X-ray of the hand.

X-rays of the skull and skeleton

Prior appointment: desired
Preparation: not required
Contrast medium: not required

Areas of application:

• Fractures
• Signs of wear in joints (arthrosis)
• Metabolic changes in bone (osteoporosis, disorders of the parathyroid gland, gout, etc.)
• Inflammatory changes in bones and joints (rheumatism, osteomyelitis, arthritis etc.)
• Skeletal changes in patients with tumours (e.g., metastases)
• Incorrect posture and malpositions (scoliosis, knock knees, bow legs, hammer toes, etc.)
• Changes/inflammations in the paranasal sinuses and the teeth
• etc.

The investigation:

You will be positioned as required for the investigation. In principle, X-rays will be taken in 2 planes (for instance, from the front and the side).

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X-ray of the heart and lung.

Chest X-ray

Prior appointment: desired
Preparation: not required
Contrast medium: not required

Areas of application:

• Pneumonia
• Pleural inflammation
• Bronchial tumours
• Postcare after cancer treatment
• Cardiac diseases usually associated with enlargement of the heart
• Lung congestion
• Lung fibrosis
• etc.

The investigation:

After you inhale deeply, 2 images (from the back and the side) are taken.

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X-ray of the stomach ?
double-contrast investigation.

X-ray of the stomach

Prior appointment: required
Preparation: required
Contrast medium: required
First you will be asked to swallow an effervescent tablet dissolved in water and immediately afterwards you will receive a contrast medium (barium sulphate) to swallow. The effervescent agent distends the stomach; the contrast medium moistens the walls of the stomach and makes them visible.

Areas of application:

• Ulcers or cancers of the oesophagus and stomach
• Gastritis, rupture of the diaphragm
• Investigation of anatomical conditions after stomach surgery
• Stomach disorders
• etc.

The investigation:

First the stomach is distended as much as possible by taking an effervescent agent. After you swallow the contrast medium paste we are able to observe the contrast medium flowing through the oesophagus and the stomach. Then the fluoroscopy unit is adjusted to the supine position. To ensure that all parts of the gastric wall are well covered with contrast medium, you will have to turn around once. The images will then be taken. In DiagnoseZentrumUrania we use a very gentle digital fluoroscopy unit with an approximately 50% lower radiation dose.

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X-ray of the large intestine in double contrast.

X-ray of the large intestine (=irrigoscopy)

Prior appointment: required
Preparation: required
Contrast medium: required
Contrast medium is administered through an enema.

Areas of application:

• Diverticulum (= eversion of the bowel wall)
• Inflammation
• Polyps or tumours of the large intestine
• To clarify anatomical conditions after operations in the intestines
  

The investigation:

Die investigation is performed with the patient lying down. Initially a soft rectal tube is inserted into the rectum and a contrast medium is administered by enema. The contrast medium is then emptied – it flows back into a synthetic pouch. Generally the procedure is not a strain for the patient. After these preparations the large intestine is filled with air and made to unfold completely, which often causes a sensation of flatulence. The advantage of the double contrast method (contrast medium enema and air) is that superimposing intestinal loops do not hinder visibility. In this manner it is possible to diagnose changes in the large bowel mucosa that may be no more than a few millimetres in size.

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X-ray of the small intestine.

X-ray of the small intestine

Prior appointment: required
Preparation: required
Contrast medium: required

Areas of application:

• Diverticulum (=eversions of the intestinal wall)
• Stenosis
• Ulcers or tumours of the small bowel
• Diseases of the small intestine – usually inflammatory, e.g. Crohn’s disease
• Fistulas
  

The investigation:

After you drink the contrast medium, X-ray images of the small intestine are taken in intervals of about half an hour. The duration of the investigation is about 1 to 2 hours. The time required for the passage of contrast medium differs from person to person. In some cases the investigation may take up to 4 hours.

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X-ray of the kidneys and the lower urinary tract

Prior appointment: required
Preparation: required
Contrast medium: required
The contrast medium is administered through an arm vein. When the investigation is performed to control stones that produce shadows, it may not be necessary to apply contrast medium.

The investigation:

First a so-called plain radiograph of the urinary tract is made (overview of the entire abdominal cavity) in order to identify calcifications prior to the administration of contrast medium. Small stones may be superimposed by the contrast medium. The contrast medium is applied afterwards, which makes the ureter and the bladder visible. If a disturbance of flow from the bladder is suspected (e.g. in cases of prostate gland problems or decline of the bladder), an additional image with an empty bladder is obtained to determine the quantity of urine that does not flow.

Areas of application:

• Obstruction of urine flow due to stones
• Evidence or exclusion of tumours of the kidney or the bladder in cases of suspicious ultrasonography findings

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Veins of the lower leg.

Phlebography (= X-ray of veins in the leg or arm)

Prior appointment: required
Preparation: not required
Contrast medium: required
The contrast medium is injected into a vein in the dorsum (back) of the foot or arm.

The investigation:

With the aid of contrast medium, the regional venous blood circulation is visualised.

Areas of application:

• Evidence of obstructions in the deep veins of the leg in the presence of blood clots
• Before scheduled operations for varicose veins – to visualise blood flow in the deep veins of the leg
• To visualise varicose veins
• etc.

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