Abdominal Imaging

Abdominal Imaging at UMass Memorial Medical Center offers a full range of the latest imaging technology to help diagnose conditions of the abdomen and pelvis.

Our radiologists are fellowship-trained in abdominal imaging. This means they have extra training and specialize in imaging that is specific to this part of the body – assuring you of a high level of expertise.

Conditions of the Abdomen and Pelvis We Help Diagnose

Doctors refer patients to our abdominal imaging specialists to help diagnose a variety of conditions, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
• Diseases of the digestive system/gastrointestinal (GI) tract (esophagus, stomach, colon/large intestine, small intestine, gallbladder, pancreas, liver)
• Diseases of the reproductive tract in women (uterus, ovaries, cervix) and men (prostate, testes, penis)
• Diseases of the urinary system (bladder, kidneys, ureters, urethra)
• Tumors in the abdomen and pelvis

We also support UMass Memorial’s organ transplant program with imaging to help the surgeon before and during transplant operations.

Types of Abdominal Imaging Exams

We offer the most up-to-date imaging technology currently available for “seeing” inside the abdomen and pelvis, including:

• Fluoroscopy, an imaging technique that uses X-rays to create real-time, moving images of the body; it is used to evaluate the function of the GI and genitourinary (GU) tracts. Tests include:
  • Barium GI series to examine the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum) or lower digestive tract (colon and rectum)
  • Voiding cystourethrogram to examine the bladder and urethra while the bladder fills and empties
  • Retrograde urethrogram to evaluate structural problems in the urethra
  • Stress cystogram to examine the urinary bladder
  • Defecogram to evaluate the muscles and structures used in defecating (moving your bowels)
  • Sialogram to examine the salivary glands
  • Dacryocystogram to evaluate the tear ducts
• CT (computed tomography) – Uses X-ray technology to take multiple cross-sectional views (or slices) of organs and structures inside the body.
  • At UMass Memorial, we have a dual-source CT scanner that uses two X-ray sources instead of one. This doubles the speed of the exam so you receive less radiation, and it creates sharper images.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – A radiation-free test that uses radio waves, magnetic fields and computer software to create detailed cross-sectional images of the abdominal and pelvic organs.
• Nuclear medicine imaging – An imaging technique that helps determine how well certain organs are functioning. Very low-dose radioactive material (called tracers) are administered into the body then “traced” on digital images. A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging exam.
• Ultrasound – Uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize the internal organs

Abdominal Interventional Radiology: Minimally Invasive Treatments

UMass Memorial also has specially trained radiologists who perform image-guided interventions to treat conditions affecting the abdomen and pelvis. Learn more about abdominal interventional radiology