FAQs for Pet Owners
Q: What is Radiology?
A: The branch of medicine known as radiology was born when German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen accidentally discovered x-rays while working in his lab in 1895. The x-ray's extraordinary benefit to medical science was immediately recognized and, with the research of French scientists Marie and Pierre Curie that followed Roentgen's discovery, scientific and technological advances have led to the important role radiology plays today in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Radiology is both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Diagnostic imaging employs a number of different modalities, such as plain radiography, CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine, to identify disease and other conditions within the patient’s body. Therapeutic imaging, commonly called interventional radiology, is a subspecialty that involves the use of imaging technology to carry out minimally invasive procedures with the help of devices such as catheters, balloons, and stents to open blocked blood vessels, drain fluid, and perform needle biopsies.
With the exception of ultrasound, imaging studies are typically performed by a trained technologist, while the veterinary radiologist, a specially trained veterinary doctor, reviews and interprets the radiographic images and reports the findings to the patient's primary doctor. Typically these reports are finalized within 2 to 12 hours after image acquisition.
Today, the radiologic sciences are on the brink of a new age. Digital imaging and computerized data has enabled the effective and efficient delivery of diagnosis and treatment thereby improving patient care. The section of radiology at the veterinary school of the University of Pennsylvania is at the helm of these exciting advances in imaging technology. The work being done in our section of radiology will continue to benefit healthcare to our patients and around the world.
Q: What is a Veterinary Radiologist?
A: An ACVR Diplomate in Radiology is also known as a Board Certified Veterinary Radiologist. At least 3 years of advanced training in an American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) Accredited Radiology Residency Program is required to take the ACVR Radiology Board Certification Examination. Many Radiology Residency Programs are 4 years. All of our radiologists are board certified and experienced in all the imaging modalities available to your pets, including digital radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and MRI.
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Q: Will I get a report and the images obtained on my animal?
A: Once the imaging study is completed, they will be reviewed by a radiologist within hours and a report generated. We can burn a CD with the digital images and send them over to your referring veterinarian. Images are stored on a remote server perfectly secured so that they will always be accessible within seconds when you bring your pet to our hospital again.
Q: Will my animal be sedated or anesthetized?
A: Many times sedation or general anesthesia will be necessary for imaging, because most techniques require your pet to be completely still for a few seconds / minutes. If such is the case, your primary doctor will contact you to request your authorization and the procedure will be performed under the supervision of experienced and trained anesthesia nurses and doctors.
Q: Will my pet have his hair clipped?
A: If your animal needs an ultrasound, the hair will likely be clipped because it would prevent good imaging and thereby prevents an accurate diagnosis to be made.
Q: What is a radiographic dye?
A: A dye is a chemical substance that is used to increase visibility of structures in particular vessels and tumors. If your animal requires injection of a radiographic dye (required most of the times during a CT or MRI, and sometimes for some radiographic procedures), the contrast dyes with the best safety profile will be used and your pet will be closely monitored.
Q: What kind of machine do you use and who will perform the study?
A: Our technologists and radiologists have extensive training and experience in veterinary diagnostic imaging.
We use machines very similar to the ones used by your own doctor, but we adjusted doses and protocols to veterinary patients. We provide images services with a quality similar to what is provided in human medicine.