An X-ray uses a small, controlled dose of radiation to produce an image of the body's internal structures. Dense tissues such as bone absorb more radiation and appear white, while air appears black. It is the oldest and most widely used imaging method and remains the first test for many problems.
Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai at Apex can have X-rays for suspected fractures, chest infection, breathlessness, joint pain, dental or sinus problems and checks after surgery. The radiographer positions the patient, may ask them to hold their breath, and takes the image in seconds. Jewellery and metal objects in the area are removed. Women who are or may be pregnant must tell the staff beforehand.
The radiologist examines the image and writes a report for the treating doctor. A normal X-ray does not exclude every problem, as some injuries and soft tissue diseases are not visible, and further imaging may be advised.
How the Procedure Can Help
X-rays are quick, widely available and affordable. They confirm fractures, show pneumonia and help follow healing and the position of implants.
Risks and Considerations
The radiation dose is low, and protective shielding is used where suitable. Pregnancy needs special caution. X-rays are less useful for ligaments, tendons and organs, and the doctor may suggest ultrasound, CT or MRI when more detail is necessary.
Computed tomography uses X-rays and a computer to create cross-sectional images of the body, which can be viewed as thin slices or reconstructed in three dimensions. Since its introduction in the early 1970s, CT has become essential for evaluating injury, infection, bleeding and tumours.
Patients seeking a CT scan in Mumbai at Apex lie on a table that moves through a ring-shaped scanner. The scan itself takes only seconds to minutes, and the whole visit lasts about fifteen to thirty minutes. Some scans use contrast dye given through a vein or taken by mouth to highlight organs and vessels. Patients may be asked to fast for several hours, and blood tests may check kidney function. Allergies, diabetes medicines and pregnancy must be reported before the scan.
The radiologist reviews hundreds of images and prepares a report. Emergency scans are read first.
How the Procedure Can Help
CT gives detailed pictures of the head, chest, abdomen and bones within minutes. It detects bleeding, stones, appendicitis, pneumonia, tumours and fractures, and guides biopsies and surgery.
Risks and Considerations
CT uses more radiation than a plain X-ray, so it is advised only when the benefit justifies it. Contrast dye can cause allergic reactions and, rarely, kidney strain. A warm sensation during injection is normal. Children and pregnant women need special consideration.
CT angiography is a CT scan timed to capture contrast dye as it flows through blood vessels. It produces clear images of arteries and veins without a catheter, helping the doctor look for narrowing, aneurysms, blockages and bleeding.
Patients seeking a radiologist in Mulund for vessel imaging at Apex may need a CTA for suspected pulmonary embolism, stroke, aortic disease, blocked leg arteries, kidney artery narrowing, or coronary artery disease. A small tube is placed in an arm vein, and contrast is injected quickly while the scanner records images. Heart scans may need a slow heart rate, so a medicine to reduce the heart rate may be given beforehand.
Kidney function is checked before the scan, and patients with diabetes, kidney disease, or a contrast allergy are carefully assessed. Fluids are encouraged afterwards to help clear the dye.
How the Procedure Can Help
CTA is quick, non-surgical and widely informative. It can identify life-threatening problems such as clots, tears and bleeding, and it helps plan angioplasty, stenting or surgery.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include allergic reaction to contrast, kidney strain, leakage of dye at the injection site and radiation exposure. Pregnant women usually avoid the test unless it is essential. Hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, or reduced urine after the scan require urgent attention.
Magnetic resonance imaging uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves, not radiation, to produce detailed images of soft tissues. It is especially valuable for the brain, spinal cord, joints, muscles, pelvis and many abdominal organs.
Patients seeking an MRI scan in Mumbai at Apex lie on a table that slides into a tube-shaped magnet. The scan usually takes thirty to sixty minutes and is noisy, so earplugs or headphones are provided. Staying very still gives clearer images. Metal objects, including jewellery and some clothing, must be removed before the scan. Patients with pacemakers, cochlear implants, aneurysm clips or other metal implants must inform staff beforehand, because only certain devices are safe.
Some scans use a contrast agent injected into a vein to highlight abnormal areas. Kidney function is checked first. People who feel anxious in enclosed spaces should mention it, as relaxation measures or sedation may be arranged.
How the Procedure Can Help
MRI shows fine detail without radiation. It finds small tumours, ligament tears, disc problems, strokes and inflammation that other tests may miss.
Risks and Considerations
MRI is generally safe, but implanted metal can be dangerous in the magnetic field. Contrast very rarely causes allergic reactions or, in severe kidney disease, a serious complication. Contrast is usually avoided in pregnancy unless essential. The scan can be uncomfortable for people who dislike confined spaces.
Magnetic resonance angiography is an MRI technique that images blood vessels. It may be performed with or without contrast dye, and it shows arteries and veins in the brain, neck, chest, abdomen and legs.
Patients looking for diagnostic imaging in Mumbai that avoids radiation can discuss MRA at Apex for conditions such as stroke, suspected brain aneurysm, carotid artery narrowing, renal artery stenosis and peripheral arterial disease. The patient lies in the MRI scanner, and images are acquired in the same way as a standard MRI. Scans of the brain vessels often need no injection, while body scans commonly use contrast.
The examination takes about thirty to sixty minutes. The usual MRI safety checks for metal implants and kidney function apply. Patients are asked to remain still, and some scans require short breath-holds.
How the Procedure Can Help
MRA shows blood vessels without a catheter and without radiation. It can detect narrowing, blockages and malformations, and it helps plan treatment.
Risks and Considerations
MRA can sometimes overestimate the degree of narrowing, so a doctor may advise confirmatory CT angiography or catheter angiography. Contrast is used carefully in patients with kidney disease and avoided in pregnancy unless essential. People with certain implants cannot be scanned.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images in real time. A handheld probe is moved over gel on the skin, and echoes from tissues are turned into pictures. There is no ionising radiation, making it suitable for use in pregnancy and with children.
Patients seeking ultrasound in Mumbai at Apex can have scans of the abdomen, pelvis, thyroid, breast, scrotum, blood vessels and pregnancy. Preparation depends on the area. A full bladder improves pelvic views, while fasting for several hours helps scans of the gallbladder and upper abdomen. Doppler ultrasound adds information about blood flow, such as clots in leg veins or narrowing in arteries.
The test is painless and usually takes fifteen to thirty minutes. The sonologist can see movement, such as a heartbeat or a baby moving, and can often explain what is seen, although the formal report follows.
How the Procedure Can Help
Ultrasound is safe, quick and informative. It detects stones, cysts, fluid, masses and inflammation, monitors pregnancy and guides needle procedures.
Risks and Considerations
Ultrasound carries no known radiation risk. Its quality depends on the operator and on body build, and gas in the bowel or deep structures may limit views. Another test may be advised if the findings are unclear. Disclosure of a baby's sex is prohibited by law in India.
Mammography is a low-dose X-ray examination of the breasts. It is used both for screening, in women without symptoms, and for diagnosis, when there is a lump, pain, nipple discharge or a change in the skin or shape.
Patients looking for a radiologist in Borivali for breast screening at Apex are positioned at a mammography machine, and each breast is gently compressed between two plates for a few seconds. The compression improves image clarity and lowers radiation dose, though it can be uncomfortable.
The visit usually takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Scheduling the test in the week after a period often reduces tenderness. Patients should avoid deodorant, powder or cream on the chest and underarms that day.
Ultrasound may be added, particularly in younger women or dense breasts. If we see an abnormal area, we may recommend further views or a needle biopsy.
How the Procedure Can Help
Mammography can detect breast cancer before it can be felt, when treatment is more likely to succeed. It also distinguishes benign changes from those needing further tests.
Risks and Considerations
The radiation dose is low. Mammograms can miss some cancers, especially in dense breasts, and can show changes that turn out to be harmless, which may lead to extra tests. Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant should tell the staff.
Fluoroscopy is a type of X-ray imaging that shows moving pictures on a screen. It lets the doctor watch organs and instruments in real time, such as the passage of barium through the gut, the movement of a joint or the placement of a catheter.
Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai at Apex may need fluoroscopy for swallowing studies, barium examinations, joint injections, catheter placement and guided interventional procedures.
Depending on the test, patients may drink contrast, receive it through a tube or have it injected into a joint or vessel. They may be asked to change position during the study. Preparation, such as fasting, is explained in advance.
The duration varies from a few minutes to over an hour. The radiologist watches the images and may capture selected frames for the record. A report follows.
How the Procedure Can Help
Fluoroscopy shows function and movement, not only structure. It helps diagnose swallowing disorders, bowel problems and joint conditions and guides precise placement of needles and catheters.
Risks and Considerations
Fluoroscopy uses ionising radiation, and the dose depends on the length of the study, so the radiologist keeps the exposure as low as reasonably possible. Contrast can cause allergy or constipation. Pregnancy must be reported, and some tests may be postponed.
PET is a nuclear imaging test that shows how active tissues are. A small amount of a radioactive tracer, most often a form of glucose, is injected. Cells that use more energy, such as many cancers, take up more tracer and appear brighter. PET is usually combined with CT so that metabolic activity can be located precisely.
Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai with PET-CT are asked to fast for several hours, and people with diabetes receive specific instructions on blood sugar control. After the injection, they rest quietly for about an hour while the tracer spreads. The scan itself takes twenty to thirty minutes, and the whole visit may last two to three hours.
Doctors use PET to stage cancers, judge response to treatment, look for recurrence, and evaluate certain brain and heart conditions. Because it is a specialised service, patients may be referred to a centre that is equipped for it.
How the Procedure Can Help
PET can detect cancer spread or recurrence earlier than structural scans, and it can show whether treatment is working.
Risks and Considerations
The tracer's radiation dose is similar to that of a CT scan and decays quickly. Infection and inflammation can also take up tracer and look like cancer, so results are interpreted with clinical information. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should inform the staff, and close contact with infants may be limited for some hours.
SPECT is a nuclear imaging method that uses a gamma camera to create three-dimensional images of how a radioactive tracer is distributed in the body. It shows organ function and blood flow, and is mostly used for the heart, brain, and bones.
Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai that includes functional scans may be advised to have a myocardial perfusion SPECT for chest pain, to see whether blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced during stress and at rest.
Stress may be produced by exercise or by medication. Bone SPECT can pinpoint stress fractures and spread of cancer, and brain SPECT can assess blood flow in selected conditions.
The tracer is injected into a vein, and images are taken after a waiting period. A cardiac study can take several hours in total, with instructions about caffeine and certain medicines.
How the Procedure Can Help
SPECT can show reduced blood flow before blockages cause damage, help decide on angiography or treatment and can detect bone problems that X-ray misses.
Risks and Considerations
The radiation exposure is comparable to other nuclear tests. Stress testing carries small risks, such as chest pain or rhythm changes, and is carried out under supervision. Allergic reactions to tracers are rare. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should tell the staff beforehand.
A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density using two very low-dose X-ray beams. It is the standard test for diagnosing osteoporosis and estimating the risk of fractures, most commonly measuring the lower spine and hip.
Patients looking for a radiologist in Mumbai for a bone health assessment at Apex lie on a padded table while a scanning arm passes over the body. The test takes ten to twenty minutes, is painless and needs no injection. Patients are asked to avoid calcium tablets for a day before the scan and to wear clothing without metal.
Results are given as a T-score that compares the patient's bone density with that of a healthy young adult. A score of minus 2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis, and scores between minus 1 and minus 2.5 indicate low bone mass. The doctor interprets the result along with age, previous fractures and other risk factors.
How the Procedure Can Help
DEXA finds bone loss before a fracture occurs, so that diet, exercise, vitamin D and medicines can be started in time.
Risks and Considerations
The radiation dose is very low. Spine arthritis, previous fractures or surgery can affect readings. Pregnancy is a reason to postpone the test. The same machine should be used for follow-up scans, because comparison between different machines can be unreliable.
Barium studies are X-ray examinations that use a chalky contrast liquid to outline parts of the digestive tract. A barium swallow shows the food pipe and sometimes the stomach, while a barium enema shows the large bowel.
Patients seeking diagnostic imaging in Mumbai at Apex may be advised to have a barium swallow for difficulty swallowing, reflux or suspected narrowing, and a barium enema for bowel habit change or suspected bowel disease in selected cases.
For the swallow, the patient drinks the liquid while X-ray pictures are taken, and may be asked to swallow in different positions. For the enema, bowel preparation is needed beforehand, and the liquid is introduced through the rectum with air to expand the bowel.
The tests last about fifteen to forty minutes. Endoscopy and CT have replaced barium studies in many cases, but they remain useful for studying function and movement.
How the Procedure Can Help
Barium studies show the shape and movement of the gut, revealing strictures, ulcers, fistulas and swallowing problems.
Risks and Considerations
Barium can cause constipation, so patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids afterwards. Rarely, it can leak into the chest or abdomen if perforation occurs, and a water-soluble contrast may be used instead if that is suspected. Radiation exposure is modest, and pregnancy must be reported.
Hysterosalpingography is an X-ray test that examines the inside of the uterus and the fallopian tubes using contrast dye. It is mainly used in women who have difficulty conceiving to check whether the tubes are open and whether the uterine cavity has an abnormal shape.
Patients looking for a diagnostic imaging centre in Mumbai for fertility evaluation at Apex are usually advised to schedule the test after the period has ended and before ovulation, when pregnancy is not possible.
A speculum is placed, a thin tube is passed into the cervix, and contrast is introduced while X-ray images are taken. Cramping is common and usually brief. The test lasts about fifteen to thirty minutes. Pain relief taken beforehand can help.
The radiologist and the gynaecologist review the images together. If the tubes are blocked or the cavity is abnormal, further tests or treatment may be advised.
How the Procedure Can Help
HSG shows blocked tubes, fibroids, polyps, scarring and uterine shape differences that may be causing infertility or repeated miscarriage.
Risks and Considerations
Risks include cramping, spotting, infection and allergic reaction to dye. Women with active pelvic infection should not have the test. The radiation dose is low. Fever, increasing pain or foul discharge afterwards needs prompt attention.
A myelogram is an imaging test of the spinal canal. Contrast dye is injected into the fluid around the spinal cord and nerve roots, and X-rays or CT scans then show whether the cord or nerves are squeezed by discs, bone spurs, tumours or scar tissue.
At Apex in Mumbai, doctors usually advise patients seeking diagnostic imaging for spine problems to have an MRI first. A myelogram may be considered when MRI cannot be done, for example, because of a pacemaker or metal implants, or when more detail about nerve compression is needed before surgery.
The skin of the lower back is numbed, and a thin needle is placed into the spinal canal under X-ray guidance. After the contrast is injected, the patient is tilted on the table to allow the dye to flow along the spine.
The procedure takes about thirty to sixty minutes, and a CT scan often follows. Patients rest and drink fluids afterwards.
How the Procedure Can Help
It outlines nerve compression precisely, helping surgeons plan treatment when other scans are inconclusive.
Risks and Considerations
Headache is the most common problem and may last a day or more. Back pain, infection, bleeding, allergic reactions and, rarely, seizures can occur. Blood thinners need advance planning. Severe headache, fever, stiff neck or leg weakness afterwards needs urgent attention.
