Monmouth's revolutionary CT scanning system has emerged as a highly effective screening tool in the early detection of heart disease and other serious medical conditions, even before major symptoms occur. One of two state-of-the-art CT scan units at Monmouth, this multislice computed tomography (CT) system creates higher-quality images by producing a 3-D cross-section view of a body area "slice by slice" and then completely reconstructs, displays and records the image in a matter of seconds, rather than minutes.

The multiple-imaging technology of the LightSpeed QX/i system by GE Medical Systems takes CT scanning to new levels of precision, clarity and speed, greatly surpassing the capabilities of conventional single-slice machines. With this advanced system, the body can be scanned in multiple angles at a much faster speed,. This results in higher-resolution images that provide us with more detailed views and helps to improve the detection of certain abnormalities, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer, spinal disorders and stroke."

Because the system takes four images simultaneously, data is acquired more quickly, allowing for larger areas of the body to be scanned in a much shorter period of time. As a result, the advanced scan takes about 20 seconds to complete, compared to the standard three-minute CT body scan — another benefit to patients, in particular children, who don't have to stay on the table as long as they would when undergoing a traditional CT scan.

While open magnetic resonance imaging systems have grown in popularity, as patients discovered they no longer needed to undergo testing in the narrow, dark tunnel of a conventional scanner, there is a loss of image quality because these open systems are unable to provide high-field magnetic strength. The wide-body design of this new system — combined with its unique 3-D capability without using radiation — makes it a superb imaging unit not only in terms of patient comfort, but for highly precise scanning of various body areas.”

The system takes these images in rapid, sequential order — from head to toe — with a scanning time that is up to 50 percent faster than traditional systems. They then are reconstructed to create a more detailed view of the body, greatly improving the ability to pinpoint certain diseases and conditions, including stroke, brain and spinal tumors, bone and joint trauma, and gynecological tumors and diseases.

And in addition to diagnostic breakthroughs, Monmouth was the first hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties to introduce uterine fibroid embolization, an interventional radiology procedure which shrinks fibroid tumors by blocking their blood supply. Monmouth’s interventional radiologists also offer radiofrequency ablation for inoperable tumors and vertvertebroplasty to treat osteoporatic spinal compressions.

Monmouth also was the first hospital in Monmouth County to offer the latest in Dexa scan imaging — a procedure used in assessing bone mineral density for the detection of osteoporosis — and digital chest radiography, which produces improved images and reduces radiation exposure to patients. The department is equipped with the most-advanced computed tomography (CT) imaging system, providing the area’s first coronary scoring program for the early detection of heart disease, as well as the state of the art in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning technologies. And in another diagnostic breakthrough, Monmouth has established the region’s only colorectal physiology center for diseases and disorders of the colon, rectum and anus.

The department's cutting-edge angiographic suite is used to perform diagnostic procedures such as cerebral, abdominal and peripheral angiography. Monmouth was the first hospital in the state to introduce a nuclear medicine department, fully equipped with Gamma cameras, Spect cameras and computer systems.