The Division of Neuroradiology provides comprehensive diagnostic imaging of the central nervous system (CNS) in adult and pediatric patients.  This includes CT and MR imaging of the brain, spine, head and neck, temporal bone, sinuses, as well as functional imaging of the brain with both CT and MR.  Diagnostic angiography are also provided by our interventional service.

CLINICAL SERVICES

The Department is equipped with state of the art imaging equipment including two 3-Tesla MRI units (Siemens Trio and Verio) and four 1.5-Tesla MRI units (Siemens Espree and Aera and two GE Signa HDxt).  There are nine multi-detector CT scanners including a 126 slice and five 64-slice scanners.  CT perfusion imaging and CTA are performed routinely with a dedicated 3D lab for post-processing and analysis with Terra Recon, Leonardo and Advantage Windows works stations.  Thin client versions are available for review both on campus and off site.  Functional MRI including BOLD imaging, perfusion studies and spectroscopy are performed in both the main hospital and in our outpatient site in Burr Ridge, Illinois.  Loyola University Medical Center is a busy Level 1 Trauma Center with a large diverse volume of neuroradiology cases.

Neurointerventional services are performed in state-of-the-art angiography suites adjacent to the emergency department with 24-hour in-house staffing to facilitate emergent patient management. Intra-cranial interventional cases include balloon dilatation for carotid stenosis and intracranial spasm, carotid stenting, transcatheter therapy for thrombolysis, particulate embolization for tumor and vascular abnormalities as well as occlusion of AVMs using injectable embolic agents, coiling of aneurysms, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and petrosal sinus sampling.

There is active collaboration with busy neurology, neurosurgery, ENT and oncology services providing a wide variety of clinical experience.  Division members participate actively in five weekly multidisciplinary conferences and tumor boards including neurology, neurosurgery, neurovascular, ENT and neuro-oncology.

EDUCATION

There is one ACGME-approved fellowship position in Neuroradiology.  The fellow is involved in the full gamut of neuroradiology procedures, including specialty imaging, spine procedures and biopsies, and diagnostic angiography.  There are generally two residents on the service who work with the faculty and fellow to interpret all neuro-diagnostic studies as well as gain proficiency in basic techniques including biopsy, lumbar puncture and myelography.  The service is also a popular one for medical students both from Loyola and other institutions.  Neurology residents rotate through on their elective months.

RESEARCH

Division members have special expertise in functional imaging, imaging in stroke, head and neck oncology, spine interventional procedures and interventional neuroradiology.  Research interests include perfusion imaging in the evaluation of intracranial neoplasms; diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of traumatic brain injury, psychiatric disorders and intracranial neoplasms.  Other areas of interest include:  quantitative evaluation of brain volume in dementia, MR perfusion imaging in brain neoplasms after treatment and functional MRI in pre-operative planning.

FACULTY

To learn more about the Neuroradiology department, download a list of current faculty.