Expanding a Facility’s Capabilities to Better Serve Patients

Radiology Associates of South Florida’s extensive network of board-certified radiologists provides a wide range of expertise in diagnostic imaging covering every imaging subspecialty

Radiology Associates of South Florida’s radiologists are fellowship-trained and board-certified by the American Board of Radiology. Many of these radiologists have completed additional training—often four years or more involving formal programs and extensive clinical work—in specific disciplines of diagnostic imaging known as subspecialties. This specialized training allows the physician to develop a diagnosis for the unique condition of a diagnostic technique and of the patient. These specialty doctors also provide consultation on complicated cases, second opinions, evaluation of patient conditions, and other specific special procedures for referring physicians. Learn more about the subspecialties below.

Neuroradiology

A neuroradiologist specializes in interpreting diagnostic images of the brain, head, skull, neck, and spine. Neuroradiologists are valuable consultants in identifying head, neck, and spine tumors and evaluating traumatic injuries and cerebral-vascular disorders, including stokes and aneurysms. With a focused expertise, neuroradiologists are relied on to perform a variety of diagnostic procedures, including CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, MRI, magnetic resonance angiography, MR spectroscopy, and MR perfusion.

The neuroradiologists with Radiology Associates of South Florida have completed specialized fellowships in neuroradiology, are board-certified, and are extensively trained.

Pediatric Radiology

Pediatric radiologists provide a full range of imaging examinations at Baptist Health Enterprises: gastro-intestinal, ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, and interventional procedures. Complex and sophisticated new techniques including transcranial Doppler for patients with sickle cell disease, CT enterography, and MR fistulography are examples of the latest imaging techniques. There is a new walk-in center for plain films for pediatric outpatients, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The pediatric radiologists with Radiology Associates of South Florida have completed specialized fellowships in pediatric radiology, are board-certified, and have extensive experience with pediatric care.

Musculoskeletal Radiology

Musculoskeletal radiologists focus on examining a body’s structural support, including muscles, bones, and joints. With a focused area of study, these radiologists are relied on to interpret a variety of diagnostic images, including x-ray exams, arthrograms, ultrasound images, and MRI or CT scans of the bones, joint, tendons, and muscles. They are valuable consultants to orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and emergency room physicians, as well as primary care physicians in evaluating bone and soft tissue injuries and tumors.

The musculoskeletal radiologists with Radiology Associates of South Florida are board-certified diagnostic radiologists with additional musculoskeletal radiology fellowship training and extensive experience.

Body Imaging Radiology

Body imaging focuses on evaluation of abdominal and pelvis organs and bowels using a myriad of imaging modalities including x-ray, fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI. With special expertise in MR imaging, body imagers at Radiology Associates of South Florida are valuable consultants in characterization of certain lesions, diseases, and uterine anomalies. The body imager is also better able to characterize and stage prostate cancer.

With advanced training in CT with expertise in CT urography, CT colonography, and CT enterography, the team of body imagers at Radiology Associates of South Florida provides a comprehensive evaluation of disease processes.

Vascular and Interventional Radiology

A vascular radiologist focuses on the vascular system, which consists of blood vessels throughout the body. These extensively trained radiologists interpret a variety of diagnostic images from procedures including spinal x-ray exams, a CT scan of the head, and an MRI scan of the brain. Vascular exams include chest, cardiac, and angiography CT and MRI scans, as well as many types of ultrasounds.

Vascular radiologists are also often considered interventional radiologists. Interventional radiologists specialize in using medical imaging for minimally invasive procedures such as placing wires, balloons, stents, or catheters in the body.

Radiology Associates of South Florida’s vascular and interventional radiologists have completed specialized fellowships, earned certificates of added qualifications, are board-certified, and are extensively published in respected journals for these related subspecialties. (For more information, please visit www.miamivascular.com.)

Breast Imaging

Breast imaging is a highly specialized area of radiology that includes mammography. Comprehensive programs of breast imaging and intervention include all the latest modalities—including digital mammography, ultrasound, breast MRI, and ductography—used for detection and diagnosis of breast diseases. Interventional cases performed include all types of needle biopsies under stereotactic, ultrasound, and MRI guidance.

All Radiology Associates of South Florida radiologists who specialize in breast imaging are board-certified and highly-trained in diagnosing results from mammography.

Thoracic Radiology

Although once considered a specialty solely focused on the interpretation of chest radiographs, thoracic radiology has grown to include CT, MRI, ultrasound, and interventional procedures. As such, Radiology Associates of South Florida radiologists specializing in this area are focused on pulmonary and cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and disease states. Combined with expertise in interpreting chest radiography, CT, and MRI and performing chest-related invasive procedures, these radiologists are valuable consultants in examining the chest-level of the spine that is located between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, which serve as attachment points for ribs.

PET/CT

PET/CT is a powerful tool in evaluating cancer patients. PET/CT combines the functional information provided by PET, which can visualize the metabolic activity of a tumor, with the anatomical details of a multi-slice CT scan. In so doing, PET/CT is the single most accurate modality in evaluating oncology patients.

The PET/CT radiologists with Radiology Associates of South Florida are all board-certified in both diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. With expertise and training in both fields, the radiologists are uniquely qualified to fully integrate both the anatomical and metabolic data provided by PET/CT.

Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also known as nuclear medicine) encompasses the use of radioactive tracers in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Major applications include the diagnosis of heart disease, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, bone imaging for sport injuries or cancer patients, evaluation of kidney function, and diagnosis of blood clots in the lungs.

Baptist Health Enterprises’ molecular imaging section is considered one of the premier facilities in the country, and Radiology Associates of South Florida’s physicians have pioneered the use of PET/CT, SPECT/CT, chest pain centers, and other new technologies. Radiology Associates of South Florida currently has five board-certified nuclear medicine physicians, and Baptist Hospital has one of the busiest molecular imaging departments in the country.

Cardiac CT

The use of CT to evaluate cardiac disease is becoming increasingly important. A test developed by a Radiology Associates of South Florida physician called Heart Score is a major tool in the prevention of heart disease.

Recently, coronary CT angiography has become clinically useful in replacing conventional coronary angiograms in certain instances. Baptist Health Enterprises has the latest generation of CT scanners available. And for over one year, Radiology Associates of South Florida have performed more than one thousand coronary CT angiograms with our 64-slice scanners.

Radiology Associates of South Florida’s physicians have been at the forefront of this technology, are often invited to speak at national and international meetings, and have helped to train other physicians from around the world.

Ultrasound

Radiology Associates of South Florida’s fellowship-trained ultrasound radiologists set a high standard of excellence for sonographic imaging. They are experts in abdominal and OB/GYN ultrasound, as well as abdominal vascular studies and various soft tissues studies. The ultrasound radiologists also perform and interpret obstetrical sonograms throughout all trimesters of pregnancy.

Using the highest resolution ultrasound equipment available and applying both technical and clinical knowledge to every case, Radiology Associates of South Florida’s ultrasound radiologists are able to give the most accurate diagnosis possible with this type of imaging. Radiology Associates of South Florida is dedicated to providing a high level of ultrasound imaging for all our patients.