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Request AppointmentFor further questions, please call our radiology team at +1 (268) 484-2734.
The Radiology Department at SLBMC offers state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services. Our team of board-certified radiologists and licensed technologists is committed to providing accurate results and compassionate care.
Please note: Before visiting either department, all referral forms must first be taken to the Cashier for financial processing and official validation, even if no payment is required.
In addition, please ensure you meet or have the following criteria/documents for any appointments or relevant medical visits and let your physician know of any underlying and/or relevant conditions:
Valid photo ID - (Passport, Driver's License, National ID).
Health Coverage - Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) card and/or private insurance card if applicable.
Referral Information - A relevant referral form or previous test results.
Early Arrival - Kindly arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment.
The specific examination being ordered.
The referring physician’s name and phone number.
The diagnosis or reason for the exam.
At Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, we believe that clarity is the first step toward healing. X-rays are the most common and trusted way for our physicians to see inside the body, allowing us to pinpoint problems quickly and make your treatment plan as precise as possible. Whether you’re here for a routine check or a specialized exam, our skilled imaging technologists use state-of-the-art technology to care for you and your family with the highest level of expertise.
While many people think of X-rays only for broken bones, they are incredibly versatile tools for your health. Beyond the skull and spine, X-rays help us visualize soft tissues and guide physicians during delicate joint procedures.
Bone & Joint Health: Detecting fractures, checking spinal alignment (including hardware), and identifying arthritis.
Internal Wellness: Chest X-rays and imaging to detect structural problems in the inner ear, ensuring a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of the patient.
Complex Diagnostics: Assisting in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), dizziness, and failed back surgery syndrome.
It helps to think of an X-ray as a "negative" photograph of your internal anatomy. X-ray beams pass through your body and onto digital media, appearing differently depending on the density of your tissues:
Soft Tissues: Areas like skin, muscle, fat, and blood allow most of the beams to pass through, appearing as dark gray.
Dense Structures: Bones or tumors are more solid, so they block more of the beams and appear white.
Fractures: If a bone is broken, the beam passes through the gap, showing up as a distinct dark line within the white bone.
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan (often called a CAT scan) is a powerful and painless diagnostic tool that combines traditional X-ray technology with advanced computer processing. This allows our team to create "cross-sectional" slices of your body, providing a far more detailed look at your bones, organs, and soft tissues than a standard X-ray alone.
Because it can see "around" structures, a CT scan is often the first choice for diagnosing complex conditions. At Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, we use this technology to:
Detect Critical Issues: Identify bone and joint fractures, internal bleeding from accidents, and brain injuries.
Monitor Wellness: Find and track tumors, infections, and blood clots.
Guide Specialized Care: Assist in cardiac and coronary artery studies, brain perfusion scans, and pediatric-specific procedures.
Precise Procedures: Guide biopsies to accurately assess benign and malignant growths.
We are committed to the "ALARA" philosophy; using the least amount of radiation necessary for a high-quality diagnosis. Our scanners are pre-programmed for specific body parts to ensure safety and precision.
Preparing for the Scan: Please tell us if you are pregnant, have allergies to contrast dye/iodine, have kidney disease, or are diabetic.
What to Expect: The exam length depends on the area being scanned, but our team will be with you every step of the way to ensure you are comfortable.
A mammogram is a specialized, low-dose X-ray designed to look for changes in breast tissue that are too small to be felt during a physical exam. At SLBMC, we offer both screening and diagnostic mammograms to ensure every member of our community has access to life-saving early detection.
Screening Mammograms: Used as a routine wellness check for women age 40 or older (or earlier for those at higher risk). We take two views of each breast - from above and from the side - to look for abnormalities.
Diagnostic Mammograms: Performed if you have a specific symptom (like a lump or discharge) or if a screening shows a finding that needs a closer look. This process uses extra views to pinpoint the exact size and location of an abnormality.
Stay Fresh: Do not use deodorant, perfume, powders, or lotions on your chest or underarm area. These products can appear as "calcium spots" on the X-ray and interfere with results.
What to Wear: A two-piece outfit is best, as you will need to undress from the waist up.
The Experience: You will feel brief pressure as the plates compress the breast tissue for a few seconds. This is necessary to get the clearest possible picture.
Ultrasound (or sonography) is a safe and painless diagnostic technique that uses high-frequency sound waves rather than radiation. It’s much like the sonar used by ships; sound waves bounce off internal structures and are analyzed by a computer to create real-time images of your body in motion.
Ultrasound is an incredibly versatile tool that helps us visualize almost every part of the body for assessment:
Mothers & Babies: Routinely used to monitor the growth and well-being of unborn babies throughout pregnancy.
Abdominal Wellness: Checking the health of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen.
Specialized Exams: Assessing the thyroid, female pelvic organs, and blood flow through the heart and major vessels.
A warm gel is applied to the skin, and a handheld device (transducer) is moved over the area. It is completely non-invasive, and images are displayed instantly on a monitor for our technologists and physicians to review.
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves( no radiation) to reveal highly detailed images of the organs, bones, and ligaments. At SLBMC, our open MRI technology is specifically designed with open sides to facilitate greater comfort, especially for patients who may feel anxious or claustrophobic in traditional machines.
MRI is often the most effective test for determining the cause of symptoms that other scans might miss. It is non-invasive and provides "gold standard" images for orthopedic injuries, neurological concerns, and soft tissue abnormalities.
Because the MRI uses a very strong magnet, safety is our top priority. Please take note of the following:
Metal Checklist: We will ask you to complete a thorough safety questionnaire about any implants (like pacemakers, stents, or surgical clips).
Clothing: Please wear comfortable clothes with no metal snaps, zippers, or underwires.
The Experience: The exam takes between 30 to 60 minutes. You will hear a rhythmic banging sound, so we provide earplugs or headphones for your comfort. All we ask is that you remain motionless and breathe normally to help us get the clearest pictures possible.
This sub-specialty uses image-guided technology to perform minimally invasive procedures. By "seeing" inside the body during the procedure, our specialists can treat conditions with tiny incisions, leading to less pain and faster recovery.
We treat every patient like a member of our own family. That’s why we strictly follow the "ALARA" (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) guidelines. This means we use the smallest amount of radiation necessary to get the clear, detailed pictures your doctor needs to guide your care.
Because radiation during pregnancy can be a risk to developing babies, please always inform your radiologist or physician if there is any chance you may be pregnant.
From our youngest pediatric patients to our seniors, SLBMC offers a full range of imaging services to meet the needs of Antigua & Barbuda. We are proud to provide you with world-class diagnostic excellence right here in your own community.