Vascular Imaging

You may need vascular imaging if your doctor suspects you have a condition affecting the blood vessels (vascular disease). At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, our highly trained technicians are skilled in the latest vascular imaging technologies. We work closely with your vascular doctors to provide imaging that helps diagnose a wide range of vascular diseases.

Vascular Imaging: Why Choose Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health?

Our vascular technicians use leading-edge ultrasound technology to evaluate blood vessels (arteries and veins) outside the heart. Our program offers:

• Expertise in vascular imaging: Our registered vascular technologists specialize in imaging for vascular disease, providing high-quality images to assist with diagnosis. They work with your vascular care team to provide you with an accurate diagnosis so you can get the right treatment as quickly as possible.
• Nationally recognized vascular lab: Our lab has received accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. This recognition means we meet the highest standards for ultrasound and other imaging technologies to diagnose a wide range of vascular diseases.

Types of Vascular Imaging We Offer

Ultrasound imaging is a painless, noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. Types of vascular ultrasound include:

• Traditional vascular ultrasound, which produces images of arteries and veins
• Doppler ultrasound, which shows the speed of blood flow through arteries and veins
• Duplex ultrasound, which combines traditional and Doppler ultrasound

Our vascular imaging team performs duplex ultrasounds of arteries and veins throughout the body, including:

• Abdominal aorta duplex ultrasound of the body’s largest artery (the aorta) as it passes through the abdomen
• Carotid duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries in the neck, which supply blood to the brain
• Femoral artery duplex ultrasound of the major arteries in the groin
• Lower extremity duplex ultrasound of the arteries and veins in the legs
• Mesenteric artery duplex ultrasound of the arteries that carry blood to the intestines
• Renal artery duplex ultrasound of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys
• Upper extremity duplex ultrasound of the arteries and veins in the arms

Other vascular ultrasound imaging includes:

•  Ankle-brachial index (ABI) test: We use this test, with and without treadmill walking, to help diagnose peripheral artery disease. The ABI test measures blood pressure in both arms and legs, using a blood pressure cuff and an ultrasound device. We compare the measurements in the arms with those in the legs to calculate the index.
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS): This test uses a catheter (thin, flexible tube) with a tiny ultrasound device at its tip to view inside blood vessels. The doctor inserts the catheter through a tiny incision into a blood vessel to produce images from inside the vessel.

Conditions We Diagnose With Vascular Imaging

We use vascular imaging to help diagnose a wide variety of vascular diseases, including:

Schedule Vascular Imaging

To schedule a vascular imaging study, call 717-544-3626.