Radiology services

Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Department of Radiology offers a wide range of imaging procedures, as well as minimally invasive procedures that use image guidance. We perform more than 200,000 exams for adults, children, and teens each year.

Ct scan

The radiologists at Newton-Wellesley Hospital give hundreds of CT Scans a year to patients from communities throughout the Greater Boston area. CT scans are performed at our onsite radiology lab.

  • Abdomen/pelvis
  • Cardiac scoring
  • CT biopsy
  • Extremity
  • Head/brain
  • Lung cancer screening
  • Sinuses/face
  • Spine

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiology is a subspecialty of radiology in which we use detailed imaging to guide us as we perform several minimally invasive procedures. We perform these procedures through specially designed thin, flexible plastic tubes called catheters, along with guide wires that we can pass through blood vessels or other pathways in your body.

  • Angiography, an examination of blood or lymph vessels via X-ray
  • Angioplasty, a procedure to widen narrowed or blocked arteries or veins
  • Fistulagram, a study of a dialysis fistula (a blood vessel that has been strengthened to handle the stresses of dialysis)
  • G-tube insertion, the placement of a gastronomy (feeding) tube, called a G-tube
  • IVC filter placement, the insertion of a device in a vein that prevents blood clots from passing from the blood into the lungs
  • Mediport procedures, the placement of a small device for frequent medication injections or blood draws
  • Nephrostomy tube placement, the placement of a catheter into the kidney to drain urine
  • Stent placement, the placement of a device to hold open a blood vessel
  • Thrombolysis, a treatment for dissolving dangerous blood clots inside blood vessels, such as during a heart attack or stroke
  • Uterine artery embolization, a procedure to block blood flow to uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus

MRI

MRI

Our MRI services include:

  • Body imaging
  • Breast MRI imaging
  • Neuroradiology
  • Musculoskeletal radiology
  • Pediatric radiology
  • Sports medicine

MRI scans we frequently perform include:

  • Bilateral breast
  • Brain with and without contrast
  • Cervical
  • Joint lower extremity
  • Joint upper extremity
  • Lumbar
  • Lumbar spine with and without contrast
  • MRA head without contrast
  • MRA neck without contrast

Our MRI staff will work to ensure you are comfortable and well-informed during your MRI scan. We’ll answer any questions you may have at any point during the process. If you suffer from claustrophobia, we have several methods available to help ease your concerns and help you prepare for your test.

Nuclear medicine

Nuclear Medicine

The Department of Nuclear Medicine performs a number of procedures by using small amounts of radioactive substances to get clear images of the body and to treat diseases. Our radiologists are able to diagnose conditions, measure your body’s functions, and examine your organs without having to perform invasive surgery or use more complex diagnostic tests.

Nuclear Medicine Procedures

The following are some of the procedures we regularly use to test and treat patients:

  • 131-iodine treatment
  • 131-iodine whole-body scan
  • Liquid gastric emptying
  • Stress test and adenosine stress test
  • Solid GE exam
  • Thyroid uptake and scan
  • VQ lung scan

Pet scan

Pet scan

A PET scan is a standard imaging tool. This test allows doctors to locate cancer within the body. We use this information to help the professionals at Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley make the best possible recommendations for your cancer treatment.

The combination of PET scans and CT (computed tomography) scans lets us detect changes in your cells’ metabolism, which lets us detect cancer earlier and more accurately.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound

Newton-Wellesley Ultrasound Department includes more than 25 highly trained specialists in ultrasound imaging, called sonographers. We partner with a number of practices, including:

Ultrasound exams

  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Amniocentesis
  • Fetal ultrasound
  • Pelvic ultrasound
  • Shear-wave elastography
  • Thyroid fine needle aspiration
  • Vascular ultrasound

X-Ray and Fluoroscopy

Advanced imaging options to detect medical conditions

  • Arthrogram
  • Barium enema
  • HSG
  • IVP
  • Joint injection/aspiration
  • Myelogram
  • Upper GI/small bowel series
  • VCUG