophagus and lower intestinal tract. Fluoroscopy is also useful in diagnosing coronary artery disease.

Fluoroscopy is done at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame. For your convenience, shuttle service is offered from our parking lot.

Pediatric Imaging

When your child is hurt or sick, you want to know that they will be treated as quickly as possible by pediatric experts. Sutter Health operates two of Northern California’s dedicated pediatric emergency departments and has a pediatric emergency transport team that can quickly move a child in need of the highest levels of trauma care to one of our hospitals with specialized pediatric trauma services. At Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, we offer transfer to higher levels of imaging care within the Sutter Network.

Contrast Extravasation

Contrast extravasation is a rare problem that occurs when contrast dye leaks into the tissue around the vein where the IV was placed for a CT or MRI scan.

Bone Density Test

A bone density test, also called densitometry or DEXA scan, can determine if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of osteoporosis before you break any bones.

A bone density test uses special X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The bones that are most commonly tested are located in the spine, hip and forearm.

To schedule an exam

Call the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center at (650) 696-4494. Doctor referral is required.