IMAGING TESTS

Carotid Arteries
Carotid arteries are the main pipelines of blood to your brain. A silent build-up of plaque can lead to a stroke. If significant plaque is discovered, you then have several options to minimize any further buildup. Our biochemical evaluation dovetails with this test to understand the chemistry processes that cause this plaque.

Women’s Ultrasound of Uterus and Ovaries
Uterine endometrium (the lining inside) often thickens prior to cancer forming, and ultrasound allows us to measure it and follow its thickness. We can also see any wall abnormalities or masses.

Ovarian cancer, like cancer of kidneys or pancreas, can be cured if found early, but is usually fatal because it is usually discovered by symptoms, when it is too large, and too late. Monitoring ovary size and density changes, whether or not a woman is on hormones, brings more information and more security. Remember, most women who have the uterus removed do not have the ovaries removed, and it is difficult to palpate ovaries well enough to detect abnormalities that can be found much sooner with ultrasound.

Men’s Ultrasound of Prostate
Obtains a baseline study of prostate size, shape and architecture. It screens for prostate cancer. This study includes bladder imaging and a “post-void residual”, i.e. the technician measures the volume of urine remaining in the bladder immediately after voiding. It helps to assess urine retention due to larger prostates.

· Bone Density Testing
WellMax uses cutting-edge Hologics 4500W bone densitometry equipment. DEXA bone density measurements are taken at several levels of the vertebral column, and several areas of the hip, as well as a performing a whole body scan. The results are immediately available. Body composition is accurately measured. The body fat content is calculated for each area of your body, including total body fat.

· Whole Body MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

This test allows your doctors to see the interior of your body --- your brain, liver, pancreas, everything --- in 3D with no radiation.

MRI is one of the best imaging modalities because of its superior contrast differentiation between muscle, fat, vessels, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. The benefits of MRI are many, with new applications continually being developed through ongoing research. Women have complete visualization of the uterus and ovaries, screening for uterine and ovarian cancer, polyps, fibroids and more. MRI in men includes a baseline study of prostate size, shape, and architecture.

It screens for prostate cancer. The Whole Body MRI includes images of the bladder and the surrounding pelvis. This bladder test, in conjunction with the Nuclear Matrix Protein urine test, is the most advanced, sensitive test available for detecting bladder cancer.

You receive a 3-D picture that can be saved to your private, password-protected CD, and soon we expect to offer you a secure personalized website.

· MRA
Whole Body MR Angiography (MRA) is an MRI study of the blood vessels, with no radiation. MRA detects and aids in the treatment of heart disorders such as PVD (Peripheral Vascular Disease), stroke, renal artery disease leading to hypertension, and blood vessel diseases. MRA provides very sharp and detailed images, so it can detect tiny changes from the normal pattern, including aneurysms and plaque. At WellMax we use MRA routinely to look at the health of ALL your blood vessels, including the brain, the carotid arteries supplying the brain, as well as the aorta, kidney arteries and other important blood vessels, down to the femoral arteries supplying the lower legs.

· Coronary Artery CT
Specialized computer software is used in conjunction with detailed imaging of the coronary arteries of the heart, to determine a "calcium score." This score correlates with the amount of atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. In general, the higher the calcium score, the greater risk of a heart attack. It does not require any needles or probing.

· Lung CT Screening for lung cancer or other abnormalities in the chest is performed at the same time as the Coronary Artery CT. Recent research confirms the markedly improved ability to detect lung cancer in the earliest curable stages with this technology. This is especially important in any patient who smokes or who once smoked.

· Virtual colonoscopy OR conventional colonoscopy

· Virtual
This virtual examination can be included with the rapid spiral CT scan. After external scanning, the computer generates images of the colon lining to scan for polyps or masses that might give rise to cancer. Bowel Prep beginning the day before is required for this test.

· Conventional
This procedure is the gold standard of directly visualizing the colon with a fiber-optic scope while you are lightly sedated. If a polyp or mass is discovered a biopsy can be taken immediately so treatment or follow-up can proceed quickly. Bowel Prep one to two days prior to this procedure is required.

Progressive by Quality
Pixels-on-Demand technology applies state-of-the-art algorithms and architecture for real-time, progressive streaming directly from the image file. The streaming algorithm utilizes a wavelet transform model to progressively build image quality up to lossless.

The core of the progressive streaming is designed in accordance with how the human eye processes information, delivering the most visually important information first. This allows extremely fast convergence to high quality allowing the users to recognize important features of the study and begin working immediately (zooming, panning, window leveling etc).