Ultrasound imaging of the body's veins and arteries can help early identification of clots in veins and plaque in arteries. Ultrasound images may also be used to plan or review the success of procedures bypass blocked blood vessels such as renal (relating to the kidney) artery bypass. Ultrasound of the veins may reveal blood clots that require treatment, such as anticoagulant therapy (blood thinner), or filters to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs (embolism).

Ultrasound of the vascular system also provides a fast, noninvasive means of identifying blockages of blood flow in the neck arteries to the brain that might produce a stroke or mini-stroke.

The Hill Medical Corporation is one of the first Imaging Centers in Pasadena to market Vascular Ultrasound by opening up their Vascular Lab at the Huntington Outpatient Imaging Center (HOPIC) over ten years ago. The ICAVL Accredited Vascular Laboratory at HOPIC performs sophisticated non-invasive cerebral, peripheral, and abdominal vascular studies.

Our Vascular Lab is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Accreditation signifies that our facility has been reviewed by an independent agency which recognizes our laboratory's commitment to quality testing for diagnosis of vascular disease. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary and demonstrates our laboratory's concern for high quality patient care and attention to quality assurance.

These sophisticated tests are painless and document the presence, location, and severity of arterial and venous vascular disease. In addition, the non-invasive nature of the exam greatly reduces patient risk and enhances patient comfort when compared to invasive diagnostic procedures.

The Hill Medical Radiologists direct the clinical and technical operations at the Vascular Lab. Non-invasive vascular diagnostic procedures are conducted by a highly trained technologist.

Each patient referred to our Vascular Laboratory at HOPIC is treated as an individual with specific, special needs. Vascular technologists obtain a complete problem-focused history, thoroughly explain the procedure, and help the patient relax by carefully describing the test as it is being performed.