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Imaging Services
| X-Ray | CT Scan | Ultrasound | Mammography | MRI | Nuclear Med | PET Scan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon – Fri 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Mon – Fri 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Tues & Thur 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Fri 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Every other Tues 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| after hours on-call for emergency procedures |
after hours on-call for emergency procedures |
after hours on-call for emergency procedures |
Location
Prowers Medical Center Imaging Services
401 Kendall Drive
Lamar, CO 81052
Appointments: 719-336-6762
Fax: 719-336-8367
Prowers Medical Center provides diagnostic testing to help your physician diagnose a variety of conditions and provide you with convenient access to imaging services. Test results are read and reviewed by experienced, board-certified radiologists at Plains Radiology Services, who deliver prompt, accurate reports of findings back to Prowers Medical Center providers.
Imaging Technology and Services
Click on an imaging service below to learn more about what it is and when it is necessary.
Our Imaging staff provides high-quality radiology services, which include fluoroscopy and X-ray. Radiology services are necessary when diseases/conditions need to be diagnosed and treated within the body.
X-ray: A commonly known radiology test is the X-ray, which produces images that allow your Provider to see the structures and bones inside your body. X-rays can detect conditions of the bones, teeth, chest and abdomen, such as fractures, infections, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancers, digestive tract issues and many other conditions. X-rays cannot be felt, and they require you to remain still while the image is being taken.
Fluoroscopy: Think of a fluoroscopy as an X-ray “movie” — it is a type of medical imaging that is similar to an X-ray, but rather than a single photo, it shows a continuous, moving X-ray image on a monitor. This method allows Providers and radiologists to see your body structures and organs in “real time.” Fluoroscopies are used as a diagnostic tool to:
- Help determine foreign bodies or abnormalities in a patient
- Visually guide Providers during minimally invasive procedures or surgeries, such as biopsies or catheterizations
- Deliver treatment to patients
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan uses rotating X-ray machines and computers to create cross-sectional images of the body. Our 64-slice CT scanning machine does the same thing, only this state-of-the-art equipment can provide images as thin as half a millimeter, meaning the end image offers more detail than in a traditional CT scan.
This type of diagnostic imaging is best for patients whose soft tissue must be evaluated more intensely, since it allows your Provider to get a better image of the size, shape and position of your soft tissue structures. You might need this minimally invasive imaging test if your Provider is looking to diagnose a disease, such as an infection or cancer, or is evaluating an injury, such as a bone fracture or internal injury.
An ultrasound, also known as a sonography, creates images of the inside of a patient’s body using sound waves and echoes to form the image, rather than radiation. Issues with a patient’s organs, vessels and tissues can be diagnosed with this technology, with no need to make an incision on the patient.
Many individuals associate this test with pregnancies, as this type of scan allows parents the opportunity to see their unborn child through a monitor; however, there are multiple uses for ultrasounds. For example, if you are experiencing pain, swelling or another symptom that might require your Provider to take a closer look at your internal organs, you might be a good candidate for an ultrasound. These tests can provide internal views of the gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, spleen, thyroid, liver, uterus and many other organs.
A noninvasive ultrasound method, a vascular ultrasound is necessary when your Provider needs to examine the circulation of blood vessels in your body, or to evaluate the arteries and veins in your body parts, such as your arms, legs, neck or abdomen. During one of these tests, no radiation is omitted, but rather sound waves are used to analyze your blood cells as they move and display images of your blood vessels.
A vascular ultrasound is typically performed to:
- Detect blood clots in veins
- Confirm chronic venous insufficiency or varicose veins
- Diagnose narrowing arteries
- Locate blockages and abnormalities
- Evaluate patients after a vascular procedure
An echocardiography is another quick and painless test that utilizes sound waves, rather than radiation, to create moving images of your heart. If you are experiencing heart issues or have symptoms of common heart problems, your Provider may recommend this type of test. It is used to determine:
- The size and shape of your heart
- That your heart is working as it should, ensuring your heart muscles aren’t weak and are pumping as normal
- Whether or not you may have heart valve issues, or issues with the structure of your heart
- Blood clots and/or tumors
- How your heart may respond to certain treatments
A stress echocardiography, which is also known as a stress echo or echocardiography stress test, can help determine whether or not your heart and blood vessels are working as they should be. This test is most commonly used to detect for coronary artery disease, evaluate a patient’s progress after a major cardiac event and see how your heart reacts to exercise.
During this safe and noninvasive test, you will likely perform an intense cardiovascular activity, such as running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike, so that your Provider can monitor your blood pressure and heart rhythm (ECG). After your heart rate is up, ultrasound images are taken, which shows your Provider your heart muscles’ blood and oxygen levels. From there, treatment options are developed, if necessary.
Focusing on a more internal approach than traditional radiology methods, nuclear medicine can be used to help diagnose various conditions through inhalation, swallowing or injection of a radiopharmaceutical (a radioactive material). After the radiopharmaceutical is consumed, the patient will lie down on a table while a camera takes images highlighting any issues and their location within your body.
Before nuclear medicine, internal problems often were diagnosed through surgery, which is no longer necessary. Common types of nuclear medicine imaging techniques include Position Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). This type of testing is effective, safe and painless, and it is also used for treatment purposes.
A 3D mammography machine is used to take multiple X-rays of a patient’s breast tissue to form a clear, three-dimensional photo of the breast. A more advanced imaging test than traditional mammography, which only displays one 2D image of the breast, 3D mammography is used to help detect early signs of breast cancer in women.
Mammograms are generally recommended for women aged 40 and older, but could be recommended earlier based on your family history and whether or not you have any risk factors.
Noninvasive and painless, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans create detailed images inside a patient’s body of their organs and tissues by using radio waves and a strong magnetic field. MRIs help Providers diagnose various diseases and injuries, and they can also be utilized to monitor treatment plans. You might need an MRI to evaluate an issue with your brain, neck or spinal cord, or to diagnose issues in your joints, chest, heart, abdomen or blood vessels.
An MRI machine looks like large, cylindrical tunnel, surrounded by a circular magnet. Patients are asked to stay very still while the scan is in progress. It’s important to note that an MRI scan is different from a CT scan or X-ray in that it doesn’t use ionizing radiation.
As we age, our bones naturally deteriorate over time, which is why bone density tests, also known as DEXA or Axial DXA scans, are so important. A bone density scan is a type of X-ray that can measure your bone mineral density and bone loss, generally focusing on your lower spine and hips. It is used to determine your risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends this scan for:
- Women older than 65 years old and men older than 70 years old
- Those experiencing symptoms of osteoporosis
- Men aged 50 to 59 and postmenopausal women under 65 years old (with risk factors)
- Individuals more than 50 years old who have broken a bone
Bone density scans are also used to measure body composition, lean muscle and fat tissue, which can be beneficial when determining excess fat, assessing weight loss and evaluation muscle strengthening.
A Positron Emission Tomography scan is a type of imaging test that allows Providers to check for various internal diseases and measures a patient’s blood flow, oxygen use and how their body breaks down and uses sugar. Prior to having a PET scan, the patient ingests a special dye that contains radioactive tracers. The dye is either inhaled, injected or swallowed, depending on the part of your body that needs to be examined.
Showing issues at the cellular level, PET scans are commonly used to detect cancer, heart disease and brain disorders.