faqs
conventional x-ray
All diagnostic X-ray examinations will be performed within a safe dose range. Even multiple examinations in the course of the year are considered harmless. An individual risk evaluation - depending
on the region examined and the medical necessity - is required in the case of a high accumulation (if X-rays are taken several
times a month over a period of years).
All diagnostic X-ray examinations will be performed within a safe dose range. Even multiple, repetitive examinations in the course of the year are considered harmless.
X-rays will not be stored in the human body. They will pass the body and will be distracted and weakened.
In general, ionising radiation can cause genetic changes. However, since the body can repair such changes, radiation rarely
has side effects. These effects can only occur in cases of high-dose radiations. However, our examinations will never reach
this threshold.
No.
Please let our team always know whether you are pregnant.
If pregnancy is possible, please let us perform the examination when a pregnancy test has been negative or at least within
a range of ten days after your most recent period.
Although many images are taken one after the other, the radiation dose can be kept low by using "pulsed" X-rays. Here, every
image is taken only with a small dose of radiation. In addition, modern apertures and pre-filters as well as the principle of "last image hold" ensure a further reduction of
the radiation dose.
ultrasound
Ultrasound can basically be used on all organs, except for organs filled with air (lungs and stomach intestinal tract) and bones, as these cannot be analyzed by means of
ultrasound.
Yes, they can. Ultrasound examinations are not harmful to an embryo. Also the direct examination of the embryo in the uterus won´t cause any damages.
For the sonography of the upper abdomen we ask you not to eat for 3 hours so that the gall bladder does not collapse and there is not too much air in the stomach, which would limit the proper conditions
for an examination. That is why we also try to carry out the examinations in the morning. We ask you to take your medication
with a sip of water.
For the sonography of the lower abdomen we ask you to come with a full bladder as this will improve the examination conditions.
If we have to perform a sonography of vessels in your neck when you are a male, please shave thoroughly before an examination in order to optimize the conditions.
Mammography
Every other year, the nationwide early detection program www.früherkennen.at automatically sends a letter to every women between
45 and 69 years of age in order to recommend a preventive mammography. This invitation makes you eligible to make an appointment
at our clinic. At this point, no further paperwork is required. If you are in this age group, but you didn´t receive any invitation
and still wish to undergo a mammography, you are welcome to call us, make an appointment and just bring your insurance card
(Ecard). This examination will only be possible every other year. Women between 40 and 44 years or above 70 years of age who wish to undergo a preventive mammography every other year are asked
to independently register for the early detection program.
Then, a letter will be sent to you which makes you eligible to make an appointment at our clinic.
If you have a family history of breast cancer (breast cancer of your mother/sister when they were under 40 years of age) or
if you have already been diagnosed with cancer and you are now in follow-up care or you have pain or a palpable lesion, we
ask you to get in touch with your family doctor and get a referral in order to get an appointment at our clinic to have a
mammography performed.
A preventative mammography is performed with a very low radiation dose. Since the breast is compressed between two plates,
the dose can be even furtherly reduced. If women from the age of 40 are mammographed annually, the risk of developing breast
cancer increases from 10% to 10.02%. The "natural risk" - compared with the risk of developing breast cancer as a result of
exposure to radiation - is therefore much higher.
A female doctor is working with us, namely (Dr Daniela Kienzl-Palma) and also female doctors from a mammography centre on a case-by-case basis (KH Rudolfstiftung, KH SMZ Süd). If you would
like to be examined by a female doctor, please let us know when you make an appointment
If a conspicuous or malignant finding is detected during mammography, our doctors will try to discuss this with you in person.
In such cases we ask you to comply with our recommendations to take certain measures. If you are unsure, feel free to contact
us or call the breast health centre.
If you have chest pain or a palpable lesion, please contact your family doctor immediately in order to get a mammogram referral.
When registering, be sure to state that you feel a palpable lump or chest pain.
Computer tomography (CT)
2-3 hours before the examination you should not eat anything, but drink plenty.
As the examination requires your written consent, we ask you to arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled appointment to fill in the consent form and a general questionnaire about your medical history (e.g. questions on previous illnesses
such as allergies, heart, kidney or thyroid diseases, as well as any possible pregnancy, etc.).
Depending on the area of the body which has to be examined, you may be asked to remove jewelry, glasses, hairpins, hearing
aids, and removable dentures.
You as a patient are laying down. While the CT is running, you as a patient will be in the examination room by yourself, the assistant will monitor during
this time and can communicate with you via intercom.
We have a CT device that leaves a lot of space for the patient. Our rooms are bright and friendly. If you still suffer from claustrophobia, you may be given a sedative for support or an
accompanying person may be with you in the examination room.
Pregnant women can´t be examined by means of a CT. If you are pregnant but have gotten a referral to a CT examination please check back with your referring doctor first. Often
there are also alternative types of examinations and diagnostics.
If you have a known contrast agent allergy to iodine-containing contrast agents, please let us know when making your appointment. Not every examination requires a contrast agent, and in some cases the
examination can still be carried out by prophylaxis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRi)
Patients who are referred by a physician who is paid by the obligatory insurance do not need to obtain a referral approved
by a chief physician. If referrals are issued by physicians of your choice, a chief physician's permit is required. This permit
has to be obtained ahead of the examination. Please always bring your ECARD.
2-3 hours before the examination you should not eat anything.
During the examination (depending on the region of examination and/or indication) the doctor may inject you with contrast
medium via a venous access.
As the examination requires your written consent, we ask you to come 20 minutes before the scheduled appointment to fill in
the consent form and a general questionnaire about your medical history.
Patients with prostheses, implants after surgeries, such as screws and plates, hearing aids, pacemakers, heart valves, stents (these are small metal tubes in vessels, usually
coronary vessels) have to report above-mentioned items before the MRI examination, since magnetic fields are used in MRI for
imaging. Please bring your implant ID - if available.
Jewellery, hairpins, glasses, hearing aids and coins must be placed in the changing room if possible.
Non-removable metal parts that are in the body, such as metal splinters and certain red dyes used in tattoos and permanent
eyelid strokes, may contain iron oxide and therefore warm up or move during the examination and must therefore be reported before the examination.
We are going to decide this on a case-by-case-basis. Therefore, it may also happen that a doctor might inject you a contrast agent in the course of the examination.
A pregnancy is not necessarily a contraindication to an MRI, but due to the lack of data an examination in the first third
of a pregnancy is not performed. Please report when you are pregnant. Then, we won't inject any contrast agents.
