Abdominal Imaging

General Information

The Abdominal Imaging Section consists of world class faculty who provide clinical expertise in abdominal and pelvic pathology across various imaging modalities. Equipped with highly sophisticated and cutting-edge technology, we provide comprehensive and advanced Body MR, Body CT and fluoroscopy (GI/GU) imaging services that encompass a full range of diseases in adults. We work closely with our clinical colleagues, participating in several weekly tumor boards (GI, GU, Liver donor, Pancreaticobiliary, Prostate, Liver tumor) and provide expert subspecialty outside interpretation reads for patients transferred from other facilities.

Clinical information:

The Body MRI service includes four 3.0T (Siemens Verio and Skyra) and three 1.5T (Siemens Avanto, Espree, and Aera) scanners within Yale-New Haven Hospital, one off-site 1.5T (GE HD) scanner in a nearby facility, and three 3T (Siemens, 2 Skyra and 1 Vida) scanner at a separate off-site facilities. In addition, we have a 1.5T (Siemens, Aera) and 3.0T (Siemens, Vida) at Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus.

The Body CT service presently utilizes 12 CT scanners in total across various sites. These are composed of eight 64 slice scanners, three Dual energy scanners ( 2 x 192 slices) and one 128 slice scanner.

While the section specializes in all adult diseases that afflict the abdomen and pelvis, our clinical efforts are focused on high end oncology imaging, including, but not limited to the following: hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, gynecologic malignancies, prostate adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, adrenal neoplasms, small and large bowel neoplasms (including rectal adenocarcinoma) retroperitoneal sarcomas, urothelial neoplasms and lymphoma.

Some of our more common non-oncology work includes imaging of transplants, MR defecography, MR/CT enterography, MRI perianal fistula exams, evaluation of uterine anomalies, MR imaging for pregnant appendicitis, placental abnormalities, and benign biliary obstruction. We provide a broad spectrum of fluoroscopy exams at several facilities including esophagrams, upper GI series, small bowel follows, rectal enemas, loopograms and modified barium swallow studies. Being a tertiary care referral center, our faculty also provide near 24-hour sub-specialty coverage for a wide variety of complex inpatient imaging exams.

Virtual imaging studies (e.g. CT colonography), CT angiography (CTA) of the abdominal and pelvis, Dual Energy CTs and advanced MR imaging techniques such as MR elastography, Liver Iron and Fat Quantification are routinely performed.

Research directions

• MRI Prostate
• PSMA PET
• Liver Tumors
• Liver disease
• LIRADS
• Pancreatic masses
• Gastrointestinal radiology
• Imaging of renal masses
• CTA for gastrointestinal bleeding
• The role of CT/MRI redefining adult anatomy
• Benign and malignant gynecologic masses
• 3-D imaging
• Technical evaluation of new CT/MRI systems
• Radiation dose reduction at CT scanning
• Contrast media (CT and MRI)
• Health services research
• Image processing
• Quality and safety (CT and MRI)
• Immune responses of minimally invasive therapies
• Imaging of immunotherapy
• AI and machine learning

Education content

The Abdominal Imaging Section is a cornerstone to the teaching mandate of both the Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Residency programs. All residents rotate through the various services (Body CT, Body MR, GI/GU) and education takes place through daily readouts as well as a dedicated weekly conference with a curriculum which cycles on a 1-year basis.

The faculty also participate in the weekly Body Division Club conference where they lend their expertise to interesting cases shown by the fellows. The Abdominal Imaging section also provides a separate lecture series to our fellows which is divided amongst the faculty in the Body Division.

Medical students and physicians from other services (internal medicine, family medicine) routinely rotate through our various services and we regularly provide our expertise to help educate the CT and MRI technologists.