Superior Imaging for Mercy St. Rita’s Medical Center

A calcium-score screening heart test (coronary calcium scan) uses computerized tomography (CT) to detect calcium deposits in the coronary arteries of your heart.

A higher coronary calcium-score suggests you have a higher chance of significant narrowing in the coronary arteries and a higher risk of future heart attack.

Who should get a calcium-score screening?

You should consider a calcium scan if you are between ages 40-70 and at increased risk for heart disease but do not have symptoms. People at increased risk include those with the following traits:

• Family history of heart disease
• Past or present smoker
• History of high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure
• Overweight
• Inactive lifestyle
• Other non-traditional risk factors

If you are less than 40 years old and high cholesterol runs in your family (familial hypercholesterolemia), you might consider a calcium scan

Low Dose Lung CT for Lung Cancer Screenings are recommended for people who

Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and
Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
Are between 50 and 80 years old.

A low dose CT Scan of the chest is a very quick, painless procedure that takes only a few minutes to perform and exposes you to a much lower dose of radiation than a traditional chest CT scan. Your examination will be interpreted by a radiologist and your results are shared with your physician. If you have a finding on your CT that needs further evaluation, your doctor will talk to you about next steps.

The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work.

The goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are the most important factors in predicting the outcome.

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. It is the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage. It can find breast cancer that is too small for you, your doctor or a nurse to feel.

Mercy Health is equipped with the most advanced imaging technology including digital mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI to discover health issues, before they become problems.

We recommend regular screening mammography:

• Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.
• Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
• Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more year.