The ENT Imaging Center of Excellence was created 2 years ago to provide subspecialized on-site interpretations of head and neck imaging examinations, in order to optimize service for patients and clinicians. Interpretation of head and neck imaging is challenging due to the complex anatomy of the neck, particularly following cancer treatment. Interpretation and surveillance regimens are not standardized across institutions. As members of the American College of Radiology NI-RADS Committee, Drs. Barton Branstetter and Tanya Rath have collaborated with the committee Chair, Dr. Aishely Aiken of Emory University, and other head and neck radiologists from across the country, to develop standardized reporting of CT, PET/CT and MRI in patients with head and neck cancer. The reporting system has been implemented into routine daily practice at the ENT Imaging Center of Excellence in an effort to provide patient centered, data-driven and outcomes based reporting that can be used to drive surveillance regimens and treatment.

Congratulations to the radiologists selected under Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Pediatric Neuroradiology, and Pediatric Radiology as “

Over the past 5 years, Dr. Auerbach has been a key faculty member at UPMC Passavant Hospital, where he has most recently served as the Chief of Radiology.  Throughout his short tenure as Chief, Kevin has proven himself to be a strong and capable leader, and he will be a tremendous asset on our Departmental leadership team going forward.  As Vice Chair, he will be integral in helping to define and execute a strategic vision, which will enhance the stability and growth of the overall Community Division while continuing to serve as the Chief of UPMC Passavant.

As Vice Chair, Dr. Panigrahy will develop and implement a strategic plan for building a successful clinical and translational research program, while aligning the imaging research goals and initiatives with the Department’s overall mission and vision.  In light of the changing healthcare landscape, this role will be pivotal in bridging our clinical and research objectives as we look towards the future. Since joining our Department in 2009 as an Associate Professor, Dr. Panigrahy has been an accomplished and invaluable clinician, researcher, educator, and physician leader.  He currently serves as Chief of Pediatric Radiology, Radiologist-in-Chief of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and as Medical Director of Pediatric Imaging Quality. 

As part of our long standing commitment and dedication to cancer care, we are very excited to announce that UPMC ( Hillman cancer center and Presbyterian) is the first hospital system in Western Pennsylvania and one of the first 10 centers in the country to offer a new cutting-edge technology  for imaging Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This novel molecular imaging technology Ga-68 DOTATATE ( Netspot ™) had been widely anticipated by our oncologists and patients alike.  A plethora of scientific data have advocated for its use in clinical staging and management of such NETs.  After its introduction in our imaging centers at Hillman and Presby, there has been an overwhelming response from our patients and oncologists from within the UPMC system and also from outside the region.

PET-MRI is a hybrid imaging technology that combines MRI anatomical soft tissue imaging with PET functional/molecular  imaging.  Clinical protocols have been optimized by UPMC subspecialty radiologists and colleagues in the MR research center.  Exquisite MR anatomical imaging may also be supplemented with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), MR spectroscopy (MRS) and perfusion MRI (pMRI) to provide unique diagnostic information not obtained by traditional imaging modalities.

EOS has arrived at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh of UPMC!  Children’s hospital has recently opened the new ultra-low dose spine and long bone imaging system, “EOS”.  Named for the “goddess of the dawn” in Greek mythology, the acquisition of the EOS Imaging System, one of a handful in Pennsylvania, ushers in a new dawn of low radiation dose imaging for children and young adults with scoliosis, spinal deformities, and limb alignment disorders or length discrepancies.  The ultra-low dose EOS machine reduces the radiation dose for a scoliosis examination by as much as 90 %.