Patient Care

We provide a wide range of fluoroscopic imaging for the evaluation of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Dynamic imaging, including esophagography and defecography, is provided as part of perioperative planning. Bariatric imaging and therapeutic procedures are also provided.

• US: We provide a full range of abdominal and pelvic examinations as well as arterial/venous vascular exams. We also both provide imaging for biopsy localization and perform US guided percutaneous biopsy and drainage procedures.
• Computed Tomography: We provide a full range of diagnostic examinations including multiplanar and 3D imaging and state of the art CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy).

We provide excellent quality imaging services catering to a wide variety of clinical needs.

• Chest radiographs in adults
• Chest CT and high-resolution lung CT in adults
• Cardiac CT and coronary CT
• Cardiac MRI in adults, with an emphasis in congenital diseases
• Thoracic MR angiography in adults
• Thoracic interventions, including biopsies, ablations, pleural and pericardial drainages

1. Optimize the quality of our clinical care in Cardiothoracic Imaging and incorporate new advanced techniques in our practice.We are exceptionally proud of our high quality of patient care, which relies primarily on advanced imaging techniques such as Cardiac CTA, Cardiac MRI, Functional MRI and Dynamic CT of the chest. We have strong working relationships with the medical and surgical departments in our various sites but primarily we deal directly with the cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons and pulmonary/critical care physicians. We routinely observe and tailor studies to suit the needs of individual patients and clinicians. This requires close working relationships with technical and radiologic staff as well as support staff. We participate in multiple interdisciplinary conferences to help provide a high level of patient care, resident and fellow education and assistance to our referring physicians.
2. Maintain and improve an outstanding residency training program that includes advanced cardiothoracic imaging as a core component of training.We are responsible for the training of residents in chest radiology. By providing exposure and instruction to all aspects of thoracic radiology, we assist in the training of future leaders in the field. We have weekly and daily conferences that residents and fellows are required to attend. In addition, during their senior year, the residents spend up to six weeks on a rotation entirely devoted to cardiac imaging, vascular imaging, and chest CT.
3. A detailed list of our conferences is available separately.Encourage and mandate staff, fellows and residents participation in clinical research and other scholarly activities.We have monthly staff meetings to promote the research participation of our staff. This enables all of us to be aware of the clinical and research activities of each of us and assist more effectively.
4. Maintain and improve an extensive teaching file and create a digitized teaching file in cardiothoracic imaging.

All imaging modalities are available for our patients including radiography, fluoroscopic studies, ultrasound, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and PET-CT. Percutaneous biopsy and drainage under ultrasound or CT guidance is also offered. To insure accuracy, interpretation of these studies is either done by a CAQ certified pediatric radiologist or by other radiologists who are experts in their fields. For all studies using ionizing radiation there is strict adherence to ALARA principles with frequent monitoring of radiation dose so that adult protocols are never used on pediatric patients.

We maintain an excellent relationship with the pediatric department and consult with them on a daily basis to determine the best imaging plans for our patients. We have daily radiology rounds with the neonatology division and participate in weekly pediatric problem rounds in cases that involve imaging. The Violence Intervention Program and Forensic Clinic, one of the largest child abuse prevention programs in the state, uses our department for imaging and consultation.

Not only do we provide a rich educational program for our radiology residents, the rotation is also a popular elective for medical students and pediatric residents. We have weekly lectures for all the radiology residents in the program as well as daily interesting case conferences for the residents assigned to pediatric radiology. We also provide a weekly radiology conference for pediatric residents. Journal articles are assigned for discussion based on current cases of interest. Completion of internet teaching modules from the Cleveland Clinic is required for all residents and medical students who rotate through the department. Radiology residents are also encouraged to participate in research projects.

We have thousands of teaching file cases from the past fifty years, which are available to our residents as well as to our radiology and pediatric staff. We have digitized the majority of these images and the maintenance and expansion of this collection is an ongoing process.