Musculoskeletal Imaging
High-Resolution Imaging to Evaluate Musculoskeletal Disorders and Injuries
Loyola Medicine offers a multidisciplinary team of internationally recognized radiologists and orthopaedic specialists performing state-of-the-art diagnostic musculoskeletal imaging.
Loyola’s expertise in high-resolution imaging allows our world-class team of specialists to see details and detect complications that might otherwise go undiagnosed. We provide imaging and consultation for evaluation of health and disease of all types, including spine conditions, bone cancer and joint injuries.
Loyola’s skilled musculoskeletal imaging team offers many non-invasive diagnostic techniques for evaluating the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and cartilage.
Our state-of-the-art equipment ensures that we provide superior images with less radiation exposure for our patients, in addition to facilitating quicker and more effective image acquisition.
Our expert radiologists are recognized nationally and internationally for clinical excellence, innovative diagnostic and therapeutic methods and skilled use of the latest technology.
Loyola's technologists provide testing in a caring and compassionate environment where we want you to feel comfortable asking any questions you may have about your test or procedure.
Why Choose Loyola for Musculoskeletal Imaging?
As an academic medical center, Loyola provides compassionate, comprehensive care to patients and trains future leaders in advanced musculoskeletal imaging technology. Loyola takes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and provides support services for patients and families. Your entire Loyola healthcare team has one goal: restoring you to better health.
Our multidisciplinary musculoskeletal imaging team brings together orthopaedic specialists and radiologists who are leaders in their fields, often collaborating with specialists in sports medicine, rheumatology, radiation oncology and pathology. This collaboration improves patient outcomes and sets Loyola apart from other centers.
Loyola’s musculoskeletal imaging team is highly specialized and focused, which allows for more precise imaging, more accurate diagnosis and more targeted treatments for our patients.
All Loyola radiologists are fellowship-trained, and many of our clinicians are involved in leading-edge research. The radiology faculty is heavily invested in contributing to the scientific journals through writing articles and being board members and editors.
Electronic images are available to your doctors instantly through an electronic medical record system, allowing us to deliver timely, effective care to our patients.
At Loyola, we understand the importance of continuity of care and will provide seamless communication with your doctor through our secure medical information portal, LoyolaConnect. You can also access results from your lab tests and evaluations through myLoyola.
Which Musculoskeletal Imaging Tests are Performed at Loyola?
Loyola’s expert musculoskeletal imaging team knows that when you are experiencing unusual, concerning symptoms, you want an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.
We offer non-invasive, radiation-free imaging studies whenever possible – and when tests using radiation are required, your Loyola healthcare team will use the lowest dose of radiation possible. Loyola’s dedicated team will deliver the highest quality of care, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
We offer advanced musculoskeletal imaging technology, including:
- Arthrography — Arthrography is an imaging technique is used to evaluate the condition of the joints. Using contrast dye and fluoroscopy, your doctor can detect diseases and conditions within the joints.
- Arthroscopy — Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure allows your doctor to see, diagnose and treat problems within a joint. Orthopaedic specialists use arthroscopy for a number of diagnostic procedures and treatments of the ankle, hip, knee, shoulder and wrist.
- Bone scan — A bone scan may be requested by your Loyola orthopaedic surgeon if you have unexplained skeletal pain, a bone infection or a bone injury that can't be seen on a standard X-ray. A bone scan is also an important tool for detecting cancer that has spread to the bone from the tumor's original location. Bone scans are very helpful in diagnosing a wide range of bone disorders, including fractures, arthritis and infection.
- CT scan (computed tomography) — A CT scan combines a series of cross-sectional X-rays that allow your doctor to visualize your bones, blood vessels and soft tissues in order to diagnose disease or injury and create an effective treatment plan.
- DEXA scan (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) — Loyola offers DEXA scanning to measure bone mineral density and screen for osteoporosis.
- Discogram — Your doctor may use a discogram to determine if an intervertebral disk may be the source of back pain. Contrast dye and X-ray imaging is used to obtain images of problematic disks.
- Fluoroscopy — Fluoroscopy uses continuous X-ray technology to produce video images of your skeletal, urinary, digestive or respiratory system.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) — MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce detailed images of your organs, tissues and skeletal system. MRI does not use radiation.
- MR (magnetic resonance) arthrography — This imaging technique is a powerful combination of arthrography and MRI that provides highly detailed analysis of internal joint structures.
- PET scan (positron emission tomography) — Loyola offers one of the world’s most sophisticated PET scanners for detecting cancer, heart disease and neurological problems. This nuclear imaging study is used to show how the organs are functioning through the use of a binding agent which highlights abnormalities or disease. Several PET scans may be taken over time to monitor how well you are responding to treatment for cancer or another illness.
- Ultrasound — Using high-frequency sound waves, your Loyola technologist can produce moving images of organs, bones and soft tissues without using radiation. Ultrasounds can produce images of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and soft tissue throughout the body.
- X-ray — X-ray is an efficient and painless in providing images of your bone structures and tissues, which can be used to detect bone fractures, cardiovascular conditions, cancer and pneumonia. X-rays can produce images of any bone in the body, including the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, shoulder, spine, pelvis, hip, thigh, knee, leg, ankle or foot. You may drink a solution to get a more detailed evaluation of the stomach and intestines.
Specialized Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Injury and Diseases
Loyola’s radiology team is skilled in imaging for the diagnosis of diseases and conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Learn more about Loyola’s specialty care for musculoskeletal pain, injury and disease:
Advanced Research to Improve Musculoskeletal Imaging Techniques
As an academic medical center, Loyola is dedicated to improving future treatments by conducting research on new diagnostics and treatments, with active studies that include:
- Breast imaging and intervention
- Helical CT
- MRIs of patients with arrhythmias and heart failure
- Ultrasound imaging
- Vascular and neurovascular intervention
Several of our faculty also serve on the boards of leading scientific journals. Loyola’s patients benefit from research discoveries made here.
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