Services - Procedures

Our office is equipped to provide the following procedure:

• E.K.G.: An Electrocardiodiagram that records the electric currents produced by the heart
• P.F.T. (Pulmonary Function Testing): This test measures how well the lungs take in and exhale air and how efficiently they transfer oxygen into the blood
• Treadmill Stress Test/Stress Echocardiography: A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps a doctor find out how well your heart handles work. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart. It also helps doctors know the kind and level of exercise appropriate for a patient.
  Stress echocardiography is a test that helps diagnose heart disease with the help of ultrasound images. (A more routine exercise stress test does not use imaging.) Following exercise or other stress to the heart, the images reveal parts of the heart that may not be receiving enough blood or oxygen because of blocked arteries.
• Echocardiogram: Echodiagram is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. The picture is much more detailed than x-ray image and involves no radiation exposure.
  A normal echocardiogram reveals normal heart valves and chambers and normal heart wall movement.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and systems within the body.
  An ultrasound machine creates images that allow various organs in the body to be examined. The machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives these reflected waves and uses them to create a picture. Unlike with an x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.
• Carotid Doppler Studies: Carotid Doppler is a procedure that uses ultrasound to look for plaques, blood clots, or other blood flow problems in the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries, located in the neck, supply blood to the brain.
• Upper & Lower Extremities Arterial Doppler Studies: This study checks for arteriosclerosis of the extremities. Arteriosclerosis of the extremities is a disease of the blood vessels characterized by narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply the legs and feet. This causes a decrease in blood flow that can injure nerves and other tissues.
• Venous Doppler Studies of Extremities: This study is used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis. Deep venous thrombosis is a condition where there is a blood clot in a deep vein (a vein that accompanies an artery)
• Liquid Nitrogen Treatment: Liquid nitrogen is used to kill cells that make up diseased or cancerous tissue in the skin. Tissue that has been frozen dries out and falls off.
• Skin Biopsy: A skin lesion biopsy is the removal of a piece of skin to diagnose or rule out an illness. The test is used to identify cancers and benign growths, to help diagnose chronic bacterial and fungal skin infections, and to identify other skin conditions.
• Skin Lag Removal: Cutaneous skin tags are skin problems involving small, generally benign skin growths.
  Cutaneous tags are very common benign skin growths that occur most often after midlife. The tags stick out of the skin, and may have a small narrow stalk connecting the skin bump to the surface of the skin. Cutaneous tags are usually painless and do not grow or change. However, they may be irrated from rubbing by clothing or other materials. Cutaneous skin tags are more common in people who are overweight or who have diabetes.
  The only symptom is a growth on the skin. The growth (tag) is usually small, although some may be up to a half-inch long.

Other characteristics are as follows:

• Located on the neck, armpits, trunk, body folds, or other areas
• May have a narrow stalk
• Usually skin-colored, occasionally darker

The growths may be surgically removed, removed by freezing (cryotherapy), or electrically burning off (cautery).

Cutaneous tags are generally benign and usually not bothersome. They may become irritated or be cosmetically displeasing. There is usually no regrowth or scar formation. Cutaneous tags are removed, although new growths may appear elsewhere on the body.

There are usually no complications. Occasionally, irritation and discomfort may occur. The skin tags may be cosmetically unsightly.

Call your health care provider if Cutaneous tags are present and you want them removed, or if the appearance of the Cutaneous tag changes.

Most of the insurance companies do not reimburse for this procedure.