We spoke with Dr Paul Reidy, radiologist at Canberra Diagnostic Imaging, to discuss some of the various times that women would need radiology services.
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“We do the whole range of obstetric and gynecological scans” begins Dr Reidy.
Radiology clinics have a variety of equipment they can use.
Much of the time they will be looking to either verify a physical diagnosis, or to rule out the possibility of any issues with as much certainty as possible.
Radiology can also be used to assist with some surgeries.
Each scanner also has a slightly different purpose or use, and can detect different things, although there is some overlap.
The scanners at their disposal include the ultrasound, the CT scanner, the MRI and the X-ray machine.
In terms of the scans that apply exclusively to females (we’ll cover other specific areas of radiology, for men and women, in the coming weeks), they certainly include more than the stages of pregnancy, but it’s a good place to start.
For women wanting to become a parent, or for those who are expecting already, “We do ovarian follicle checking prior to IVF treatment, early pregnancy scans, nuchal translucency scans – which is the first assessment for birth defects, and morphology scans to make sure everything is going to be OK with the bub” explains Dr Reidy.
They also do later pregnancy scans - at 20 weeks is normal - and will look for specific issues that relate to, or may be exacerbated by, any condition the expectant mother may already be suffering, such as diabetes.
Something else you may one day need is a pelvic ultrasound. This will be used to detect or verify the cause of other gynecological problems, such as pelvic pain.
A pelvic MRI will be used for further investigation if something suspicious is found in an ultrasound.
If you have a urinary contraceptive device, a scan will be used to check that it’s still in the right spot.
A digital tomosynthesis mammogram will make a 3D picture using X-rays when looking for breast cancer.
“This method is 40% more sensitive than the 2-plane mammography that were done previously” Dr Reidy noted.
3D forms of radiology can also assist with surgery, allowing the instruments and needles to be placed with incredible, and vital, accuracy.
One of those is stereotactic surgery, which will be used if a lesion is found in the breast.
The combination of two scan types can also increase certainty.
“We routinely use a breast ultrasound with mammography. Each type on its own is 90 per cent effective in finding most lesions. When they are used together there’s a 98 per cent chance of finding a lesion if it’s there.”
Dr Reidy also detailed that “There’s also a small subset of patients who have a gene variation known as BRCA1 or BRCA2”.
He gave the example of Angelina Jolie having a double mastectomy, and reconstructions, after learning she had inherited these genes.
Dr Reidy also pointed out the importance of knowing as much as possible about the condition of the breast before any surgery starts.
The example Dr Reidy gave here was the possibility that a simple lesion removal may actually need to be a mastectomy.
Knowing that in advance means that reconstructive surgery can be discussed, and planned, and then peformed in the one surgery.
You can find out more about radiology services by visiting www.healthcareimaging.com.au.
