BLOGS: Postings

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States after lung cancer and is one of the most preventable cancers. Many colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided if people over 50 went for the recommended screening tests. The majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas but begin as polyps. This cancer develops from the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Colorectal cancer grows slowly and often does not cause symptoms for quite some time. As the cancer grows, it invades the wall of the large bowel. Often nearby lymph nodes are invaded. Blood from the wall of the intestine is carried to the liver; colorectal cancer easily spreads or metastasizes to the liver soon after spreading to the lymph nodes. Are you interested in learning more about colorectal cancer, tumor types, staging and the unique information that each imaging modality, clinical exam, or test provides to reach...

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Children's Welcomes Portable CT

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston recently added a portable CT scanner to further improve care for critically ill patients. The scanner is called a CereTom and it was developed by NeuroLogica. The purchase of the portable CT scanner was made possible through donor funds. Children's staff members are able to take the portable CT to ICUs to care for critically ill patients that might otherwise not be able to be transported to radiology, such as patients with dangerously high intracranial pressure or patients on ECMO. Children's averages seven portable exams each month. The scanner is an 8-slice scanner, and produces images of the same quality as a non-mobile unit. A task force of critical care physicians, radiologists, and CT technologists worked together to establish guidelines for determining which cases will most benefit from the use of the portable scanner. An assessment of the acuity of the patient dictates whether...

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Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Ultrasound Department: Pediatric Emergency Studies

At Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the ultrasound department realizes that its staff makes a difference in a child's life every day. One way is by utlilizing emergent ultrasounds. The thin body habitus of a child is especially suited to ultrasound evaluation. What emergent ultrasound exams are done on the pediatric patient? The most common is to evaluate for the acute abdominal condition. Abdominal studies look for obstructions such as intusseption and pyloric stenosis. Abdominal ultrasound also evaluates the abdomen for gallstones, kidney stones or abscess or fluid collections. Pelvic ultrasounds are performed for ovarian torsion, hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, or fluid collections and abscesses. Scrotal ultrasounds are used to diagnose testicular torsion. Children's performs everything from deep vein thrombosis Doppler studies to hip ultrasound for effusions. Superficial foreign bodies can be seen on ultrasound that may not be seen by diagnostic radiography. More and more, the emergency department requests ultrasound studies....

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February is American Heart Month

Did you know that February is American Heart Month? Heart disease is the leading killer of adults in the United States and a major cause of disability. The goal of American Heart Month is to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related problems. Heart disease can be reduced with lifestyle changes and controlling factors that put all of us at risk. In celebration of American Heart month, the Learning Center is offering two free online courses worth 2.5 Category A CEUs for the entire month of February. • Foundational Human Anatomy and Physiology on the Cardiac System (2.0 CE)
• The History of Cardiac Catheterization, Past & Present (0.5 CE)

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Back from the Brink

By Mark D. Marotta In my last post, I revealed the ever-so exciting information that I was about to undergo an MRI because I had been experiencing tinnitus for the past couple of months. I'm sure I had you sitting on the edge of your seat. Anyway, I can now report that I have actually undergone the aforementioned procedure. And if it shows anything (which, come to think of it, is pretty much the whole point of MRIs to begin with), it's that you can't really appreciate what something is like until you actually experience it. Quite frankly, I really had no idea what I was in for. The first indication that this was the case was when the technologist handed me a couple of earplugs as I entered the imaging suite. I was rather surprised when she explained that the MRI sounded a lot like a jackhammer. As...

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Z Codes: Image Quality Initiative in Radiology

The importance of image quality is recognized at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta by radiology leadership. A high standard of image quality is required to assure the radiologist accurate reading of images. This assists the attending physician in making a diagnosis and safety treat the patient. The Children's quality team has developed a system called Z-coding where the radiologist will attach a letter code to their dictation. Some examples of the factors coded are positioning, collimation, shielding, rotation, motion, unacceptable and excellent. This Z-coding system enables us to maintain on-going education for technologists that may need assistance in those areas. In addition, we are able to monitor trends that would indicate areas for improvement. - Susan Freeman RT(R) Education Analyst Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egelston

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Protecting Pediatric Patients During CT Scanning

As Team Leader for the CT Department at a large pediatric hospital, I know the importance of dose reduction and shielding when scanning patients. Children are not "little adults" and can not be treated as such. Because their cells regenerate at a much faster rate than adult cells, it's very important that we protect them as much as possible. The two best ways to protect pediatric patients in CT are shielding and dose reduction. We use two types of shielding. First, to shield an area outside of the scan field, we use lead shielding. Secondly, to further shield our patients, we use bismuth shields. Bismuth shields can be used within the scan field without obscuring the image. There are various bismuth shields; eye, thyroid and on female patients, breast shields to name a few. Bismuth shields on average reduce radiation by approximately 25 percent. Dose reduction is the other way...

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Hoisted on My Own Petard

By Mark D. Marotta Figures of speech, I have learned, often have some interesting history. For instance, somewhere along the line, someone taught me that the expression "living high on the hog" is rooted in agrarian life and refers to the location of the tastiest part of a pig. And how many times have we visited historical sites where we have been told that the phrase "sleep tight" comes from the fact that ropes used to support a person sleeping in old-fashioned beds periodically needed to be reset? So where does the term "hoisted on his/her own petard" come from? As it turns out, a petard was an explosive device used to break down gates or blow holes in fortress walls. Etymologically, the word "petard" comes to us from Middle French, and its original meaning wasn't particularly polite. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you want to...

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Radiation Exposure in the News

Radiation exposure has become a hot topic in the news lately. Recent stories regarding high radiation exposure in CT have made patients and families very wary. The CT technologists at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta are using bismuth shields and regular protocol review to reduce dosing. We also realize that although CT is in the spotlight, routine X-rays can also be improved upon. By standardizing techniques within diagnostics, we are able to lower the dosing in this area as well.

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Volunteer Recalls Haitian Healthcare in 1995

This week I have been reminded about how blessed we are in the United States. In looking at the scenes of devastation in Haiti, the poorest nation in the southern hemisphere, I am thankful for the lifestyle afforded to me in the United States. In 1995, I was a volunteer healthcare worker in Cape Haitian, Haiti and witnessed first-hand the lack of medical care available to the people of that country. The clinical and hospital facilities were void of supplies and had basic equipment. At the local hospital, the autoclave (a system that sterilizes surgical instruments) was from the 1940s (wow!) and the X-ray system was a U.S. military system used in the Korean War. Now, in this time of great suffering I wonder how the medical infrastructure is going to be able to assist everyone in need. I worry for the friends I made when I was in Haiti...

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CT Basics

Are you looking to begin a career in Computed Tomography (CT). I am excited to tell you about a new series called "CT Basics" encompassing all the topics found in the ASRT's CT curriculum. Seven of the ten modules have been completed. Visit the Learning Center and select Computed Tomography in the Course Catalog.

CT Basics: Module 1 – Fundamentals

CT Basics: Module 2 – Equipment and Instrumentation

CT Basics: Module 3 – Data Acquisition

CT Basics: Module 4 – Image Processing and Reconstruction

CT Basics: Module 5 – Patient Safety

CT Basics: Module 6 – Image Quality

CT Basics: Module 7 – Procedures

Coming Soon!

CT Basics: Module 8 – Cross-sectional Anatomy If you are a first-time user of the Learning Center, you will need to click on the "Register" button, which is free and obtain a password.

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We Won't Get Fooled Again

By Kelly Olsen-Stanko

Last night I came across this image , which I thought was a picture. The library nerd in me was so excited, and I awed at the beauty of it.

Then I learned it wasn't a picture at all, but computer generated imagery (CGI) made completely from 3-D and architecture software. This image, conceived by Olivier Charles, Armel Neouze, and Jacques Gelez, won the Master Award for Interior Architecture in EXPOSÉ 7, a digital art book series. It depicts the creators' vision of the Stockholm Public Library.

So unfortunately for all of us, it doesn't exist. But this isn't the first time I've been duped by the Internet. A few months ago, I came across a product while looking to solve some space and laundry issues in my apartment. While I can't exactly recall (or find a picture) of the concept...

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Introduction to Cancer

Cancer is one of those words that send chills up your back. Everyone is affected by cancer in some way or another at some point in their life; whether if be you, a loved one or a friend. Cancer is an aggressive growth disorder initiated by a cell or a group of renegade cells with genetic aberrance, usually caused by either a carcinogen in the environment, or less commonly by an inherited genetic abnormality. The disease is complicated by local spread within the organ and surrounding tissues, displacing well meaning and well functioning tissue. Continued uncontrolled growth results in the invasion of blood vessels and lymphatics and spread to distant organs where metastatic disease repeats the pattern of continued advance of rebellious and aggressive parasitization of normal tissue. Evaluation and care of the oncology patient can be markedly complex, yet their integration and simplification is the key to success. You...

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Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Awarded "Putting Patients First" Grant

Patient safety and quality care continue to be important issues for hospitals and imaging centers. In mid-2009, the AHRA (The Association for Medical Imaging Management) announced the second year of its Putting Patients First grant program. Putting Patients First grants further efforts by health care facilities to improve imaging quality and safety for patients. In early 2009 the program was expanded to include imaging centers and will award three additional grants specifically for pediatric programs. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta submitted a grant to the Putting Patients First program back in October and was recently notified that we were awarded this grant to further improve radiation dose reduction in Pediatrics. We are very excited about this opportunity for our patients and staff and look forward to sharing our progress and knowledge with other pediatric imaging sites. Melinda C. Dobbs, Manager Radiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston

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National Radiology Week a Time to Give Thanks

The week of November 8th was National Radiology Week and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta celebrated the accomplishments of all imaging modalities within Radiology. In celebrating our accomplishments we focused on volumes and new equipment acquisitions but, most importantly, on the great service we give our patients and families. Our team of dedicated imaging professionals "talk the talk and walk the walk" when it comes to customer service. That is what sets us apart from adult facilities and that is what keeps patients and families coming back. In November, near Thanksgiving, I am thankful to have a dedicated team of imaging professionals who value patient and family education, teamwork, and compassion. Thanks to my team for all that they do! Melinda C. Dobbs, Manager Radiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston

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