Highlands Imaging Center

Anxiety will disappear as you escape into a virtual world inside our more open, spacious, state-of-the-art MRI, featuring video and lighting effects. You create a relaxing environment by choosing room lighting colors and video projection scenes from options like beachside paradise, underwater ocean life, and more. When you are more relaxed, it helps us capture higher quality images which can lead to better patient outcomes.

Our NEW MRI system is designed with patients in mind. Featuring the widest bore opening available, you get a more open and comfortable space for the duration of the imaging process.

Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other type of cancer. Screening can detect cancer before symptoms develop and the disease spreads. A lung cancer screen is a painless low dose CT scan which scans the body and uses low doses of radiation to take pictures of the lungs. The scan only takes 5 minutes and is recommended for people who are at high risk for lung cancer.  Highlands Medical Center has teamed up with Clear View Cancer Institute to help you get this valuable, early-detection screening, provide follow-up services, and more.

Those at the highest risk for lung cancer are ages 55-80 who are current or former smokers with a 30 or more pack-year history (Pack-year history = number of packs per day X the number of years smoked).

Additional criteria for those at high risk include people who are 50-54 with a 20 pack-year history AND a history of one or more of the following:

• Radon or occupational carcinogen exposure
• Family history of lung cancer
• COPD or pulmonary fibrosis
• Personal history of cancer or lymphoma

Nuclear medicine scans use a radioactive substance to see structures and functions inside your body. It is the opposite of an x-ray, in that a small amount of radioactive drug is injected and collects in the body area to be studied. A gamma camera is then used to image the area, and a computer processes the information. Nuclear medicine scans help doctors detect tumors, fractures, and issues in the gall bladder, thyroid, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, bones, and more.

Highlands Imaging Center was the first facility in North Alabama to introduce ultrasound services. Since then, the ultrasound equipment has been replaced and upgraded several times in order to maintain state-of-the-art capabilities for our patients. We have two Canon APLIO Reliance systems providing enhanced diagnostic imaging for your ultrasound exams.

X-rays help physicians diagnose broken bones, diagnose lung diseases, examine the intestinal tract and other internal body systems. Routine x-rays include x-rays of the skull, chest, abdomen, and extremities that do not require injections or contrast material of any kind. Other common x-ray procedures are performed to evaluate joints, check for gallstones, locate cysts, drain an abscess, and more.