Radiology and Imaging in New Jersey | Hackensack Meridian Health   
Radiology and Imaging

Radiology and Imaging

Advanced Imaging Technology 

Our radiology and imaging teams use state-of-the-art technology to accurately diagnose your medical condition and assist in developing the appropriate treatment plan. We offer a variety of services including: Bone Density, CT, Interventional Radiology, Mammography, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, PET-CT, Ultrasound and X-ray. We are accredited by the American College of Radiologists which means our facilities meet the highest level of patient safety standards and image quality. With 18 locations across New Jersey, we have a location near you with a patient-friendly setting, prompt scheduling, convenient hours and ample parking.

Bone Densitometry: Also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or a bone scan, this x-ray technology is used to measure bone density and bone loss. Not available at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

3D Digital Mammography: A 3D mammogram takes multiple x-ray images of the breast and provides a clear and detailed view of breast tissue.

Breast Health Imaging: Regular screening for breast cancer provides the best chance of finding cancer early when it’s easier to treat and cure. Our Breast Care program offers the most advanced imaging and diagnostic screenings.

Breast Ultrasound: If a suspicious area is detected during a mammogram, or the initial results are not certain, we may recommend a high-resolution ultrasound to provide additional information.

Breast MRI: MRI is highly sensitive imaging that may be used to screen women who have an elevated risk of breast cancer. MRI does not use X-rays.

Cancer Screenings: Regular screenings are an essential part of cancer prevention and provide the best chance of finding cancer early when it’s easier to treat and cure.

Cancer Screenings: Regular screenings are an essential part of cancer prevention and provide the best chance of finding cancer early when it’s easier to treat and cure.

Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA): A CCTA is a diagnostic test that produces detailed 3D images of the arteries in the heart to detect abnormalities in how blood flows through the heart and to diagnose cardiovascular disease.

Chest CT Angiogram: An angiogram of the chest uses a special dye and camera (fluoroscopy) to take pictures of the blood flow in the blood vessels in the chest.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scans: CT scans take cross-sectional images of soft tissue or skeletal anatomy inside your body.

Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA): CTA combines a CT scan with an injection of a special dye to create images of blood vessels and tissues in your body.

Contrast Studies: Contrast studies use a special dye to enhance X-ray images of parts of the body that are difficult to view with a conventional x-ray.

Coronary Angiogram: An imaging test that looks at the arteries that supply blood to your heart to diagnose the cause of chest pain or other symptoms. You may also be able to receive treatment during this procedure. (Not offered at Ocean University Medical Center)

CT Calcium Scoring: This scan can help detect calcium-containing plaque in your arteries, which can cause a heart attack.

Head and Neck CT Angiogram: An angiogram of the head and neck uses a special dye and camera (fluoroscopy) to take pictures of the blood flow in the vessels of the head and neck.

Heart Screenings: Heart screenings, prevention tools and diagnostic tests are all services offered by our cardiology specialists to help understand a patient’s heart condition or risk of heart disease, as well as what prevention or treatment options should be used.

Angioplasty and Stent Insertion: Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. These blood vessels are called the coronary arteries. A coronary artery stent is a small, metal mesh tube that expands inside a coronary artery. A stent is often placed during or immediately after angioplasty.

Ascitic Tap: An ascitic tap is a medical procedure where a needle is used to drain fluid that is trapped in an internal body cavity, most commonly the abdomen.

Biliary Drainage: Biliary drainage is the insertion of a tube into the bile duct. This is most commonly carried out when the bile ducts are blocked

Bursal Injection: Bursa injections treat bursitis pain. The shot typically contains a steroid like triamcinolone. These anti-inflammatory medicines reduce swelling and pain.

Carotid Stenting: In carotid stenting, a long, hollow tube (catheter) is threaded through the arteries to the narrowed carotid artery in the neck. A metal mesh tube (stent) is inserted into the vessel to serve as a scaffold that helps prevent the artery from narrowing again.

Carpal Tunnel Ultrasound and Injection: If carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be present, ultrasound is used to guide the placement of a needle into the carpal tunnel to inject a small dose of corticosteroid (or 'steroid') and local anesthetic medication.

Image Guided Cervical Nerve Root Sleeve Corticosteroid Injection: A Nerve Root Sleeve Injection is a procedure in which a local anesthetic and steroid solution is injected to relieve pain from irritated and inflamed spinal nerves, which is sometimes caused by the compression of spinal discs.

Image Guided Liver Biopsy: Image guided liver biopsy is a procedure where liver cells are obtained by a needle inserted directly into the liver through the abdominal wall, in the stomach area, and examined.

Image Guided Lumbar Epidural Corticosteroid Injection: An image guided lumbar epidural corticosteroid injection is the accurate placement of a very thin needle, at a given level in this space, under guidance with computed tomography (CT) or X-ray images or pictures to inject corticosteroid (or 'steroid') and usually a long-acting local anesthetic.

Inferior Vena Cava Filters: An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small device that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body. The device is put in during a short surgery. Veins are the blood vessels that bring oxygen-poor blood and waste products back to the heart.

Joint Injection: A joint injection (intra-articular injection) is a procedure used in the treatment of inflammatory joint conditions. A hypodermic needle is injected into the affected joint where it delivers a dose of any one of many anti-inflammatory agents. The technique may be used to also withdraw excess fluid from the joint.

Nephrostomy: Surgery to make an opening from the outside of the body to the renal pelvis (part of the kidney that collects urine). This may be done to drain urine from a blocked kidney or blocked ureter into a bag outside the body.

Pleural Aspiration: A pleural aspiration is a procedure where a small needle or tube is inserted into the space between the lung and chest wall to remove fluid that has accumulated around the lung.

Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses heat to destroy tissue. For pain management, radio waves are sent through a precisely placed needle to heat an area of the nerve. This prevents pain signals from being sent back to your brain. RFA is considered for long-term pain conditions, especially of the neck, lower back or arthritic joints that haven’t been successfully treated with other methods.

SAH Vasospasm Endovascular Treatment: Vasospasm is treated by injecting medication (including verapamil or nimodipine) into the catheter, which is positioned very close to the narrowed artery, to reverse the spasm. Alternatively, a tiny balloon will be inserted through the catheter and into the artery to stretch open the artery (angioplasty).

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy [SIRT]: SIR-Spheres® 0 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a treatment for liver cancers or tumors that delivers millions of tiny radioactive microspheres or beads called SIR-Spheres® directly to the liver tumors.

Spinal Cord Embolisation (AVM/DAVF): Spinal Cord DAVF (Dural Arteriovenous Fistula) is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins on the covering (dura) of the spinal cord. DAVF occurs in older people, usually after 50 years of age. DAVF causes abnormal blood flow within the spinal cord and can result in severe spinal disease.

Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA): A thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy is a procedure that removes a small sample of tissue from your thyroid gland. Cells are removed through a small, hollow needle. The sample is sent to the lab for analysis. The thyroid gland is in the front of your neck.

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): Transarterial Chemoembolization, known as TACE, is a minimally-invasive, image-guided treatment for liver cancer. It helps shrink or eradicate tumors by targeting them and blocking their blood flow and delivering chemotherapy directly to the tumor.

Uterine Fibroid Embolisation: Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally-invasive alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy. Performed instead of major surgery, this procedure requires minimal or no hospital stay and a shorter recovery. In this procedure, blood supply to the fibroid tumors is blocked, making them shrink.

Varicose Vein Ablation: Venous ablation is an in-office procedure that utilizes radiofrequency energy to cauterize and close bad veins in the legs to alleviate symptoms such as swelling, achiness, fatigue, heaviness of the legs.

Vascular Closure Devices: A vascular closure device is usually a piece of collagen (a fibrous protein found in skin, bone and connective tissue), metallic clip or suture (stitch) designed to provide immediate sealing of the small puncture made in an artery after an angiogram.

Venous Access: Venous access is any method used to access the bloodstream through the veins, either to administer intravenous therapy, parenteral nutrition, to obtain blood for analysis, or to provide an access point for blood-based treatments.

Vertebroplasty: Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a special cement is injected into a fractured vertebra — with the goal of relieving your spinal pain and restoring your mobility.

Breast MRI: A breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to create an image of the breast and is used to screen for breast cancer in women with a higher-than-average risk. Not available at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA): MRA uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create a series of thin slice images of arteries and soft tissue in the body.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses a very powerful magnet and radio waves to diagnose all types of conditions and is especially useful for detecting brain and spinal disorders.

Heart Screenings: Heart screenings, prevention tools and diagnostic tests are all services offered by our cardiology specialists to help understand a patient’s heart condition or risk of heart disease, as well as what prevention or treatment options should be used.

Nuclear Medicine: A type of imaging that uses very small amounts of radioactive material to show your organ structure and function.

Positron emission-computed tomography (PET-CT): PET-CT produces highly sophisticated images that show cell function within the body along with internal anatomy. These are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders.

Abdominal ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound is used to assess the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile ducts, spleen, and abdominal aorta.

Angioscreen: In just 15 minutes, this simple, non-invasive evaluation will help identify your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Breast Ultrasound: Used to help diagnose an abnormality detected during a physical exam or mammogram.

Diagnostic Ultrasound: Also called sonography, this test uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body.

Elastography: This is a 20 minute Ultrasound of the liver to screen and track progression of Fattty Liver Disease.

Vascular ultrasound: A vascular ultrasound uses soundwaves to see the blood flow in your veins and arteries and detect blockages.

Contrast Studies: Contrast studies use a special dye to enhance X-ray images of parts of the body that are difficult to view with a conventional x-ray.

Fluoroscopy: Fluoroscopy uses contrast dye to view moving parts of the body, producing an “x-ray video.”

X-Ray: An x-ray is a quick and painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body.

CT scans are painless and fast. A patient lies on a long narrow table that slides into a donut-shaped machine that is open on both sides. A Velcro strap will be placed around the patient for safety. When indicated, use of a contrast material could be necessary for your exam.

Bone Density is measured using the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. The scan uses two low dose x-rays which pass through the examined areas. A bone density scan is a quick and painless procedure that involves a patient lying on their back on an X-ray table so an area of their body can be scanned. A DEXA scan usually takes no more than 25 minutes. Many people are in and out of the room in less than 30 minutes.

Mammograms are special x-rays of the breast and currently the most accurate method of detecting breast cancer. Women receive mammograms for various reasons, but it is primarily used for routine breast cancer screenings and to investigate breast abnormalities. During the exam, the patient’s breast will be squeezed by two metal plates that take several low dose X-rays. Breast compression is essential in performing a mammogram due to the fact that it improves image quality, reduces patient dose, and better separates tissue components.

Interventional radiology (IR), involves minimally invasive procedures which can often be used as an alternative to surgery. Doctors use medical imaging, including x-ray, CT, and ultrasound, to guide IR procedures. Most of these procedures can be performed through a single small needle or catheter.

MRIs are painless and noninvasive. The MRI itself is a large, tube-shaped scanner. Patients lie on a table that slides into the scanner and remain still while the images are taken. The MRI scan can be time-consuming, lasting anywhere between 15 and 90 minutes. During the MRI scan, the internal part of the magnet produces repetitive tapping, thumping and other noises. Patients are given earplugs to help block the noise.

In nuclear medicine, a special dye is inserted into the body through an IV injection, or by swallowing a pill or liquid, depending on whatever will help it reach the designated area faster. This dye creates a highlight on imaging scans like X-ray and CT scanning, making it easier for the radiologist to distinguish details in the images.

PET-CT tests are painless and mostly noninvasive, though some patients will need to have an IV catheter inserted into their vein. When the nuclear material has reached the designated area, a CT scan will be performed. When the CT scan is over, a PET scan will take place. The entire process can take several hours.

Ultrasound imaging is a radiology procedure that uses soundwaves to create live-feed images of internal organs. No radiation is used in ultrasound imaging, Ultrasound is usually painless. However, patients may experience mild discomfort as the sonographer guides the transducer over your body, especially if you're required to have a full bladder, or inserts it into your body.

During an ultrasound patients usually lie down on a table as a sonographer applies a gel over the area that will be examined. An ultrasound device consists of a monitor and an attached transducer. The transducer releases sound waves over the body part being examined. The information from these sound waves are sent back to the monitor and display on screen as a live-feed video. A typical ultrasound exam takes from 30 minutes to an hour.

An x-ray is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Patients may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes, jewelry and wear a gown during the exam. Women should inform their physician and technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. If an X-ray is necessary, precautions will be taken to minimize radiation exposure to the baby.

In most instances a prescription is required. Mammograms do not require a prescription. Please contact the location in advance of your appointment for specifics.

1 Year

X-Rays are walk-in, all other exams require an appointment.

Prescription, ID and insurance card

Generally speaking, wear comfortable clothing that is free of metal.

Yes.

Yes, Hackensack Meridian Health imaging locations are accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

It provides national standards and guidelines for excellence in Radiology.

Results are sent to your referring MD within 24 hours.

Yes, through HMH MyChart

24 hours

Yes.

Why Choose Hackensack Meridian Health for Radiology and Imaging Services

Excellence

  • We are accredited by the American College of Radiologists. This means our facilities meet the highest level of patient safety standards and image quality.
  • Benefits of our high-field MRI scanners include shorter scan times as well as the ability to see smaller details of your body.
  • We follow the guiding principle of ALARA for radiation safety. ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable.”

Patient Experience

  • We offer imaging services at 18 locations across New Jersey with patient-friendly outpatient settings, prompt scheduling and ample parking.
  • Walk-in x-ray services are available at most locations.
  • Most imaging results are available within 24 hours.
  • We offer the flexibility of extended evening and weekend hours. 

Innovation

  • JFK University Medical Center is the first hospital in New Jersey to operate a new portable MRI that allows clinicians to obtain neurological images of critically ill patients at the point of care quickly and conveniently.
  • Jersey Shore University Medical Center has just added the latest MRI technology as part of a new 4,100-square-foot MRI suite within the medical center. 
  • Hackensack University Medical Center uses a unique test to detect problems with blood flow caused by coronary artery blockages.


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