Radiology & Imaging

The Department of Radiology and Imaging at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is involved in the treatment of various conditions, including:

• Peripheral arterial disease

  Peripheral arterial disease can cause blockage of the arteries supplying the legs, which causes pain while walking, and sometimes wounds that do not heal. With increasing severity, it can lead to gangrene and limb loss, especially in patients with diabetes. Endovascular treatment for these conditions is low risk and is performed through small ‘pinholes’ to clear blockages using angioplasty and stents where necessary. The patient rarely needs general anaesthesia, and recovery is quick. Newer treatments to remove plaques such as atherectomy are also used.

• Venous disease

  Venous disease can be mild or severe. Early problems include varicose veins and mild swelling of the legs and ankles. More advanced cases experience severe swelling, blackening of skin, and significant skin damage, leading to wounds that do not heal. The treatment of venous disease can involve dissolving and removing clots in the veins, or blocking veins with malfunctioning valves. This is performed through ‘pinholes’ guided by DSA or ultrasonography, resulting in quick and durable treatment and short hospital stays.

• Uterine Fibroid

  Uterine fibroids or “leiomyomas” are common non-cancerous observed in women of reproductive age. However, they can cause several symptoms when large in size, such as excessive bleeding, pain, and difficulty with urination or bowel movement. Treatment involves blocking the blood supply of these benign tumours using catheters, causing them to shrink. This is a short stay procedure with a very high success rate.

• Aortic Aneurysms
• Liver cancer: Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is inoperable, but can be treated using two main techniques through interventional radiology:
  • Transarterial embolisation with chemotherapy or radiotherapy
  • Percutaneous ablation
• Jaundice due to biliary obstruction
• Venous access
• Portal hypertension
• Prostate enlargement
• Vertebral column and joint pain

The seamless integration of the digital radiology equipment, Hospital Information Systems (HAS), and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) ensures real-time transfer of data and reports across the hospital systems and offers remote access. Various specialised diagnostic equipment for specialties such as Cardiology and Pulmonary Medicine are co-located within the OPD clusters (distributed diagnostics).

The state-of-the-art medical technology available at the department includes:

1. SOMATOM FORCE dual source 384-slice CT scanner: It is the first scanner of its generation installed in Asia. which performs at a great speed, reducing radiation exposure.
   • It is the fastest CT scanner made by Siemens. It can scan the entire chest and abdomen in just one second! This minimises the risk of blurred pictures because of patient movement. It is also suitable for scanning young children or older adults.
   • The Somatom Force can scan 737 mm per second. This speed allows us to see the arteries supplying the heart (coronary arteries) vividly without the need to slow the heart down with drugs, which facilitates performing CT coronary angiography (CCTA) to identify blocks in arteries that can cause myocardial infarction (heart attacks). This procedure requires a few minutes and can be performed for all kinds of patients.
   • It has a unique ability to find and analyse kidney stones, aiding the surgeon in the treatment process. It can also help in diagnosing joint diseases.
   • It delivers a very low radiation dose, which is important for patients who need repeated scanning. This can reduce the radiation dose by almost 50%.
   • Very low dose of contrast medium injection (approximately 50% lower than that required by old scanners) is required with this advanced scanner.

2. 3Tesla (3T) MRI – SOMATOM Skyra

   It is the first scanner of its generation in Mumbai and the second in India. It provides high-resolution images at a great speed. The Siemens 3T MRI scanner at our hospital is one of the latest models with cutting-edge technology. It is equipped with advanced features including functional MRI, cardiac imaging, MR elastography, and advanced liver imaging.

3. The Lunar iDXA – Bone Densitometry unit

   Offers research-grade image resolution, high precision, and accommodates to high patient weights.

4. Mammomat Inspiration with a Stereotactic Biopsy Unit

   It provides improved image quality, decreased scattered radiation, and reduced radiation dose.

5. Fluoroscopy unit
6. Ultrasound scanners
7. Portable USG machines
8. Digital X-ray
9. Portable X-ray units
10. PACS