diagnostic imaging

What is diagnostic imaging?

Diagnostic imaging includes the various procedures that take pictures of the internal organs of your body. Doctors use the information provided by these tests to diagnose health problems.

At Vascular Institute of Arizona, Dr. Balraj offers diagnostic imaging to diagnose blood vessel problems like:

  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
  • Carotid artery disease
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Chronic venous insufficiency

Dr. Balraj believes that prevention is better than a cure. To prevent vein diseases, he routinely runs diagnostic imaging to screen for these circulation problems. Diagnostic imaging tests help him identify problems before they turn into serious health conditions.

What kinds of diagnostic imaging are there?

Vascular Institute of Arizona offers state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging. Types of procedures Dr. Balraj can perform to assess your blood vessels include:

Vascular ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging test that uses sound wave technology to create images of the blood as it moves through your blood vessels. Dr. Balraj will order this diagnostic imaging test to look for blockages or narrowing in your arteries or veins.

Doppler ultrasound

Dr. Balraj uses Doppler ultrasound to measure how fast the blood flows through your blood vessels. This procedure helps him find blood clots, blockages, and aneurysms.

Carotid ultrasound

A carotid ultrasound uses sound wave technology to assess the blood flow through your carotid arteries, the arteries in your neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain.

Venography

During venography, Dr. Balraj injects a dye into a large vein in your foot or ankle and then takes an X-ray to look for blood clots.

Catheter angiography

For a catheter angiography, Dr. Balraj injects a dye into your arteries and uses X-rays to assess blood flow in your legs to diagnose peripheral artery disease.

CT angiography

During a CT angiography, Dr. Balraj uses a CT scanner to take images of the arteries in your abdomen, pelvis, and legs.

MR angiography (MRA)

MRA is similar to CT angiography but uses MRI technology to create detailed images of your arteries.

How do I know if I need diagnostic imaging?

Dr. Balraj takes a patient-centered and holistic approach to care and determines the kind of diagnostic imaging you need after conducting a thorough evaluation.

He performs diagnostic tests to screen for and diagnose vascular problems to develop the most effective treatment.

Vascular Institute of Arizona is a state-of-the-art practice that uses advanced tools and technology to help you get the best possible health results. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online.