The Medical Imaging Department at Cumberland Medical Center provides General Radiography, Mammography, Bone Densitometry, MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine, and diagnostic ultrasound, both vascular and general. The Mammography Department and the MRI Department are fully accredited by the American College of Radiology. We also have a mammography facility at Fairfield Glade. This site was designed to better serve the population in that part of the county and to also help any patient get their screening mammogram in a more timely manner.
All films done by the Medical Imaging Department are interpreted by one of our five Board Certified Radiologists. Radiologists are physicians who interpret medical images in order to rule out specific diseases or injuries. To become board certified by the American Board of Radiology, they must pass a standardized national examination in radiology.

The staff is comprised of highly qualified certified Technologists and support staff. To become certified, technologists must complete at least two years of formal training in Radiologic Technology in an accredited hospital-based program or a two-year college or university-based program. They must pass a national certification examination and take continuing education training annually in order to maintain their certification.

Staffed 24 hours a day, the Medical Imaging department performs approximately 67,000 procedures annually using some of the latest advances in technology. Below are a few details concerning the various procedures we have available here at CMC.

In general radiography, radiation (x-rays) is used to produce black-and-white images of anatomy. The images are captured on film, computer or videotape. X-rays may be used to detect bone fractures, find foreign objects in the body, and demonstrate the relationship between bone and soft tissue. They are also used to detect ulcers in the stomach or blockages in the colon or when the doctor suspects kidney stones, just to name a few. The most common type of x-ray exam is chest radiography.

Mammography is the best way of finding breast cancer during its early, more treatable stages. Mammography uses low-dose radiation to create an image of breast tissue. It can detect breast lumps up to two years before they can be felt. Finding a lump early significantly improves a woman’s chance of successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that women have a baseline mammogram at the age of 35 and then begin annual mammograms at age 40.

Bone densitometry is a type of imaging examination that measures a patient's bone mineral density, which is an indicator of bone strength. It can be used to determine if the patient has osteoporosis, a degenerative disease that causes bones to become brittle and makes them likelier to break. Because postmenopausal women are at higher risk for osteoporosis, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that women older than 65 undergo a bone densitometry test every two years.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sophisticated diagnostic technique that uses a strong magnetic filed, radiowaves and a computer to produce cross-sectional images of different parts of the body. MRI creates better soft-tissue scans than xrays and is most commonly used to image the brain, spine, organs in the chest and abdomen, the heart and blood vessels and structures near bones, such a muscles and ligaments.

Computed tomography (CT) is another sophisticated imaging technique that can show anatomy at different levels within the body. During CT imaging, the xray source rotates around the patient, and each rotation produces a single cross-sectional "slice", like the slices in a loaf of bread. CT allows physicians to see a horizontal piece of the body, just as if you were taking a slice of bread out of a loaf. CT scans are used to diagnose many conditions. They may be used to examine the head to check for bleeding, tumors, blood clots or signs of stroke. In other parts of the body, CT may be used to tell whether a growth is solid or fluid-filled, determine an organ's size and shape and evaluate many different diseases.

A Nuclear Medicine procedure is sometimes described as an "inside-out" xray because it records radiation emitting from the patient's body rather than radiation that is directed through the patient's body. Nuclear medicine procedures use small amount of radioactive materials, called radiopharmaceuticals, that are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues. As the radiopharmaceutical travels through the body, it produces radioactive emissions. A special type of camera detects these emissions in the organs, bone or tissue being imaged and then records the information on a computer screen or on film. Nuclear medicine is unique because it shows how organs and tissues are working. For example, nuclear medicine allows physicians to see how a kidney is functioning, not just what it looks like. Most other diagnostic imaging tests, such as xrays, reveal only anatomical structure. There are more than 100 different nuclear medicine examinations to assess organ functions. A thyroid uptake study shows how well the thyroid gland is working. A cardiac stress-rest test shows blood flow to the heart and helps your physician detect coronary artery disease. Bone scans can detect fractures, tumors and infections.

Ultrasound has been in use since the 1950s and is commonly called sonography also. There are many medical indications for using diagnostic ultrasound. Ultrasound can be used to examine many parts of the body including the abdomen, breasts, female pelvis, prostate, scrotum, thyroid, and the vascular system. Most commonly, ultrasound is used during the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy to help your doctor determine when your baby is due, or to make sure your baby is growing as it should. Your doctor may also want an ultrasound examination to determine the baby's position, or to see if you are carrying twins or triplets. Ultrasound also may be used to detect some birth defects.