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Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging

Veterinary Radiology at Penn Vet combines trailblazing research, outstanding educatioPenn Vet Radiology, CT Angiography kidney donor 3D renderingn and clinical excellence in a leading academic health sciences institution.

Our clinicians, all board-certified in Radiology, provide the clinical imaging and radiation therapy needed for patients of Ryan Veterinary Hospital for small companion animals in the greater Philadelphia region.

At Ryan Veterinary Hospital, the diagnostic imaging capabilities include digital radiography, fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, 16-slice helical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

Penn Vet’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital, one of the busiest veterinary teaching hospitals in the country, sees more than 31,000 small-animal patient visits a year. The Radiology Section benefits directly from this caseload, with 16,000 small-animal imaging studies and 6,500 large-animal imaging studies per year. Because Ryan is a tertiary referral facility, hospital clients expect the best possible veterinary care for their pets.

The MRI Referral Center opened in 2007 and now receives cases referred by practicing veterinarians. A fully-staffed MRI facility, the Rosenthal Imaging and Treatment Center (RITC),Penn Vet Radiology, bullet in dog thorax provides comprehensive referral service in a friendly and efficient manner for our clients and their companion animals.

Outpatient imaging is provided for Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, and MRI. These imaging services are provided with a referral from a veterinarian and a scheduled appointment. Please expect a half-day visit for that appointment.

Appointments

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Cheryl Diehl at 215-746-VMRI (215-746-8674).

State-of-the-art: RITC

The Rosenthal Imaging & Treatment Center (RITC)  houses medical imaging and radiation therapy equipment.

Learn more about RITC...

  • Comprehensive oncology at penn vet.. all the.specialists in one place for the best care to your pet...


    Timeline Photos
    Penn Vet is excited to announce the launch of its Comprehensive Cancer Care Program, a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate and treat cancer patients. Learn more about this groundbreaking program: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/about/news-and-events/press-releases/article/penn-vet-s-ryan-hospital-launches-comprehensive-cancer-care-program
  • One of our third year residents, Dr Paek, just got his paper published in the September issue of Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound. He describes the prevalence and origin of a radiolucency that is commonly seen on lateral radiographs of the stifle (knee joint) in dogs. AWESOME JOB Dr PAEK!!!!! Very proud of you!!! :-D

  • Another awesome case at PENN VET RADIOLOGY yesterday. A young German Shepherd was presented with a history of chronic regurgitations; the radiographs taken at the referring veterinarian (top left) showed a very dilated esophagus (red arrows) cranial to the heart, causing marked ventral deviation of the trachea (yellow arrows). Caudal to the heart base the esophagus decreased abruptly in size; these features are very characteristic of a condition called 'vascular ring anomaly', a group of congenital abnormalities that are due to abnormal development of the vessels at the heart base which can sometimes cause constriction of the esophagus at the level of the heart leading to progressive dilation cranial to the heart with formation of a large pouch; the animal regurgitates food that cannot pass through the area of stricture. Complications include weight loss, pneumonia due to aspiration of food and ultimately death if the condition is not corrected surgically. On the VD radiograph the trachea showed a focal kink to the left at the heart base which is very characteristic of a condition called 'Persistent of the right aortic arch' whereby the aorta forms on the right side of the heart base as opposed to the left; the esophagus becomes constricted by the ligamentus arteriosus, the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The surgeons consulted with Dr Buchanan, a pioneer cardiologist from PENN VET, now professor emeritus who has done extensive portions of the early works in veterinary cardiology including congenital vascular anomalies such as these (http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/cardiosf/project/praapres/praa.htm). He was concerned there could be another anomaly in this dog due to the unusual severe ventral deviation of the trachea. For this reason the surgeons decided to ask PENN VET RADIOLOGY to perform a CT angiography (top right) to get a thorough assessment of the association of vascular anomalies and plan for the best treatment method, either surgical (opening the thorax up) or minimally invasive surgery which can be done by our colleagues at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penn-Vet-Minimally-Invasive-Surgery-Diagnostic-Group/352189304877861 ...

    The CT angiography showed that the aorta was originating from the right rather than the left side (as you can see on the top right image, view of the heart from the left of the animal, the aorta arises form the heart in the background, i.e. on the right side); other abnormalities were present including a retro-esophageal left subclavian artery (pink arrow), a bi-carotid trunk (instead of a brachiocephalic trunk, green arrow) and an aberrant right subclavian artery (blue arrow) originating from the aorta rather than the brachiocephalic trunk). The latter two conditions do not need surgical corrections however the former two do.

    The images at the bottom are 3D reconstruction of the air filled space out of the CT data; on the left the lungs are in place on the right I removed them to leave only the trachea (yellow arrows) and esophagus (red arrows). The image in the middle is viewed form the ventral aspect and on the right from the right side. The severaly dilated, pouch-like esophagus is visible (red arrows) as well as the tracheal deviation (yellow arrows) and characteristic focal kink to the left (yellow arrowhead) seen with 'persistent right aortic arch'. The area of esophageal stricture (yellow star) is also visible. After the stricture, the esophagus shrinks down to a normal size.

    The patient was taken to surgery where the radiographic findings were confirmed and corrected. CT angiography is an excellent way to assess completely the anomalies present and helps the surgeon in preparing for the surgery so that anesthesia time is reduced as much as possible in these challenging patients.

  • Another shot of Dr Mathieu Spriet's presentation at the EAVDI annual conference - :-D

  • Last week PENN VET RADIOLOGY was attending the European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (EAVDI) annual conference in Portugal - I was very impressed with Dr Mathieu Spriet's 'State-of-the-Art' presentation on advanced MRI of tendons in horses; Dr Spriet is a graduate from PennVet Radiology's residency program (class of 2007) and board-certified both in the American and European colleges of diagnostic imaging; he is now an Associate Professor of Radiology at UC Davis; like several of our graduates, he is now a successful faculty at a top notch veterinary College, and is contributing actively to the advance of veterinary science, advanced care to companion animals and education of students, interns and residents alike. His presentation was about the detailed information one can obtain from MRI images of tendons in horses using quantitative approaches and data processing, in particular to differentiate active vs chronic lesions, and to increase sensitivity of MRI in the imaging of tendons which are commonly diseased in horses and a prevalent cause of lameness...
    Very proud of you Dr Spriet! Awesome talk!!!! :-D

  • GREAT SUCCESS FOR PENN VET RADIOLOGY; our two graduating residents, Dr Chris RYAN and Dr Fernando CASTRO passed the practical portion of the American College of Veterinary Radiology, adding two PENN VET trained radiologists to the already long list. We are very proud of their accomplishment and success and wish them the very best in their new career as Board-Certified Veterinary Radiologists. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :-D
  • About medical imaging in animals:

    http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/21859/


    DOTmed News - Pet owners spend big on imaging services
    www.dotmed.com
    Dogs, cats get MR and CT scans too.
  • DON'T FORGET TO CAST A VOTE FOR BEST VETERINARIAN IN THE PHILLY AREA!!!! :-D

    *****************************************

    Penn Vet has been nominated for Best Veterinarians in PHL 17's 2013 Philly HOT LIST contest. Please vote for the Ryan Veterinary Hospital!

    http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/university-of-pennsylvania-s-ryan-veterinary-hospital/biz/663017


    University of Pennsylvania's Ryan Veterinary Hospital in the Philadelphia area on the HOT LIST
    phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com
    Jul 15, 2013 - Pat K. voted for University of Pennsylvania's Ryan Veterinary Hospital as the BEST Veterinarians ... Vote for the places you LOVE on the phl17 HOT LIST and earn points, pins and amazing deals along the way. Voting ends Sep 6...
  • Penn Vet got a NEW website!!!! And therefore so does PENN VET RADIOLOGY! Please check it out at
    http://www.vet.upenn.edu/veterinary-hospitals/ryan-veterinary-hospital/services/radiology


    Penn Vet | Radiology
    www.vet.upenn.edu
    Veterinary Radiology at Penn Vet combines trailblazing research, outstanding education and clinical excellence in a leading academic health sciences institution.
  • Composite image of the internal lumen of the trachea and origin of the bronchi in the same dog as presented below with a torsion of the right cranial lung lobe - this technique is known as "VIRTUAL ENDOSCOPY", and is often used in people to look for polyps in the colon (http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0701/p107.html); it uses the Computed Tomography data to travel inside of the air filled spaces such as in this case the bronchi (much easier than regular endoscopy necessitating to pass a tube and camera through the airways).
    These images show a short trip through the trachea to the entrance of the main bronchi (from left to right and top to bottom).
    The Bifurcation at the carina is seen and the origin of the right cranial bronchus (red), right middle bronchus (green), accessory lobe bronchus (pick arrow) and right caudal lung lobe (yellow arrow) is clearly visible; the 'twist' at the root of the right cranial bronchus (red arrow) collapsing its lumen, is clearly appreciated...

    GOOD JOB, Dr Suran!!!! We are happy for a brilliant new faculty recruit at PENN VET RADIOLOGY!!!! (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/people/faculty-clinician-search/JANTRASURAN) :-D

  • This CT (transverse image on the left and Three dimensional rendering of the air filled space (lungs and bronchi) on the right) shoes the area of vesicular emphysema (yellow circle) in the right cranial lung lobe as was suspected on the radiographs, and shows abrupt blunting of the right cranial bronchus with a 'beak-like' appearance suggesting the bronchus is 'twisted' (red arrow).

  • Our new Assistant Professor of Radiology, Dr Jantra Suran (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/people/faculty-clinician-search/JANTRASURAN), who completed her residency here at PENN VET, [like the majority of the Veterinary Radiologists in the Greater Philadelphia area!!], took care of that recent patient that came in with difficulty breathing.
    On radiographs she suspected a rare, but life-threatening condition called lung lobe torsion where one of the lung lobes twists around its bronchus and becomes congested.
    Obtaining good radiographs on a dyspneic animal can be challenging, but our Certified Veterinary Technologists with years of experience taking images of our patients (that's their area of expertise) obtained these nice radiographs which show the bronchus to the right cranial lung lobe having an abnormal orientation (red arrow) pointing 'up', and also a fine foamy/bubbly pattern in the cranial thorax (yellow circle) which is often referred to as vesicular emphysema and is frequently associated with lung lobe torsions. She decided to order a CT to confirm the suspicion, as this life threatening conditions needs surgical attention as soon as possible.

  • http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-18/news/40659230_1_cleft-palate-lentil-unconditional-love


    Cleft-palate dog connects with children with 'facial differences'
    articles.philly.com
    Robert Walton - 8 years old, with as many surgeries behind him - smiled shyly as he reached out a hand. Before him, a 12-pound bulldog pup squirmed excitedly. And then, they connected. Small hand to...
  • Please Vote!!!!! :-)


    Timeline Photos
    Penn Vet has been nominated for Best Veterinarians in PHL 17's 2013 Philly HOT LIST contest. Please vote for the Ryan Veterinary Hospital!

    http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/university-of-pennsylvania-s-ryan-veterinary-hospital/biz/663017
  • This 3 year old Great Dane was presented to the emergency service for abdominal pain and discomfort. On the initial radiographs there was a gas distended loop of intestine in the right cranial abdomen (red arrow) that suggested abnormally positioned colon. Another gas distended structure (green arrow) was seen that looked like cecum except positioned to the left of midline instead to the right. Our resident was consulted on that case and suggested the possibility for torsion of the colon which happens when the colon (large intestine) twists over itself. We performed a contrast study (barium enema) which consists in placing radiopaque barium in the colon through the rectum using a balloon catheter) and the images on the right confirm the torsion ('volvulus') at the site indicated by the yellow arrow. The dog went to surgery where the torsion of the colon was confirmed and de-twisted; this was caught early enough that the wall of the colon was not devitalized yet so no resection was necessary. The colon was then surgically attached to the inner abdominal wall (a procedure called 'pexy') to hold it in place better and prevent this to happen again.
    Kudos to our 1st year resident Dr Jonathan NEVINS for coming up with an excellent differential (especially since this is a very uncommon condition), and performing a beautiful diagnostic contrast study!!!! :-D

  • Lentil the bulldog's repaired palate after the amazing plastic surgery and reconstruction performed by PENN VET's Drs Lewis and Reiter, dentists and Maxillo-facial surgeons super-stars!!!! :-D


    Timeline Photos
    WARNING- Medical Pic!!!! I'm so excited to share this picture of lentil's new palate (roof of his mouth) thanks to the hard work of Dr Lewis/Dr Reiter and the dentistry nurses! You can see there is no longer a hole connecting his mouth to his nose, just healthy tissue ready to start healing! (Don't worry, it's supposed to look raw on the one side, that will heal pink and smooth). Our boy is a trooper! Xo
  • PENN VET RADIOLOGY is so proud to get to train AMAZING veterinary radiology residents who go on to get such amazing careers helping all sorts of animals. I am proud of you, Dr Marina IVANCIC :-D :

    http://www.vicsd.com/index.php/blog/vicsd-veterinarian-performs-worlds-first-procedure-in-dolphin/


    VICSD’s Dr. Marina Ivančić Performs World’s First Procedure in Dolphin | Veterinary Imaging...
    www.vicsd.com
    Sarah, the incredible 29 year-old dolphin has been helping disabled children in Key Largo, Florida for 22 years. On May 11, trainers noticed that her breathing was labored, and she was rushed to the hospital where she was given a CT scan in a human CT machine. The medical team discovered that one of...
  • This is a sagittal and transverse 3D MIP view of the CT lymphangiography which shows nicely the abdominal and thoracic lymphatics which are now visible as they are filled with iodinated contrast material what was injected in the popliteal lymph node of one of the back legs under ultrasound guidance (arrows).
    The thoracic duct is well seen under the thoracic spine. Network of dilated lymphatics were seen in the cranial thorax (yellow arrowhead) suggestive of lymphangiectasia. Retrograde filling of abdominal lymphatics (green arrowhead) are also seen).

    A NICE ROAD MAP FOR THE SURGEONS!!! :-D
    Great job, Drs Suran and Amory!!!

  • Yesterday Dr Suran, lecturer in Radiology and one of our 2nd year residents Dr Joseph Amory performed a nice study on a dog presented for chronic pleural effusion (fluid in the chest) that was diagnosed as a chylous effusion. Since no cause was found to explain the effusion, the treatment is to surgically ligate the ducts that carry lymph fluid on the chest, called the thoracic duct. The surgeon like to know the anatomy of the duct(s) prior to surgery since there can be considerable anatomic variations. CT lymphangiography is a technique that allows good visualization of the lymphatics of the abdomen and thorax, by injecting an iodine dye in the popliteal lymph node of one of the back legs. This video shows the injection in a popliteal node under ultrasound guidance performed by Dr Amory; the needle is the white tract on the left; the lymph node is the oval shaped structure in the middle, it is plump now as injection has already started; the dye will then be carried by the leg lymphatics into the abdominal lymphatic system (cisterna chyli) and then through the diaphragm into the thoracic duct to end up in the cranial vena cava and heart.
    STAY TUNED TO SEE THE CT IMAGES!!!!


    May 31, 2013 1:11pm

Radiology

  • Description of Service and Procedures

    Penn Vet Radiology, Tibial tuberosity avulsionDiagnostic radiology provides survey and special procedure services only for Ryan Veterinary Hospital patients. Routine thoracic, abdominal and skeletal radiographs, special procedures (e.g., myelography) and special contrast procedures (e.g., excretory urograms, barium contrast studies) are provided.

    Estimated Time for Completion of Service

    Typical time to completion from the time of a submitted request for a radiographic examination is between two and three hours depending on caseload.

    Procedures

    • Most standard radiographs are obtained by highly trained and skilled veterinary radiology technologists. They ensure that the procedure is performed as smoothly and fast as possible, while guaranteeing excellent image quality, thereby allowing maximal diagnostic accuracy.
    • Images are reviewed within minutes by board-certified radiologists.
    • Penn Vet, MRI hydrocephalusSpecial procedures (contrast studies, fluoroscopy) are performed under the supervision of a radiologist.
    • Some procedures will require anesthesia: most orthopedic radiographs, most contrast studies will need to be obtained with the patient absolutely still, which will require sedation or anesthesia.
    • The duration of anesthesia is generally short, and the patient is monitored using sophisticated equipment including electrocardiogram, blood pressure and respiratory indices. Modern anesthesia drugs allow for quick onset of and recovery from anesthesia. Under direct supervision by a board-certified anesthesiologist, anesthesia is administered by highly trained veterinary nurse-anesthetists who select the drugs and administration protocol according to each patient’s individual requirements.

    Appointment / Referral Information

    CT/MRI/Ultrasound outpatient services are now available.

Ultrasound

  • Description of Service and Procedures

    The ultrasound imaging service provides abdominal, non-cardiac thoracic, musculoskeletal and ocular ultrasound; US-guUltrasound: intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, Penn Vetided aspiration and biopsy procedures.

    Estimated Time for Completion of Service

    Typical time to completion of a radiographic or ultrasonographic examination is between two and four hours depending on caseload.

    Procedures

    • All our ultrasound examinations are performed by radiologists. None is performed by a technologist.
    • Abdominal hair will need to be clipped to allow for adequate penetration of ultrasound into the patient.
    • Ultrasound examinations have to be performed on fasted animals so you should not feed your pet before bringing him to the hospital otherwise this will decrease the quality and diagnostic value of the examination.Penn Vet, Ryan Hospital, radiology
    • The examination itself lasts approximately 30 minutes after which a report is quickly generated and made available to the primary doctor.
    • Occasionally, sedation or anesthesia will be needed if the animal is nervous. Sedation or anesthesia will always be needed for ultrasound guided biopsies and most fine needle aspirates, but not necessary for ultrasound guided cystocentesis and some fine needle aspirates.
    • The duration of anesthesia is generally short, and the patient is monitored using sophisticated equipment including electrocardiogram, blood pressure and respiratory indices. Modern anesthesia drugs allow for quick onset of and recovery from anesthesia. Under direct supervision by a board-certified anesthesiologist, anesthesia is administered by highly trained veterinary nurse-anesthetists who select the drugs and administration protocol according to each patient’s individual requirements.

    Appointment / Referral information

    Outpatient ultrasound imaging is now available with a referral from your local primary care veterinarian.

  • Radiology lab, Ryan Hospital Download Imaging Request Form (pdf)

  • For more information, contact Cheryl Diehl 215.746.8674

Computed Tomography (CT)

  • Description of Service and Procedures

    Penn Vet Radiology: CT masticatory muscle myositisThe computed tomography service currently provides CT examinations of skull, spine, thoracic, abdominal and musculoskeletal systems, and CT angiography. CT guided biopsies are offered only to in-patients.

    A 16-slice helical CT unit was installed in 2009 and is housed in the Rosenthal Imaging and Treatment Center (RITC). This CT scanner allows for rapid acquisition of cross-sectional images. This significantly decreases the time to complete a scan and therefore duration of anesthesia and also provides images with superb resolution. In conjunction with the latest computer software multi-slice CT permits evaluation of blood flow within the body and dynamic assessment tumor perfusion.

    Procedure

    Veterinary patients must be anesthetized for CT, since they must remain absolutely still during Penn Vet, Ryan Hospital, radiology, catscanthe treatment. The duration of anesthesia is generally short (30 minutes to one hour), and the patient is monitored using sophisticated equipment including electrocardiogram, blood pressure and respiratory indices. Modern anesthesia drugs allow for quick onset of and recovery from anesthesia. Under direct supervision by a board-certified anesthesiologist, anesthesia is administered by highly trained veterinary nurse-anesthetists who select the drugs and administration protocol according to each patient’s individual requirements. Most cases require injection of iodinated contrast agents.

    Appointment / Referral information

    Outpatient CT imaging is now available with a referral from your local primary care veterinarian.

  • Radiology lab, Ryan Hospital Download Imaging Request Form (pdf)

    • For more information, contact Cheryl Diehl at 215-746-8674

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

  • The MRI Referral Center is now open to receive cases referred by practicing veterinarians. MRI trigeminal neoplasia, Penn VetA fully staffed MRI facility, the Rosenthal Imaging and Treatment Center (RITC), provides comprehensive referral service in a friendly and efficient manner for your clients and their companion animals. Because of our location at one of the leading veterinary schools in the country, you can count on your patients receiving the most advanced veterinary diagnostic information available.

    Scheduling an MRI

    To schedule an MRI for your client at the RITC, we will need the following items:

  • Radiology lab, Ryan Hospital Download Imaging Request Form (pdf)

    • Once we have the necessary information, your client should contact the RITC directly to make an appointment by calling 215-746-0516.

    On the day of the MRI scan, your client will leave with a copy of the MRI on a CR-ROM with a DICOM viewer. You will receive a written MRI report within 24 hours by fax or e-mail, whichever you prefer.

    We look forward to providing your client and you with the highest level of service. The RITC staff is committed to delivering a positive experience from start to finish.

  • Description of Service and Procedures

    Penn Vet, Ryan Hospital, radiologyMR imaging is used primarily for evaluation of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Other regions of the body can be evaluated if clinically indicated. MRI provides high resolution, high contrast images. It is sensitive for detecting soft tissue pathology that may not be detectable by plain films or CT imaging.

    A GE 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner allows superb imaging of internal structures and provides soft tissue detail not available with conventional X-rays or CT scans.  MRI data is acquired by a certified MRI radiology technologist with training in both the human and veterinary fields. MRI images are interpreted by board-certified specialists in radiology and neurology.

    Pre-anesthesia evaluation is performed by a board-certified anesthesiologist who works in conjunction with the client and referring veterinarian to provide optimal patient care. The anesthesiologist will select the drugs and administration protocol according to each patient’s individual requirements. The ECG, blood pressure and respiratory indices are continuously monitored during the imaging session.

  • At least one veterinarian, numerous certified veterinary anesthesia technicians and a MRI technologist are always on site to provide care. Vital signs of every patient are monitored with the aid of specialized equipment throughout each procedure. A centralized preparation and recovery area allows for efficient and constant observation during anesthesia and recovery.

    Results are conveyed promptly to the referring veterinarian via a faxed report. The RITC is committed to providing the highest level of service to patients, clients and referring veterinarians. Our goal is to deliver a smooth, positive experience from the time your client enters our facility to the time you have your results.

The Section of Radiology members include two full-time faculty, three staff-veterinarians, five residents, one administrative assistant, one MRI technologist and five technologists. Members of the section are actively engaged in clinical, teaching and research endeavors. The section also supports an accredited three-year radiology residency program that fulfills the training guidelines of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. Our residency program is among the very best in the country, attracting the best and brightest veterinary post-graduates in the United States and around the world. Some have pursued academic careers and now contribute to excellence in veterinary diagnostic imaging and development of new knowledge in this field. We are emphasizing research experiences and training during the residency.

Faculty/Clinicians
  Name Title
Wilfried Mai, Penn Vet, Radiology Wilfried Mai, Dr Méd Vét, PhD, MSc, DECVDI, DACVR
 Associate Professor of Radiology
Chief, Section of Radiology
Jantra Suran, Penn Vet, RadiologyJantra Suran, DVM, DACVR  Assistant Professor, Radiology
 Penn Vet, radiology, Dr. Ana Caceres Ana Caceres, DVM, DACVR Staff Veterinarian, Radiology
 Penn Vet, radiology, Dr. Yael Mosenco Yael Porat-Mosenco, DVM, DECVDI, DACVR Staff Veterinarian, Radiology
Jennifer Reetz, Penn Vet, Radiology Jennifer Reetz, DVM, DACVIM, DACVR Staff Veterinarian, Radiology
Lillian Duda, VMD, Penn Vet, Radiation Oncology Lillian E. Duda, VMD, DACVR, (RO) Radiation Therapy, Adjunct Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
Residents
  Name
 Joseph Amory, Penn Vet, Radiology Joseph Amory, DVM
Matthew Paek, VMD, Penn Vet, Radiology Matthew Paek, MS, VMD
Jonathan Nevins, Penn Vet, Radiology Jonathan Nevins, DVM

Pascal Fontaine, DVM
  Shoko Fukuda, DVM
Staff

Name Title
  Cheryl A. Diehl Manager, Imaging Services
  Russell White, RT (R) (MR) MRI Technologist
  Amy Dilling CVT, RT, (R),(CT) Technician
  My Inderelst Technician
  Barbara Kaminsky RT, Chief Technologist
  Lisa Chant Technician
  Ella Chasan Technician

Radiographic Suites

  • General Diagnostic Rooms

    Multi-purpose general diagnostic radiology room

    • DR Panels (Eklin EDR6 14’’x17’’. 5.9 MP array with 160 micron pitch. 12 bits grayscale. DICOM 3.0 compatible. Advanced multi-frequency image post-processing algorithms), movable to allow horizontal cross-table acquisitions.
    • General Electric MPH 65 (65 kW, 800 mA, 150 kVp) high frequency multi-pulse generator with automatic exposure control; Maxiray 100 double focus (0.6/1.25 mm) x-ray tube; Compax 40E heavy duty, elevating, four-way float radiographic table.

Special Procedures Rooms

  • General Electric Premium Legacy with Enhanced DRS

    • GE Advantx high frequency, multi-pulse 65 kW generator;
    • Advantx Legacy 90/15 (88 degrees to 15 degrees Trendelenberg) radiographic and fluoroscopic table, motorized 8-way tabletop; oscillating table Bucky with 12:1, 36 lines/cm (90 lines/inch) grid;
    • Maxiray 100 fluoroscopic x-ray tube (under table), 0.6/1.0 mm double focal spot; Maxiray 100 overhead x-ray tube, 0.6/1.25 mm double focal spot;
    • Advantx 9 inch image intensifier, 9/6/4.5 inch triple field image tube, motorized 10:1, 60 line/cm (152 lines/inch) grid, Primicon B camera, spot film device (2 images/second);
    • Advantx Digital Radiology System (DRS) Productivity Enhancement Package with real-time and post-processing edge enhancement, contrast/brightness adjustments, last hold image, digital acquisition up to 6 frames/sec, 1200 image storage.

    Fluoroscopy and Digital Radiography

    • Fixed Digital Radiography panel (Eklin EDR6 14’’x17’’. 5.9 MP array with 160 micron pitch. 12 bits grayscale. DICOM 3.0 compatible. Advanced multi-frequency image post-processing algorithms).
    • General Electric Premium Legacy with Advanced DRS:
      • GE Advantx high frequency, multi-pulse 65 kW generator;
      • Advantx Legacy 90/15 (88 degress to 15 degrees Trendelenberg) radiographic and fluoroscopic table, motorized 8-way tabletop;
      • Oscillating table Bucky with 12:1, 36 lines/cm (90 lines/inch) grid;
      • Maxiray 100 fluoroscopic x-ray tube (under table), 0.6/1.0 mm double focal spot; Maxiray 100 overhead x-ray tube, 0.6/1.25 mm double focal spot;
      • Advantx 12 inche image intensifier, 12/9/6/4.5 inch four field image tube, motorized 10:1, 60 line/cm (152 line/inch) grid, Primicon B camera;
      • Advantx Digital Radiology System (DRS) v3.2 Productivity Enhancement Package, DRS 3.2 Angiographic and Interventional Package with 800 image storage, superimposed road-mapping with peak opacification, real-time digital subtraction.

Computed Tomography Suite

    • General Electric BrightSpeed 16-slice CT:
      • Table/Gantry - advanced slip-ring technology
      • 3.5 MHU tube, 42kW generator
      • 4 Helical Modes of Data Output
        • 16x0.625mm or 1.25mm
        • 8x1.25mm or 2.5mm
        • Prospective Multiple Thickness Reconstruction
        • 0.8-1.0  second scan time
        • Horizontal range 162 cm, table load capacity 205 kg
        • DICOM 3.0 Storage Service Class
        • GE-Nemoto power injector
    • General Electric AW VolumeShare2 workstation with 2 flat panel color monitors:
      • Basic viewing/reformatting functions
      • 3D protocols including 3D MIP, Multi-planar reformat, Volume rendering CTA, General Volume Rendering, AutoBone Xpress
      • Additional software package for vascular / perfusion analysis
        • VesselIQ XPress
        • CT Perfusion 4 Multi-Organ Package

Ultrasound Suite

    • Two – General Electric Logiq 9 Ultrasound machines which features the latest advances in Ultrasound Imaging: spectral, color flow and power Doppler capability, harmonic imaging, 3D and contrast applications. M12L, M8C, 8C, 3.5C transducers.
    • One – General Electric LogicBook in the Emergency Service
    • One - Philips 7500 Sonos in Cardiology
    • One – Philips 5500 Sonos in Cardiology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • A 1.5 Tesla GE MRI unit is available at the RITC (Scantool 9.1 software and dedicated workstation).

Viewing Stations

    • In Radiology: Reading room
      • Four viewing stations on separate wide desks, each of them has one navigating monitor and two Medical Grade High-Resolution 3 MegaPixels 21.3’’ monitors (Nio 3MP-2H BarcoMed).
      • Two additional viewing stations next to radiology suites for immediate viewing and evaluation. Stations are connected to a PACS system (Philips Stentor PACS system). Ordering, reporting and billing are made through a Radiology Information System (Empiric Systems).

    Wide screen monitor viewing stations are installed throughout the hospital including ORs, wards, ICU, ES and consult rooms.

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 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 have to 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.

Q: I am bringing my pet for an out-patient imaging procedure, what should I expect?

  • A: The Rosenthal Imaging and Treatment Center offers outpatient ultrasound, CT, MRI services. You must be referred by your veterinarian for an appointment to be scheduled (see specific sections about ultrasound, CT and MRI services). On the day of the appointment, you will meet with a radiology technologist (ultrasound) or an anesthesia nurse (CT or MRI) and your pet will be directed to the appropriate service.
    • For ultrasound, the hair will be clipped on the belly, and the examination will be performed promptly by a board-certified radiologist. A report will be generated right after the scan and provided to you as well as a CD with the images obtained during the scan. If the clinical schedule allows it, the radiologist will come meet you and go over the findings.

    For CT and MRI your pet will be brought into the RITC facilities where highly trained veterinary anesthesia nurses and doctors will handle the anesthesia during the CT or MRI procedure. The images will be interpreted by a board-certified radiologist and the report faxed over to your veterinarian within a couple hours. When your pet has recovered from anesthesia you will be able to take him home. You should plan to have the entire day available to drop off your pet and pick him up. A CD with the images will be provided to your veterinarian.