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The diagnostic radiologist uses multiple imaging techniques in the evaluation of adults and the diagnosis of disease. Various modalities include routine x-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, mammography, interventional radiology and angiography. All RCND radiologists have completed accredited 4-year residency training programs, and are board-certified by the American Board of Radiology. All have had additional training or completed 1-2 year fellowships in these different disciplines, and utilize this subspecialty training in providing patient specific, technique-specific and age-specific diagnosis.
Physicians may elect after radiology residency to spend additional years training in musculoskeletal radiology. Learning focuses on the bones and joints of the skeleton, and techniques may include specialized MRI and CT joint imaging and arthrography in the evaluation of sports injuries, joint pain and arthritis.
A neuroradiologist specializes in imaging of the brain, skull, neck and spine. Fellowships in neuroradiology are 1-3 years long, following radiology residency. The various imaging techniques may include CT, MRI, neurosonography, functional MRI, perfusion and diffusion MRI, stroke imaging, multimodality imaging and tumor mapping, nuclear medicine SPECT and PET scans, seizure focus evaluation, myelography, neuroangiography, carotid angiography, vertebroplasty and discography, epidural and facet joint injections and back-pain therapy.
The neuroradiologists in RCND are fellowship trained, board-certified with certificates of added qualifications in neuroradiology. All RCND neuroradiologists are senior members of the American Society of Neuroradiology.
The sub-specialty of nuclear medicine makes use of radioactive materials in imaging, functional analysis, and treatment of various diseases. A patient typically is injected with a radioactive tracer, and lies on a camera table from 30-60 minutes. The radiopharmaceuticals are often organ specific: targeting the kidneys, liver and bile ducts, or bones; and in the process of being excreted by the body, they yield images of the body. Radiotracers give structural and functional information. By measuring the activity of excreted tracer over time, one can determine, for example, how well the kidneys or lungs work.
Lastly, high-dose radioactive medicines can be designed to go only to a particular tumor or organ, and deliver maximum radiation therapy directly to the cancer cells.
Various physicians in RCND have trained with nuclear medicine during their residency, or have completed dedicated Nuclear Medicine residencies and fellowships. Many advanced imaging techniques such as tumor imaging, prostate cancer therapy clinical research trials, PET imaging, SPECT, cardiac and seizure imaging are all performed by the radiologists of RCND.
A child is not simply a little adult. The diseases processes of children are different, and the specific imaging needs of the pediatric patient are unique. RCND follows a subspecialty focus which optimizes care for children by giving patient-specific and age-specific radiological services. Pediatric radiologists complete a general diagnostic radiology residency and go on to spend an additional 1-2 years in fellowship training to care specifically for their pediatric patients.
Interventional Radiologists use image-guided catheters, needles, and balloons in the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. All RCND interventional radiologists are board-certified and have earned certificates of added qualifications in both vascular and interventional radiology.
Some new techniques utilized include therapeutic uterine fibroid embolization, needle biopsy, vascular stents and angioplasty, varicocele embolization, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, liver and biliary evaluation and treatment, abscess drainage, central venous catheter placement and management, renal system drainage and nephrostomies and stents, hemodialysis vascular graft de-clot, pre-surgical tumor ablations, foreign body retrievals, pleural and abdominal fluid drainage.
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