Digital Mammography
- The American Cancer Society and other specialty organizations recommend that before scheduling a mammogram, discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor. In addition, inform your doctor of any prior surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer.
- Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period, if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time for a mammogram is one following your period.
- Wear separates as you will need to disrobe from the waist up.
- Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder, lotion or perfume. The minerals in them may distort the x-ray image.
- Notify the mammography technologist if you are breastfeeding or if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.
- Inform the call center representative, when you make your appointment, if you have breast implants, a personal history of breast cancer or currently breastfeeding.
- Please bring any previous mammograms and reports that were done at another imaging center to your appointment at DIS.
Breast MRI
You may be asked to wear a gown during the exam or you may be allowed to wear your own clothing if it is loose-fitting and has no metal fasteners.
Unless you are told otherwise, you may follow your regular daily routine and take medications as usual.
Breast MRI examination may require an injection of contrast into the bloodstream. The radiologist or technologist may ask if you have allergies of any kind, such as allergy to iodine or x-ray contrast material, drugs, food, the environment or asthma. However, the contrast material most commonly used for an MRI exam, called gadolinium, does not contain iodine and is less likely to cause side effects or an allergic reaction.
The radiologist should also know if you have any serious health problems or if you have recently had surgery. Some conditions, such as severe kidney disease may prevent you from being given contrast material for an MRI. If there is a history of kidney disease, it may be necessary to perform a blood test to determine whether the kidneys are functioning adequately.
Women should always inform their physician or technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. MRI has been used for scanning patients since the 1980s with no reports of any ill effects on pregnant women or their babies. However, because the baby will be in a strong magnetic field, pregnant women should not have this exam unless the potential benefit from the MRI exam is assumed to outweigh the potential risks.
If you have claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) or anxiety, you may want to ask your physician for a prescription for a mild sedative prior to the scheduled examination.
Jewelry and other accessories should be left at home if possible, or removed prior to the MRI scan. Because they can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, metal and electronic objects are not allowed in the exam room. These items include:
- jewelry, watches, credit cards and hearing aids, all of which can be damaged.
- pins, hairpins, metal zippers and similar metallic items, which can distort MRI images.
- removable dental work.
- pens, pocketknives and eyeglasses.
- body piercings.
In most cases, an MRI exam is safe for patients with metal implants, except for a few types. People with the following implants cannot be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area unless explicitly instructed to do so by a radiologist or technologist who is aware of the presence of any of the following:
- internal (implanted) defibrillator or pacemaker
- cochlear (ear) implant
- some types of clips used on brain aneurysms
You should tell the technologist if you have medical or electronic devices in your body, because they may interfere with the exam or potentially pose a risk, depending on their nature and the strength of the MRI magnet. Examples include but are not limited to:
- artificial heart valves
- implanted drug infusion ports
- implanted electronic device, including a cardiac pacemaker
- artificial limbs or metallic joint prostheses
- implanted nerve stimulators
- metal pins, screws, plates, stents or surgical staples
In general, metal objects used in orthopedic surgery pose no risk during MRI. However, a recently placed artificial joint may require the use of another imaging procedure. If there is any question of their presence, an x-ray may be taken to detect the presence of and identify any metal objects.
Patients who might have metal objects in certain parts of their bodies may also require an x-ray prior to an MRI. You should notify the technologist or radiologist of any shrapnel, bullets, or other pieces of metal which may be present in your body due to accidents. Dyes used in tattoos may contain iron and could heat up during MRI, but this is rarely a problem. Tooth fillings and braces usually are not affected by the magnetic field but they may distort images of the facial area or brain, so the radiologist should be aware of them.
Breast Biopsy
- You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your exam. You will need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
- You will be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
- Prior to a needle biopsy, you should report to your doctor all medications that you are taking, including herbal supplements, and if you have any allergies, especially to anesthesia. Your physician will advise you to stop taking aspirin or a blood thinner three days before your procedure.
- Also, inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- You may want to have a relative or friend accompany you and drive you home afterward. This is recommended if you have been sedated.
Cyst Aspiration
- You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your exam. You will need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
- You will be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
- Prior to a needle biopsy, you should report to your doctor all medications that you are taking, including herbal supplements, and if you have any allergies, especially to anesthesia. Your physician will advise you to stop taking aspirin or a blood thinner three days before your procedure.
- Also, inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- You may want to have a relative or friend accompany you and drive you home afterward. This is recommended if you have been sedated.
Galactography
- Very little preparation is necessary for this procedure. The only requirement is that the nipple not be squeezed prior to the exam, as sometimes there is only a small amount of fluid and it is necessary to see where the fluid is coming from to perform the exam.
- You should inform your physician of any medications you are taking and if you have any allergies, especially to barium or iodinated contrast materials. Also, inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- Always inform your doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.
- As in mammography, do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts the day of the exam. These can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots.
- Before the examination, you will be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing above the waist. You will be given a gown or loose-fitting material that opens in the front.
DEXA Bone Density Exam
- Unless instructed otherwise, eat normally on the day of the exam, but avoid taking calcium supplements for at least three hours prior to your appointment.
- Please refrain from wearing zippers, buttons, grommets or any metal on your clothing.
- You should not have had a barium study, radioisotope injection, oral or intravenous contrast material from a CT scan or MRI within seven days prior to your DEXA test.
- Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility of being pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.
Ultrasound
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
The following exams require special preparation, as indicated below:
Aorta Ultrasound / Doppler
- You will need to begin fasting 8-10 hours prior to your exam.
- This exam cannot follow a barium enema, gastrointestinal (GI) small bowel, oral contrast, esophogram or CT that required oral contrast.
Abdominal Ultrasound / Doppler
- You will need to begin fasting 8-10 hours prior to your exam.
- This exam cannot follow a barium enema, gastrointestinal (GI) small bowel, oral contrast, esophogram or CT that required oral contrast.
Appendix Ultrasound
- You will need to begin fasting six to eight hours prior to your exam.
Bio-Physical Profile
- This exam should be performed during the third trimester of pregnancy (24-40 weeks).
- This exam is usually ordered in conjunction with a pregnancy ultrasound.
- You will need to empty your bladder and then drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to your appointment. It is important that your bladder remain full for this exam. Do not void (urinate) until your exam is complete.
Bladder Ultrasound
- You will need to empty your bladder and then drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to your appointment. It is important that your bladder remain full for this exam. Do not void (urinate) until your exam is complete.
- It is okay to have something to eat.
Pylorus (Pediatric) Ultrasound
- The adolescent will need to begin fasting four to six hours prior to the exam.
- The parent or guardian needs to bring a baby bottle.
Infertility Study
- You will need to empty your bladder and then drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to your appointment. It is important that your bladder remain full for this exam. Do not void (urinate) until your exam is complete.
- This exam should be performed between the 6th and 10th day of your menstrual cycle (from when menstrual cycle begins).
Pelvic Ultrasound / Doppler
- You will need to empty your bladder and then drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to your appointment. It is important that your bladder remain full for this exam. Do not void (urinate) until your exam is complete.
- If you are having a trans-abdominal study, drink 32 ounces of liquid, plus food. Non-carbonated drinks are recommended.
Obstetrical Ultrasound / Doppler (0-12 weeks)
- No preparation is required
Hysterosonogram (Pelvis Cystogram)
- This exam should be performed between the 6th and 10th day of your menstrual cycle (from when menstrual cycle begins).
- You should abstain from sexual intercourse from the first day of menstruation until the exam is completed.
Renal (kidney) Ultrasound
- You will need to begin complete fasting prior to your exam.
- You will need to empty your bladder and then drink 32 ounces of water one hour prior to your appointment. It is important that your bladder remain full for this exam. Do not void (urinate) until your exam is complete.
- Click here to understand the reasons we need you to drink 32 ounces of water prior to your exam.