medical imaging improvements in technology good for local kids (64-slice CT scanner)

The pediatric radiologists at The Children's Medical Center of Dayton are excited. About what you ask? Dayton Children's main campus recently purchased a new 64-slice CT scanner - that's good news for medical imaging patients.

Dayton Children's now offers CT scanning at its main campus at One Children's Plaza in Dayton and the new Outpatient Care Center - Springboro, located just off Route 741 at 3333 West Tech Road.

"Having a pediatric-focused CT scanner both in Dayton and Springboro will mean a greater availability of appointments for our patients," says Elizabeth Ey, MD, medical director of medical imaging at Dayton Children's. 

Radiologists at Dayton Children's will be able to see scan results from Springboro in real time via a web-based system. 

Dr. Ey says cardiac patients and kids with chronic lung problems will benefit the most from the increased medical imaging capabilities.

"When a CT scan is performed, you want as little movement as possible from the patient so you don't have to scan over and over again to get the images needed to make a diagnosis," Dr. Ey says.

"Obviously when you're scanning the heart or lungs, there is going to be a lot of movement. We now have the capability to scan 64 slices of data, which means if you're scanning the heart, you'll be able to get 64 different pictures at once. The heart is virtually 'frozen,' which results in more accurate and faster scans." 

Dr. Ey also says there will be a decreased need to perform intervention procedures like angioplasties. 

"We are now able to see the carotid artery without doing an angioplasty, a procedure where a catheter is inserted from the groin to the heart."

"Although it's much safer to perform an angioplasty than it used to be, it's still preferable to perform a non-invasive scan." 

In 2006, about four million CT scans were performed in children, triple the number of scans in 2001. Locally, Dayton Children's performs over 7,000 scans each year. 

"CT scans help us save children's lives, but they should only be performed when necessary," Dr. Ey says.

"Alternative imaging to CT scanning, like ultrasound and magnetic resonance (MRI) should be considered whenever possible."

Dr. Ey says children are typically smaller than adults, so they don't need as much radiation to penetrate the body.

The pediatric radiologists at Dayton Children's individualize each CT examination to account for the child's weight and size, ensuring the child receives the minimum radiation needed to complete the procedure. 

"Radiation safety has always been a priority for us," says Dr. Ey.

"We continue to improve our ways to diagnose childhood illness in a safe and caring environment."

Learn more about Dayton Children's locations at www.childrensdayton.org/locations.

About medical imaging at Dayton Children's
The department of medical imaging at Dayton Children's offers a full spectrum of diagnostic imaging for pediatric patients. The pediatric specialists are trained in working with infants, children and teenagers, and personnel are highly skilled in sedating infants and young children. The radiology department has state-of-the-art equipment designed to perform diagnostic examinations with a minimum of radiation exposure to patients. An onsite MRI is available, offering the highest quality images with child-friendly features. A parent can be with their child while he or she is being scanned and children are encouraged to bring their own music or stories to be played on the specially designed sound system. Appointments are available to meet most family's needs.

For more information, contact: 
Marketing Communications Department 
Phone: 937-641-3666 
marketing@childrensdayton.org