The Cardiothoracic Imaging section's responsibilities include the conduct and intrepretation of plain chest radiographs (obtained with digital techniques and interpreted via PACS on soft-copy monitors) and special radiology procedures of the thorax, such as percutaneous needle biopsies.

This section shares responsibility with the Abdominal Imaging section for the conduct and interpretation of all CT and MRI studies of the body. State-of-the-art scanners (all with spiral, or helical, capabilities and several with multidetector arrays) facilitate clinical procedures and the development of new body CT applications, such as CT angiography for pulmonary embolism.

In the Spring of 2007, Cardiothoracic Imaging partnered with Washington University School of Medicne's Division of Cardiology, combining the top-level expertise of radiologists and cardiologists with the cutting-edge technology of CT and MRI. This group, one of the largest in the nation, specializes in cardiac CT angiography, using a CT scanner to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional images of coronary arteries and cardiac anatomy and an MRI scanner to assess cardiac morphology and function.  Click here for more information.

If you are a physician who is interested in a cardiothoracic imaging fellowship, click here to learn more about the program.