Imaging

The Oswego Health medical imaging department features the most advanced technology and provides a range of services, from general x-rays to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

We have five convenient imaging locations throughout Oswego County, so residents can receive these services close to where they live and work.

Our services include:

• Diagnostic radiology (x-rays)
• Bone densitometry
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Vascular ultrasound
• Fluoroscopy
• MRI
• Breast MRI
• Digital mammography, both 2-D and 3-D
• Nuclear medicine
• Echocardiography (ECG)
• Stress echocardiography
• Transesophageal echocardiography
• Holter monitoring
• Interventional radiology

Oswego Health has partnered with CRA Medical Imaging, whose physician radiologists represent a wide range of subspecialists trained in neuroradiology, breast imaging and musculoskeletal imaging, as well as interventional radiology and nuclear medicine. These radiologists have immediate access to their subspecialty-trained colleagues for consultation on complex cases.

Services offered are accredited by the prestigious American College of Radiology. Also, the mammography services are accredited by the Mammogram Quality Safety Act (MQSA).

Enhanced CT scanners

As part of its continuing goal to provide the safest and best patient experience, Oswego Health has installed the latest, low dose computed tomography (CT) scanners at three convenient locations throughout Oswego County: Oswego Hospital, the Fulton Medical Center and the Central Square Medical Center.

The Siemens CTs offer high-quality images for our physician radiologists to read with a significant reduction in radiation dose. Siemens is a leader in the production of medical imaging equipment that consistently provides healthcare facilities with leading-edge medical technology. The Siemens CTs assist physicians in making an accurate diagnosis more efficiently.

A CT scan is one of the fastest and most accurate tools for examining the chest, abdomen and pelvis because it provides detailed, cross-sectional views of all types of tissue. It is also used to examine patients with injuries from trauma such as a motor vehicle accident and patients with acute symptoms such as chest or abdominal pain or difficulty breathing.

It is also often the best method for detecting many different cancers, such as lymphoma and cancers of the lung, liver, kidney, ovary and pancreas, since the image allows a physician to confirm the presence of a tumor, measure its size, identify its precise location and determine the extent of its involvement with nearby tissue. Also, physicians use a CT scan to aid in the treatment of strokes.

For children, a CT scan is most often used to evaluate lymphoma, neuroblastoma, kidney tumors, congenital malformations of the heart, kidneys and blood vessels, cystic fibrosis, complications of acute appendicitis and pneumonia, bowel disease, and severe injuries.

Mammography

When breast cancer is detected before it spreads, the average 5-year survival rate is 99%. According to the American Cancer Society, women age 45 or older should get regular mammograms, and women with a high risk of breast cancer should start screening earlier.

Oswego Health offers 3D and digital mammography. Through a partnership with the Cancer Services Program of the North Country you may qualify for a FREE mammogram. Simply contact them for further details at 1.855.592.0830.

Don’t delay the care you need. This 30-minute screening could save your life.

Locations and services

Choose a location below for a list of services and contact information.

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Imaging and radiation facts and myths

Some radiology tests use radiation to create images. Others don't.

Reviewed 9/30/2022

4 facts and myths about imaging and radiation

Imaging tests are used to look inside the body. They help doctors diagnose conditions and determine the best treatments. There are various types of imaging tests, many of which use radiation. The type of imaging recommended for you will depend on the goal of the test, your condition and the part of your body being examined.

To help you understand more about imaging and radiation, here are some common myths and facts.

Myth or fact: You should avoid all radiation.

MYTH. We’re exposed to radiation every day. We get it from the air, outer space, the ground and even the food we eat. Scientists measure radiation in millisieverts (mSv). It’s estimated that the average person in the U.S. receives a dose of about 3 mSv per year just through natural means.

For comparison, the radiation you receive from an x-ray of your ankle is 0.001 mSv. That’s equal to 3 hours of natural radiation. A CT scan of your lungs imparts 1.5 mSv, or the equivalent of six months of natural radiation. Even that amount is considered a very low health risk.

If you need imaging that uses radiation, the radiologist will ensure you’re exposed to the lowest amount possible for an effective test.

Myth or fact: All imaging tests use some form of radiation.

MYTH. Plain x-rays, CT scans and nuclear scans use radiation. But ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans don’t.

An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image. MRIs use a large magnet and radio waves.

Myth or fact: Imaging tests that use radiation are considered safe.

FACT. Many activities we think of as safe—like taking a walk—carry some degree of risk. Similarly, imaging tests that use radiation are considered safe. Radiologists use the lowest radiation possible to get effective images. It would take ultra-high levels of radiation—far more than those used in diagnostic imaging—to potentially cause cancer later in life.

Still, you want to minimize your exposure to radiation when possible. If you’re worried that your imaging test will expose you to unnecessary radiation, discuss your concerns with your doctor or the radiologist. Maybe you’ve had a similar test done recently that could provide the information they need. Or you may have the option of a different test that wouldn’t expose you to radiation.

Myth or fact: Radiation tests can make you infertile.

MYTH. Very high radiation doses can harm eggs or sperm. But the amount of radiation used in diagnostic radiology is very low. No studies have shown that low-level radiation exposure to eggs or sperm causes birth defects or miscarriage. Even cancer patients whose ovaries received fairly high levels of radiation have shown no negative lasting effects.

You can lower your risk from an imaging test by letting your doctor know if you are—or think you could be—pregnant before having the procedure. Your doctor might want to postpone or modify it to lower the amount of radiation you’ll receive.

Learn more about specific imaging tests and how they might be used.

See more

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The Joint Commission; Radiological Society of North America

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Radiation in Healthcare: Imaging Procedures." https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/ionizing.htm.
• Radiological Society of North America. "How Big is the Risk From Medical Imaging to Future Generations? "https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=safety-hiw_14.
• Radiological Society of North America. "How Much Dose Do I Get From Different Imaging Procedures?" https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/safety-hiw_07.
• Radiological Society of North America. "Is Diagnostic Medical Radiation Safe?" https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/safety-hiw_02. 
• Radiological Society of North America. "Radiation Dose." https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/safety-xray. 
• The Joint Commission. "Speak Up Medical Imaging. X-rays, MRIs, and Other Medical Imaging Tests." https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/for-consumers/speak-up-campaigns/medical-imaging/.

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