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Lakes, Waikato > Private Hospitals & Specialists >

I-MED Hamilton Radiology

Private Service, Radiology, Pregnancy Ultrasound

Description

Welcome to I-MED Hamilton Radiology

We are a large, multi-specialty radiology practice that aims to provide top quality radiology services using state of the art equipment for the population of the Waikato area. For contact details and maps for the various sites, please see the locations listed on the right hand side of this page. Our specialist radiologists work to provide quick and efficient diagnostic reporting across the enterprise.

I-MED Hamilton Radiology provides general radiography, mammography, fluoroscopic procedures, musculoskeletal and Doppler ultrasound, CT, pregnancy scans, echocardiograms and other radiographical services.  Click here to see more about our services.

We are ACC, Southern Cross Healthcare and International Accreditation New Zealand accredited.

I-MED Hamilton Radiology is contracted by Te Whatu Ora to provide selected radiology services to public patients, via referral.

Click on the following links to find information about our some of our specialised and regional services:

Anglesea Women's Health

Midland MRI

Mokoia Radiology

Midland PET-CT

What is Radiology?

Radiological procedures are used for looking at the internal structures of the body, whether bone or soft tissue. Usually these examinations are carried out to:

  • diagnose disease states, such as cancer or heart disease
  • show the extent of injury to body structures
  • aid in interventional procedures, such as angiography.

The radiologist may use different methods such as, X-ray, Computer Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound as well as some other specialised types of radiological imaging.

The Team

  • Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) or Radiographers perform your X-ray, barium and mammography examinations.
  • Sonographers are MRTs who perform your ultrasound examinations.
  • Radiologists are specialist doctors who read and understand your films. They will also be involved if you have an intravenous urogram (IVU), barium study, mammogram and a number of other ultrasound procedures.  They interpret the results of the images and send them to your doctor.

Consultants

Referral Expectations

Patients:

  • what to expect before, during and after your examination - click here
  • frequently asked questions - click here

 

Referrers:

  • how to make a referral - click here

Procedures / Treatments

X-ray

An x-ray is a high frequency, high energy wave form. It cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can be picked up on photographic film. Although you may think of an x-ray as a picture of bones, a trained observer can also see air spaces, like the lungs (which look black) and fluid (which looks white, but not as white as bones). What to expect? You will have all metal objects removed from your body. You will be asked to remain still in a specific position and hold your breath on command. There are staff present, but they will not necessarily remain in the room, but will speak with you via an intercom system and will be viewing the procedure constantly through a windowed control room. The examination time will vary depending on the type of procedure required, but as a rule it will take around 30 minutes. For more information about x-rays click here. For information about colonic transit studies click here.

An x-ray is a high frequency, high energy wave form.  It cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can be picked up on photographic film. Although you may think of an x-ray as a picture of bones, a trained observer can also see air spaces, like the lungs (which look black) and fluid (which looks white, but not as white as bones).
 
What to expect?
You will have all metal objects removed from your body.  You will be asked to remain still in a specific position and hold your breath on command.  There are staff present, but they will not necessarily remain in the room, but will speak with you via an intercom system and will be viewing the procedure constantly through a windowed control room.
The examination time will vary depending on the type of procedure required, but as a rule it will take around 30 minutes.
 
For more information about x-rays click here.
For information about colonic transit studies click here.
Computer Tomography (CT)

With CT you can differentiate many more things than with a normal X-ray. A CT image is created by using an X-ray beam, which is sent through the body from different angles, and by using a complicated mathematical process the computer of the CT is able to produce an image. This allows cross-sectional images of the body without cutting it open. The CT is used to view all body structures but especially soft tissue such as body organs (heart, lungs, liver etc.). What to expect? You will have all metal objects removed from your body. You will lie down on a narrow padded moveable table that will be slid into the scanner, through a circular opening. You will feel nothing while the scan is in progress, but some people can feel slightly claustrophobic or closed in, whilst inside the scanner. You will be asked to remain still and hold your breath on command. There are staff present, but they will not necessarily remain in the room, but will speak with you via an intercom system and will be viewing the procedure constantly through a windowed control room, from where they will run the scanner. Some procedures will require Contrast Medium. Contrast medium is a substance that makes the image of the CT or MRI clearer. Contrast medium can be given by mouth, rectally, or by injection into the bloodstream. The scan time will vary depending on the type of examination required, but as a rule it will take around 30 minutes. For more information about CT click here.

With CT you can differentiate many more things than with a normal X-ray. A CT image is created by using an X-ray beam, which is sent through the body from different angles, and by using a complicated mathematical process the computer of the CT is able to produce an image.  This allows cross-sectional images of the body without cutting it open.  The CT is used to view all body structures but especially soft tissue such as body organs (heart, lungs, liver etc.).
 
What to expect?
You will have all metal objects removed from your body.  You will lie down on a narrow padded moveable table that will be slid into the scanner, through a circular opening.
You will feel nothing while the scan is in progress, but some people can feel slightly claustrophobic or closed in, whilst inside the scanner.  You will be asked to remain still and hold your breath on command.  There are staff present, but they will not necessarily remain in the room, but will speak with you via an intercom system and will be viewing the procedure constantly through a windowed control room, from where they will run the scanner.
Some procedures will require Contrast Medium.  Contrast medium is a substance that makes the image of the CT or MRI clearer. Contrast medium can be given by mouth, rectally, or by injection into the bloodstream.
The scan time will vary depending on the type of examination required, but as a rule it will take around 30 minutes.
 
For more information about CT click here.
Ultrasound

In ultrasound, a beam of sound at a very high frequency (that cannot be heard) is sent into the body from a small vibrating crystal in a hand-held scanner head. When the beam meets a surface between tissues of different density, echoes of the sound beam are sent back into the scanner head. The time between sending the sound and receiving the echo back is fed into a computer, which in turn creates an image that is projected on a television screen. Ultrasound is a very safe type of imaging; this is why it is so widely used during pregnancy. Doppler Ultrasound A Doppler study is a noninvasive test that can be used to evaluate blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off red blood cells. The Doppler Effect is a change in the frequency of sound waves caused by moving objects. A Doppler study can estimate how fast blood flows by measuring the rate of change in its pitch (frequency). A Doppler study can help diagnose bloody clots, heart and leg valve problems and blocked or narrowed arteries. What to expect? After lying down, the area to be examined will be exposed. Generally a contact gel will be used between the scanner head and skin. The scanner head is then pressed against your skin and moved around and over the area to be examined. At the same time the internal images will appear onto a screen. For more information about ultrasound click here. For information about obstetric ultrasound: click here for pregnancy ultrasound click here for nuchal translucency ultrasound For information about carotid ultrasound click here. For information about echocardiograms click here. For information about musculoskeletal ultrasound click here. For information about ultrasound guided biopsy click here. For information about pelvis ultrasound click here. For information about ultrasound scan for DVT click here. For information about vascular ultrasound click here. For information about duplex Doppler venous leg scan click here.

In ultrasound, a beam of sound at a very high frequency (that cannot be heard) is sent into the body from a small vibrating crystal in a hand-held scanner head.  When the beam meets a surface between tissues of different density, echoes of the sound beam are sent back into the scanner head.  The time between sending the sound and receiving the echo back is fed into a computer, which in turn creates an image that is projected on a television screen.  Ultrasound is a very safe type of imaging; this is why it is so widely used during pregnancy.
 
Doppler Ultrasound
A Doppler study is a noninvasive test that can be used to evaluate blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off red blood cells. The Doppler Effect is a change in the frequency of sound waves caused by moving objects. A Doppler study can estimate how fast blood flows by measuring the rate of change in its pitch (frequency).  A Doppler study can help diagnose bloody clots, heart and leg valve problems and blocked or narrowed arteries.
 
What to expect?

After lying down, the area to be examined will be exposed.  Generally a contact gel will be used between the scanner head and skin.  The scanner head is then pressed against your skin and moved around and over the area to be examined.  At the same time the internal images will appear onto a screen.

For more information about ultrasound click here.

 

For information about obstetric ultrasound:

  • click here for pregnancy ultrasound
  • click here for nuchal translucency ultrasound

For information about carotid ultrasound click here.

For information about echocardiograms click here.

For information about musculoskeletal ultrasound click here.

For information about ultrasound guided biopsy click here.

For information about pelvis ultrasound click here.

For information about ultrasound scan for DVT click here.

For information about vascular ultrasound click here.

For information about duplex Doppler venous leg scan click here.

DEXA Bone Densitometry

DEXA (which stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) scanning uses special x-rays to measure the density of your bones. The density of your bones will show how strong they are. The exposure to x-rays is very low and is similar to what you would receive on a long distance plane flight. What to expect? You will lie very still on a padded table for 5-10 minutes while the arm of the machine passes over the area to be measured (usually the lower spine and hip, although the forearm can also be measured). This is quite painless. You can remain in your normal clothing, although you may have to take off anything with large buttons, buckles or metal zips. For more information about bone density scans click here.

DEXA (which stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) scanning uses special x-rays to measure the density of your bones. The density of your bones will show how strong they are. The exposure to x-rays is very low and is similar to what you would receive on a long distance plane flight.
 
What to expect?
You will lie very still on a padded table for 5-10 minutes while the arm of the machine passes over the area to be measured (usually the lower spine and hip, although the forearm can also be measured). This is quite painless.

You can remain in your normal clothing, although you may have to take off anything with large buttons, buckles or metal zips.

For more information about bone density scans click here.

Contrast Medium Information

Some procedures will require Contrast medium. Contrast medium is a substance that makes the image of the CT or MRI clearer. Contrast can be given by mouth, rectally, or by injection into the bloodstream. For more information about contrast medium click here.

Some procedures will require Contrast medium.  Contrast medium is a substance that makes the image of the CT or MRI clearer. Contrast can be given by mouth, rectally, or by injection into the bloodstream.

For more information about contrast medium click here.

Other Specialist Services

For information about other specialist services provided by Hamilton Radiology please click on the following links: Arthrogram Barium Enema Barium Meal & Swallow Cystogram Hysterosalpingogram IVU - Intravenous Urogram Micturating-MCU Proctogram Sialogram Small Bowel Enema (Enteroclysis) Small Bowel Follow Through Sonohysterography Urethrogram

Anglesea Women's Health

Mammography A mammogram is a special type of x-ray used only for the breast. Mammography can be used either to look for very early breast cancer in women without breast symptoms (screening) or to examine women who do have breast symptoms (diagnostic). What to expect? You will need to undress from the waist up. One of your breasts will be positioned between two plastic plates which will flatten the breast slightly. Most women find that this is a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. Generally two x-rays are taken of each breast. It is also useful to compare the results with earlier examinations and you should take any previous mammography results with you. For more information about mammography click here. For information about breast ultrasound scans click here. For information about ductograms click here. For information about stereotactics click here. For information about breast wire localisation click here.

Mammography
A mammogram is a special type of x-ray used only for the breast. Mammography can be used either to look for very early breast cancer in women without breast symptoms (screening) or to examine women who do have breast symptoms (diagnostic).
 
What to expect?

You will need to undress from the waist up.  One of your breasts will be positioned between two plastic plates which will flatten the breast slightly. Most women find that this is a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. Generally two x-rays are taken of each breast. It is also useful to compare the results with earlier examinations and you should take any previous mammography results with you.

For more information about mammography click here.

For information about breast ultrasound scans click here.

For information about ductograms click here.

For information about stereotactics click here.

For information about breast wire localisation click here.

Midland PET-CT

For information about PET-CT please click here

For information about PET-CT please click here

Contact Details

Request your appointment online here  

General x-ray examinations do not require an appointment but if the practice is very busy patients with appointments are seen before those without.

If you are to have an ultrasound, special examination (e.g. barium studies) or CT, you will need an appointment. Please phone our Call Centre 0800 426 723 or visit your local Hamilton Radiology practice to make this appointment.

If you have any non-urgent questions or comments please fill out the online form here.

Hamilton Radiology
1 Urlich Avenue
Melville
Hamilton 3206

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Street Address

Hamilton Radiology
1 Urlich Avenue
Melville
Hamilton 3206

Postal Address

PO Box 262
Waikato Mail Centre
Hamilton 3240

Braemar Hospital, 24 Ohaupo Road, Hamilton

Waikato

8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

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This page was last updated at 9:03AM on September 12, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by I-MED Hamilton Radiology.