Diagnostic Examinations

• radiography (thorax, bones and joints, urogenital system, abdominal organs);
• rentgenoscopy (oesophagus, stomach, large intestine (irigoscopy), intestine (passage));
• mammography. Diagnosis is performed using x-rays and obtaining a detailed image of the thorax in an x-ray image. The test is designed to detect thorax abnormalities: cysts, adipose deposits and calcinates, as well as tumours;
• dental radiograms. The examination is necessary when odontologist physicians cannot identify the problems of a toothache through the naked eye.

Diagnosis is performed using modern digital, digitised and any analogous X-ray equipment. Results of radiographic imaging are evaluated by experienced radiologists. During X-rays, the radiologist physician views the organ under examination in a special monitor and makes their radiograms. Having evaluated all these images, the radiologist physician comes to a definitive conclusion. The X-ray images received are stored in the PACS system: if necessary, these are electronically rendered or printed on X-ray film.

These examinations are conducted for patients of all ages.

IMPORTANT:

Patients coming for an X-ray examination must have a referral from a family medical practitioner or a specialist physician.

You will be informed by the referring physician how to prepare for the examination.

If you are a woman and you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant, please inform your radiologist physician prior to the examination.

Thorax X-ray is a quick, painless and informative examination to evaluate the condition of the organs in the thorax and their changes: the examination can identify bronchial and lung diseases, and any significant changes in the heart,aorta and  diaphragm.

IMPORTANT:

An annual X-ray examination is compulsory for persons whose field of employment puts them at higher risk of contracting open tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, in accordance with the existing procedure for the prevention and control of non-infectious diseases in persons as well as the government decree for persons employed in the fields of risk.

Radiographic examination of the spine is a quick, simple and painless examination conducted in several projections. The examination determines the contours of the vertebrae of the spine, evaluates the size of the vertebrae, the intervertebral spaces, and diagnoses traumatic lesions, degree of deformity and other pathologies.

Joint radiography is a simple and informative radiographic examination of the joint and adjacent bones. It can detect changes in the joint space and joint surface, bone density, traumatic lesions, bone growths, arthrosis, arthritis, etc. The examination is significant in differentiating between rheumatic and orthopaedic diseases.

The programme of Selective Mammography Screening for breast cancer is free of charge and is conducted once every 2 years. We conduct mammography screening and its evaluation for the following individuals:

• women aged 50 to 69,
• women insured by compulsory health insurance,
• women who have a referral from a family medical practitioner or obstetrician (form # 027/a).

Why this screening is important:

• breast cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases in women,
• there are 1300 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year in Lithuania,
• more than 95 percent of women with stage 1 breast cancer are completely cured.

IMPORTANT:

Mammography is a radiographic examination and is not performed during pregnancy. Also, this study is not suitable for very young women who have dense breast tissue and poor X-ray permeability. For the same reason, mammography is best performed the first week after menstruation.

Prior to mammography screening, it is recommended not to use any deodorants (talc, lubricating deodorants, spray deodorants) as this is seen in the mammograms and may mimic the cancer-specific abnormalities - microcalcinates.

If you are insured by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and have a referral from a doctor, the x-ray imaging is free of charge (reimbursed by the Territorial Health Insurance Funds). Uninsured patients are charged for the screening.

The price list of paid services can be found

here

When a patient applies for a thorax x-ray for prevention on employment basis, the examination is to be paid.

Echoscopy is a safe and painless examination where ultrasound waves reproduce the internal image of the organ. The ultrasound image is obtained in real time, so you can see moving structures, and the blood flow.

Ultrasound waves are not ionising radiation and therefore the patient is not irradiated. The examination is safe for pregnant women as well.

IMPORTANT:

How to prepare for an echoscopy

• It is recommended that adults do not eat or drink for at least 6 hours prior to abdominal echoscopy, except when it is necessary to take prescribed medication with a small amount of water. Children are advised not to eat for at least 3 hours prior to the examination.
• Prior to the kidney and bladder test, it is recommended that you drink enough still water to feel the urge to urinate and come to the examination with a full bladder. Do not empty your bladder before the examination, although you can eat.
• A joint examination of abdominal organs, kidneys and bladder requires to drink about 1 to 1.5 litres of water, with the last sip being 2 hours prior to the examination and having no meals 6 hours prior to the examination. Children are advised to drink at least 0.5 l of still water for 1-2 hours prior to the examination. This way, your stomach will be empty and your bladder will be fully prepared for the evaluation.
• No special preparation is required for echoscopic examination of joints and muscles, cervical blood vessels, thyroid gland, lymph nodes, and skin structures.

Renal and Bladder Echoscopic Examination

The purpose of the kidney and bladder examination is to determine the size and position of the kidneys and bladder, the shape of their associated structures (ureter) and their abnormalities.

The procedure requires advance preparation. The examination is performed with the patient lying on his /her back. The patient may be requested to turn on the side. The examination is painless.

A prerequisite for this examination is a full bladder (proper preparation allows accurate assessment of bladder abnormalities). 

Breast Echoscopic Examination

The purpose of the ultrasound examination of breasts is to detect changes in the breast tissue found by palpation (hardening, nipple discolouration and changes in the structure), or to specify the changes found on mammograms or magnetic resonance imaging. The study identifies stiff (adipose tissue thickening or cancerous lesions), fluid-filled structures (cysts), and also evaluates the  lymph nodes in the armpit. Breasts of women, men, and teenagers are examined.

Breast examination is performed with the patient lying on his back with his hands raised over his head. If necessary, the patient is placed on the side.

No special preparation for breast examination is required. The examination is usually painless, but you may feel pressure or other discomfort if your breasts are sensitive.

IMPORTANT:

Women under 30 years of age need only have an ultrasound examination, which will determine whether they need a biopsy. Most women over 30 years of age use ultrasound in combination with mammography.

However, breast ultrasound, being one of the most affordable, inexpensive, and painless breast imaging examinations, is no substitute for mammography and clinical examination. Most cancers are not visible with ultrasound. At some stages of early cancer, the calcinates that are visible in mammography are not visible in ultrasound. Conversely, some lesions are more visible in ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging is not always detected by ultrasound. Therefore, when a structure is found in a breast, a follow-up method is selected: aspiration biopsy, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, or repeated echoscopy.

Echoscopic Examination of Abdominal Organs

The examination evaluates the liver, gall bladder and ducts, the pancreas, spleen, abdominal aorta, kidneys and bladder and other abdominal organs. The examination determines the position of organs, their size, their structure and their abnormalities.

The procedure requires advance preparation. The examination is performed with the patient lying on his /her back. The patient may be asked to turn on his /her side or stomach. The examination is painless.

Echoscopy of joints is a simple and informative examination method to investigate joint structures, muscles, surrounding tissues and their pathological changes with the help of ultrasound.

It examines the joints of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle and foot, as well as muscles of the whole body. Besides evaluating the soft parts of the joint – such as tendons, ligaments, oily sacs, cartilage and bone contours – the echoscopic examination can evaluate fluid accumulation in the joint, tendon and ligament ruptures, inflammation of the oily bags, and post-traumatic lesions. When examining muscles, the integrity of muscle fibres and their rupture, as well as fluid retention, are evaluated.

Arthroscopy of the joints can be performed as an initial examination, to specify the diagnosis after or instead of a radiological examination, when a woman is pregnant or when magnetic resonance imaging is not possible due to metal implants.

The examination can be performed by patients of all ages, without special preparation.

Thyroid and cervical lymph node echoscopy is a convenient, simple, non-invasive and informative ultrasound examination of the thyroid and cervical lymph nodes to determine the size of the thyroid gland, its structure, tissue lesions, nodes, cervical lymph node size and lesions.

This examination does not require any preparation and may be performed on the day of the consultation with the physician endocrinologist or physician paediatric endocrinologist.

Cardiac echoscopy is a basic ultrasound examination of the heart to assess functional and anatomical changes in the heart, thickness of the heart muscle (walls), locomotor disorders and the state of heart valves, local myocardial damages, congenital and acquired cardiac abnormalities, and to determine the capacity of the heart to contract (heart ejection fraction).

There is no need to prepare for the examination, but it is advisable to wear loose two-piece clothing. During the examination, you may have to remove your jewellery and some of your clothing.

Double-scanning of cervical blood vessels (carotid arteries) is an ultrasound examination of cervical blood vessels to assess the structural and anatomical changes, as well as the circulation of the blood.

It is preferable not to wear any necklaces during the examination. No special preparation is required.

If you are insured by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and have a referral from a doctor, echoscopic examinations are free of charge (reimbursed by the Territorial Health Insurance Funds). The examination must be paid for uninsured patients without a referral. 

The price list of paid services can be found

here

Endoscopy is the examination of the internal organs from the inside using endoscopes, the devices designed for this type of examination. The examination observes and evaluates the condition of the organ and its mucosa.

Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy is one of the most important endoscopic examinations of the mucous membrane of the upper gastrointestinal part, oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, which can help to identify the cause of malaise and to detect early pathological changes of the upper gastrointestinal tract (e.g., inflammation of the mucous membranes, ulcers, enlarged blood vessels, source of bleeding, such as polyps or tumours) and select an effective treatment for the disease.

A flexible thin optical instrument (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth into the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. When the air is inflated, pathological changes in these digestive organs can be clearly seen.

Before the procedure, the throat is sprayed with a local anaesthetic, the patient is placed on his / her side and asked to swallow, as if swallowing a large piece of food, when inserting the endoscope. The procedure takes about 10-15 minutes.

If necessary, the endoscopic examination can use special biopsy forceps to collect small pieces of changed mucous membranes for a more detailed histological examination (biopsy), to stop bleeding with the help of medication or electro-coagulation, to remove some benign tumours, etc. These procedures are painless. Helicobacter pylori bacteria can be detected in the stomach during tests.

IMPORTANT:

The examination requires preparation: you cannot eat or drink any fluids on the day of the procedure.

The procedure conducted may be unpleasant but painless.

If you are insured by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and have a referral from a doctor, endoscopic examinations are free of charge (reimbursed by the Territorial Health Insurance Funds). The examination must be paid for uninsured patients without a referral. 

The price list of paid services can be found

here

A resting electrocardiogram is a quick, simple, and informative examination that shows the electrical activity of the heart in real time, helps diagnose cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances, deficient oxygenation of the heart muscle and circulatory disorders in the heart wall, an impending or actual myocardial infarction, cardiac muscle thickening, and more.

An ECG is a painless examination and takes about 5 minutes. During the examination, several special small contacts are adhered to the thorax, wrist, and ankle. The contacts are connected to the leads of the ECG recorder. Several heartbeats are recorded on the paper.

An electrocardiogram is recommended for all adults once a year.

Veloergometry is a measurement of the physical capacity of an organism with the help of dosed physical exercise, an electrocardiogram (ECG) of exercise, which is carried out upright and at a specified pace with the pedals of a medical computerised bicycle.

The patient is prescribed with an exercise based on his / her age, height, weight and following a standardised exercise protocol as well as according to the objectives of the examination. During the examination, the physician monitors the general condition of the subject, the patient’s experienced standardised dose (i.e. speed and pace), heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and changes in the electrocardiogram on the screen.

The ECG is recorded before exercise, every minute during the exercise, and at the completion of pedalling until the data of the baseline electrocardiogram is resumed to record again. The doctor will prepare a report, conclusions and recommendations.

The results of the examination enable the physician to evaluate the general condition and physical capacity of the subject, to adjust the diagnosis of the disease (to determine the heart rhythm and conduction disturbances, heart muscle condition, coronary heart disease and its risk level, signs of cardiovascular insufficiency, a change in the arterial blood pressure, a degree of hypertension) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment, to adjust it as well as to stipulate rehabilitation.

IMPORTANT:

Veloergometry test requires the following preparation:

• it is not permitted to eat  or smoke, drink a lot of fluids, coffee and strong tea 2 hours prior to the examination;
• it is necessary to train your feet, and to wear comfortable clothing and footwear at the examination;
• it is necessary to take daily medicines to control arterial pressure;
• inform your doctor of any other illnesses you have and the medicines you are taking, as some medicines cannot be used during the test.

If you are insured by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and have a referral from a doctor, functional diagnostic tests are free of charge (reimbursed by the Territorial Health Insurance Funds). The examination must be paid for uninsured patients without a referral. 

The price list of paid services can be found

here