Frequently Asked Questions in Medical Imaging

There are no known side effects to the radiopharmaceutical used for this procedure. A radiopharmaceutical is a drug that can be used either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes and is instrumental in performing the scan.

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you the results of your test. Test results are sent to your doctor as soon as our radiologist completes their report and it is released to our communications system for distribution. We can check your record to confirm the results were successfully sent.

You can log in to our Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) patient portal. With your email address, you can access your medical records for review and/or to download.

Our medical records department can also print a copy and send it to you via the US mail. Or, if you prefer, you can stop into the appropriate CIS center and pick up a copy. You will need to show your government-issued ID (driver’s license or passport) in order to receive the copy in person.

Most reactions will happen within a few minutes after the injection, while you are still at Capitol Imaging Services. However, later on, if you experience any discomfort such as itching or trouble breathing, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.

Capitol Imaging Services requires any amount you would owe for your test to be paid in full at the time of your visit. We do not offer payment plan options. We do accept the CareCredit healthcare credit card, which if you qualify, can be used for payment and you can take up to six months to pay off the amount without incurring interest charges.

Payment plans were discontinued a number of years ago due to high number of people defaulting on their payment obligations. Unfortunately, this resulted in the decision to discontinue offering this option.

Advanced imaging, which includes MRI, CT, nuclear medicine and PET/CT, typically requires an authorization from your health insurance plan. Certain Capitol Imaging Services centers can perform such authorizations on behalf of patients and medical practices for Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Humana and Cigna insurance members.

For other plans, your doctor’s office is responsible for obtaining the authorization and once obtained, sending it to us as part of your patient record.

You will need to contact the appropriate Capitol Imaging Services affiliate. Certain affiliates provide online access to medical records through a patient portal.

For others, a Capitol Imaging Services associate assist you with your request.

3D mammography generates images of the breast by taking multiple views across the breast in an arc. 2D mammograms only compress the breast and take images from the front and side. Research has shown that a 3D mammogram is up to 40 percent more sensitive than 2D mammograms, which means it can gives our radiologists and your doctor a clearer, more accurate and thorough picture of breast tissue and abnormalities. 

The time needed for an exam will vary by the type of test that is performed. As an example, an x-ray takes only a few minutes to complete, while some MRI or ultrasound scans may take up to one hour to finish. Our technologists do everything we can to make you comfortable and to perform a quality test within a reasonable amount of time.

The time an exam takes also depends on you. It is important to arrive on time, to complete the necessary paperwork, to be prepared correctly and to follow the instructions as provided to you during your exam by our technologist.

At the time you make your appointment to come to a Capitol Imaging Services location, we will advise you as to the planned length of time it will take for your testing and when you need to arrive in order to complete our registration process and talk with the technologist about what you will expect during your testing.

An arthrogram is a specialty exam that uses imaging equipment to evaluate a joint such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or ankle. It is a two-step procedure. First is a contrast injection into the joint. This is followed by an MRI or CT scan of that joint. As an example, a rotator cuff shoulder injury is often is diagnosed with an arthrogram.

Radiologists are medical doctors (MDs) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and ultrasound. Radiologists are usually board certified by the American Board of Radiology (for a doctor of medicine) or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology (for an osteopathic doctor); an indication of a high level of training, and demonstrated excellence in the field.

The European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) proposed a numeric system called the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System, or PI-RADS, for prostate cancer detection. It is a grading and classification system used at Capitol Imaging Services as part of our radiology reporting for prostate MRI studies.

Cost is a complex question when associated with health insurance coverage. A patient financial services associate will use your information to verify your benefits and provide a good faith estimate of any financial obligation you may have due to your test. If you do not have health insurance, Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) will provide what we classify as a cash pay price.

Patients who have compared our imaging fees with area hospitals and medical centers have saved hundreds, even thousands of dollars, by choosing CIS for their testing. As an independent radiology practice, we've been chosen to perform high quality exams, from prostate MRI to ultrasound scans while saving those patients money.

Please remember that any amount you owe for your test is required to be paid in full at the time of your visit to a Capitol Imaging Services center.

While different in many ways, the main difference is this: CT uses x-ray technology to produce diagnostic images. These x-rays require a small dose of ionizing radiation. Instead of using ionizing radiation, MRI uses radio waves and powerful magnets to produce diagnostic images.

Another common difference is that CT exams are almost always much shorter in length than MRI.

The difference between an MRI and an MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography) is that an MRA is used specifically to examine blood vessels. An MRI is performed to examine other parts of the body such as the abdomen, chest, pelvis, extremities and internal organs.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. While screening mammograms are routinely administered to detect breast cancer in women who have no apparent symptoms, diagnostic mammograms are used after uncertain or suspicious results on a screening mammogram or after a patient or physician detect an area of concern on a physical examination.

MRI machines use extremely powerful magnets combined with electromagnetic fields, and coils which produce radio waves, to produce detailed images of organs and tissues in your body. Noise is created when magnetic fields are cycled on and off, and when magnets exert an opposing force to each other.

When noisy, the MRI is capturing those important images for the radiologist to review. We provide headphones with music or earplugs to minimize noise levels.

Not all ultrasound exams require a full bladder. But for those that do, the first reason is that you have gas. We all do. But, ultrasound cannot see anything behind the gas that is in your intestines. When you fill your bladder, it pushes the intestines out of the way making a clearer path for the technologist to see your uterus, ovaries, fetus and other anatomical structures.

Second, a full bladder is an excellent window for an ultrasound exam. Since sound waves travel easily through fluid, a full bladder allows them to penetrate deep into the pelvis to image areas such as the cervix on an obstetrical exam or the pelvic organs on a regular pelvic ultrasound.

While we understand the discomfort, please know that it is in your best health interests. That uncomfortable feeling means you're receiving the best possible care at Capitol Imaging Services.

Diagnostic imaging lets doctors look inside your body for clues about a medical condition. It is often a critical part of a doctor’s diagnosis. The type of imaging your doctor uses often depends on your symptoms and the part of your body being examined.

Accuracy with all patient information is critical to what is done in healthcare. We verify multiple times in order to make sure of that accuracy. This is for your benefit so that everything is done to avoid errors or problems with your testing, insurance coverage and any other related activity associated with your test. 

We understand it may become irritating to repeat the same information, but we do so with your best interest in mind.