Diagnostic Imaging Specialist

Vascular Surgery Specialists

Board Certified Vascular and Endovascular Surgeons located in Downtown Phoenix & East Valley, Phoenix, AZ

At Vascular Surgery Specialists in Phoenix, Arizona, their board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeons use a wide range of diagnostic imaging services to effectively locate, diagnose, and treat vascular health issues. You can count on their expertise and advanced technology for all your vascular care needs. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today for patient-focused care and state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services.

Diagnostic Imaging Q & A

What are diagnostic imaging services?

Diagnostic imaging services utilize technology to help your doctor learn more about what’s going on inside your body. The specialists at Vascular Surgery Specialists use the following imaging studies to look for vascular diseases that can inhibit your blood flow:

  • Ankle-brachial indices
  • Deep vein thrombosis evaluations
  • Vessel mapping for dialysis access
  • Renal artery ultrasound
  • Abdominal aortic ultrasounds
  • Upper extremity arterial and venous ultrasound

The doctors and staff at Vascular Surgery Specialists use diagnostic imaging services to identify and treat vascular health issues. These painless and safe procedures provide images of your arteries and veins, which help the doctors examine your blood flow and detect signs of problems that inhibit efficient circulation like peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, and atherosclerosis.

How can diagnostic imaging services help vascular issues?

The team at Vascular Surgery Specialists uses a variety of noninvasive ultrasound techniques to treat vascular health issues, including:

Vascular ultrasound

The doctors use vascular ultrasounds to capture real-time images of your arteries and veins. They often use Doppler ultrasound techniques to evaluate the blood flow through your arteries and veins.

Lower extremity arterial ultrasound

The doctors use lower extremity arterial ultrasound to evaluate circulation in your lower legs to diagnose peripheral arterial disease. They look for signs of narrowed arteries and monitor your circulation. They also use this technique following vascular surgery to see if the treatment has opened your arteries and improved your blood flow.

Venous insufficiency duplex

Venous insufficiency duplex is an ultrasound technique that creates images of the veins in your legs to check for signs of venous reflux, also known as venous insufficiency. This condition develops when weakness to the valves in your peripheral veins allows blood to leak backward instead of flowing toward the heart.

Cerebrovascular ultrasound

Cerebrovascular ultrasounds show the arteries in your neck that send blood to your brain. Your technician uses a transducer to inspect both sides of your neck to check for signs of narrowed arteries and atherosclerosis. This treatment can identify your risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death in America.

Intravascular ultrasound

During an intravascular ultrasound, your technician inserts a catheter into your vein to send the ultrasound waves through your blood vessels. This technique creates highly detailed and accurate images of your arteries and veins from inside. It provides details about your lumen, vessel size, and plaque area and volume so your physician can provide a more complete and effective treatment to improve your vascular health.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)/Pulse Volume Recording (PVR)

ABI is the comparison of your blood pressure at your ankle to your upper arm. When your blood pressure is lower in your ankle, it indicates peripheral arterial disease. There’s also a toe-brachial index (TBI), which is the comparison of your toe pressure and the higher brachial pressure.

PVR is a noninvasive test that measures your blood flow to identify and locate blockages in your arteries. ABI and TBI are often combined with PVR to gather comprehensive data about the circulation in your lower extremities.

What should I expect during a diagnostic imaging study?

The diagnostic imaging services provided at Vascular Surgery Specialists are safe, painless, and typically take between 30 and 60 minutes. You need to wear comfortable clothing and follow the technician’s instructions so they can create clear images.

Call Vascular Surgery Specialists or schedule an appointment online today for advanced ultrasound diagnostic imaging services.