Unit details
The Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Unit at El Carmen Medical Center in Ourense consists of four rooms, all equipped with advanced technological devices.
It includes the Magnetic Resonance and 64-slice Scanner units
The units for ultrasound, general radiology, mammography and dental panoramic are located in the “Diagnostic Center”.
There is also a noninvasive vascular radiology unit with Eco-Doppler and segmental pressure equipment.
The Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Unit at El Carmen Medical Center is coordinated by Dr. Carlos Salgado, a specialist in radiology.
Important changes have been made recently in this unit, replacing conventional equipment with new digital radiology equipment. This is intended to provide our patients and other professionals in the medical center with better service, placing El Carmen Medical Center and our radiologists at the forefront of radiology in the province and all of Galicia.
This change facilitates image processing and diagnoses for our radiologists, and expedites the report process for the films as well as consultation of the tests by other doctors.
What is Magnetic Resonance?
Magnetic resonance imaging, also known by its initials MRI, has been used since the mid-1980s. Currently, there are about 10,000 devices worldwide.
MRI is one of the best imaging techniques for various types of soft tissue, such as the brain, eyes, inner ear and neck, shoulders, veins and arteries, liver, kidneys, pancreas, hips, male and female reproductive systems, as well as parts of the musculoskeletal system such as knees, wrists, ankles and feet.
MRI provides a detailed contrast between tissues with similar densities, such as gray matter and white matter in the brain.
Currently, MRI plays a very important role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It is also a vital tool for the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries, as well as an increasingly important tool in mammography. In addition, it is a very powerful technique to find and diagnose many types of cancer.
Preparing for an MRI test
Some of the questions that you may be asked before performing a magnetic resonance imaging test are:
- Are you pregnant or is there a possibility that you are pregnant?
- Are you allergic to any medications?
- Have you ever been operated on?
- Do you have a pacemaker?
- Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
We usually ask patients to put on a gown for a safer examination. It also must be performed without glasses, coins, keys, jewelry or watches, dentures, etc. because they can cause interference.
What should I expect during an MRI test?
At El Carmen Medical Center, we work for your comfort while we seek to obtain maximum clinical information. Therefore, we have detailed the steps that normally occur during an MRI test below.
First, the patient must remove clothing and any metal, which can degrade MRI images. Sometimes you will need to wear a robe. In some cases, it is necessary for the patient to receive a contrast agent (which is a liquid that enhances the images of organs and arteries).
The technician positions the patient on the special MRI table. A device is placed just above the area of interest, such as the knee, and then the patient is inserted into the MRI.
The technician leaves the MRI room. Usually, they take between two and four sequences of two to four minutes long. During this time, the patient will hear two types of sounds coming from the MRI apparatus, one similar to a beating drum and the other like the noise of a motorcycle exhaust pipe. In any case, the patient can always communicate with the technician through an intercom.
After the test, the technician will ask the patient to dress and wait a few minutes while the images are reviewed. Once the images are reviewed, the patient can go to the Radiology Unit. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the scan.
