Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

• Plain film or digital X-ray imaging

Traditional plain film X-rays are used to capture images of the body’s internal organs in the region where the problem persists, with the patient being made to wear a leather apron to prevent the other parts of the body being exposed to X-ray radiation. The film X-ray is costly and the chemical development of the film takes time.

Digital X-rays use active matrix flat panels consisting of a detection layer deposited over an active matrix array of thin-film transistors and photodiodes. The high-quality image is instantaneously viewed and reviewed within a short time. Since images are digital, they can be shared with radiology specialists whenever needed. X-rays are also useful for detecting some disease processes in soft tissue.

At Continental Hospitals, numerous digital X-Rays are carried out, which makes it the best hospital for digital X-ray imaging in Hyderabad.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Interventional magnetic resonance imaging is performed under magnetic resonance causes minimal exposure to radiation to both the doctor and the patient. It helps in evaluating the physiological information of the soft tissues inside the body. Some of the conditions measured noninvasively by MRI include diffusion of water within the tissue, collateral blood flow around vascular stenosis (hardening of blood vessels), tissue temperature and other conditions.

• Computed tomography (CT) scans

CT scan produces highly detailed x-rays images of the body and can sometimes produce 3D images of specific areas of the body. Recent advances in CT scans include helical scanning, wide detector arrays, tube current modulation, and iterative image construction.

Ct scans help to determine the causes of the diseases in the body and help with the treatment plans given by the interventional radiologists for organ transplants, gastric bypass, cancer, and other disorders, diseases or injuries.

Continental Hospitals is the best hospital for Computed tomography (CT) scans in Hyderabad.

• Fluoroscopy

Continuous X-rays are used to produce real-time moving images of the body. It is used to treat medical procedures such as inserting stents, drainage catheters, orthopedic surgery (to guide joint replacements, fracture treatment), and others. 

The doctors at Continental Hospitals are specially trained and have the necessary credentials to use fluoroscopy and hence, Continental Hospitals is considered the best hospital for fluoroscopy in Hyderabad.

• Breast imaging (including mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and digital imaging of the breast)

To identify any breast abnormalities, breast imaging is done by the radiologists to accurately interpret the images and help the attending doctor plan the necessary treatment for the patient. The types of breast imaging are:

1. Mammography: use of x-rays to give images of the breast, a 3D mammogram that allows the radiologist to see through dense tissue helps in the diagnosis of early cancer if present.
2. Breast ultrasound: use of sound waves to create images of breast tissue. It gives the tissue composition and blood flow in the area of concern in the breast
3. Breast MRI: use of magnetic resonance to give 3D detailed and clear images of the breast
4. Image-guided breast biopsy: a minimally invasive procedure to remove a sample of breast tissue and checked under a microscope for the presence or absence of cancerous cells

The multidisciplinary teams at Continental Hospitals who have a wide range of experience in their specialties, especially in the field of interventional radiology, oncology and women care, make it the best hospital for breast imaging and mammography in Hyderabad.

• Nuclear medicine procedures (including positron emission tomography [PET] and single-photon emission computed tomography [SPECT] scans)

Nuclear medicine imaging uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers that are typically injected into the bloodstream, inhaled or swallowed. The tracers are screened on two scanning instruments such as:

• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

It is an imaging instrument that provides 3D images of the distribution of the radiotracer molecules in the body by detecting the gamma rays from the tracers. SPECT scans diagnose and track heart disease, detect bone disorders, gall bladder disease, and intestinal bleeding.

•  Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

This scanner uses radiopharmaceuticals to give 3D images. The radiotracers decay to give positron which interacts with the electrons in the body destroys each other to produce two photons that move in opposite directions. The PET scanner detects the photons from these tracers. PET scans are used to diagnose cancers

Continental Hospitals have the latest models of the scanning instruments, PET and SPECT, making Continental Hospitals, the best hospital for PET and SPECT scans in Hyderabad.

• Imaging of the colon (including virtual CT colonography and barium enema)

Screening tests of the colon include:

1. Virtual colonoscopy uses x-rays and computers to produce two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of the colon (large intestine) and display it on screen. It is used to diagnose diseases of the colon, including cancer, polyps, and diverticulosis (bulging pouches on colon wall).
2. Barium enema: A test that is used to examine the large intestine, lower parts of the small intestine and rectum using X-ray. Fluoroscopy, a special kind of X-rays is used to see the organs in motion, is often used during a barium enema. It helps to diagnose problems in the colon and rectum.

• Interventional radiology (both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using catheters)

Catheters are medical devices that can be inserted in the body to treat diseases or perform a surgical procedure. Vascular access procedures (for treatment such as dialysis) are performed by an interventional radiologist using ultrasound to access the target vein in the neck and then use x-rays to guide the placement of the catheter so that the tip lies in the central veins near the heart.

A similar placement procedure is adopted for Hickman or Groshong catheter and peripherally inserted central catheter.

Also, interventional radiology uses a catheter to open blocked fallopian tubes without surgery, the procedure is called Fallopian tube catheterization.

• Ultrasonography (using high-frequency waves to produce an image for medical analysis)

Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound (ultrasound) waves to produce images of internal organs and other tissues.

Ultrasound is used to take pictures of the wrist to confirm the presence or absence of carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression in the wrist).

If carpal tunnel syndrome is 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.

• Vascular diseases

Peripheral arterial disease in which the arteries harden that interfere with the normal flow of blood. It is treated by interventional radiology procedures such as

1. balloon angioplasty –use of a tiny balloon at the site of the blockage, which is inflated to open the  blood vessel
2. stents- a tiny metal cylinder or stent is inserted in the clogged vessel to hold it open
3. thrombolytic therapy- if the blockage in the artery is caused by a blood clot, thrombolytic drugs administered through a catheter directly into the clot to dissolve it and restore blood flow.

• Pulmonary embolism or blood clots in the lung can be treated by using catheter tubes to break the blood clots
• Varicose veins that occur in the leg can be treated by blocking the vein by heat treatment (laser or microwave) or by the use of irritant drugs and embolization techniques.
• Deep Vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the veins, which is treated by the injection of blood clot-dissolving medicines through a small catheter passed in the vein or by using stents and balloons to break the clot in the vein.

• Cancer treatment

Interventional radiology is used to reduce or eliminate tumors using radioactive materials, heat, cold, electric current while reducing the effect on the surrounding tissues during treatment. Some of the cancer treatment options by using interventional radiology are:

1. Cryoablation-using extreme cold to freeze and kill abnormal cancerous and tumor cells to prevent further growth or spread of cancerous tumors
2. Irreversible electroporation-using electric pulses to accurately target infected cancerous cells, mainly used for pancreatic cancers and other cancers
3. Microwave ablation-heat produced by electromagnetic currents to destroy abnormal cells. It is mainly used for the treatment of lung, liver, kidney, prostate and bone cancers
4. Radiofrequency ablation- heat produced by radio waves to kill abnormal cells such as tumors
5. Radioembolization-delivers radiation directly to the tumor by embolization (passing and lodging an embolus (clot) in the bloodstream). It is a treatment option for improving symptoms of liver cancer
6. Trans-arterial Chemoembolization-using chemotherapy and embolization process, to reduce the size of tumors, especially in liver cancer treatment
7. Tunneled drainage catheter-is used to drain fluid accumulated in the abdomen or the pleural space, area protecting the lungs. It is used in the treatment of various cancers

1. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
2. The removal of kidney stones using endoscopic surgery in which with the help of X-ray or ultrasound guidance and a camera (nephroscope), the kidney stones are broken down in the kidney.
3. Biliary interventions

Biliary interventions treat blockages, narrowing and/or injury of the passages between the liver, gallbladder and small intestine called bile ducts. If the bile ducts become blocked, it may lead to inflammation or infection also known as sclerosis cholangitis. These minimally invasive techniques remove gallstones, drain excess bile or place a stent within a bile duct to treat the condition and restore the flow of fluids.

• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

It is the injection of bone cement into the vertebral body to relieve pain and/or stabilize the fractured vertebra. It is a minimally-invasive procedure used to strengthen the broken vertebra caused mainly by osteoporosis and cancer.

Kyphoplasty is a variation of the procedure that involves the use of a balloon to restore the vertebral body height and shape and is followed by the injection of bone cement to strengthen it.

• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

It is bleeding that occurs from the digestive tract. This can be a slow loss of a small amount of blood, or a sudden massive loss of blood requiring urgent treatment.

Mesenteric angiography (X-rays and a special dye is used to see inside the arteries) and embolization is  an Interventional Radiological technique very commonly used to treat Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Continental Hospitals is the best hospital for interventional radiology in Hyderabad as the hospital has the best radiologist in Hyderabad, who has performed various interventional radiology procedures on several patients with a positive outcome.