ZILKHA RADIOLOGY has low dose CT scanners in the West Islip and East Islip offices.
All patients undergoing CT scans need to be concerned about radiation dose exposure.  This is especially true for children and patients who require follow-up CT studies.  There is a need for radiology groups and hospitals to reduce the dose of your CT scan while maintaining or improving imaging quality and higher diagnostic confidence.
Zilkha Radiology has taken the lead to lower radiation dose by implementing a newly developed technology that achieves excellent images while using a significantly lower dose of radiation. We optimize diagnostic quality while keeping patient safety our number one priority.

Zilkha Radiology acquired this new FDA approved technology which is currently used in children’s hospitals around the country  where low dose CT is the highest priority. How does this technology work?  The amount of radiation generated by the CT source is significantly lowered.  A “noisy” image is produced.  A very powerful computer mathematically removes this noise making high resolution pictures.  Dose is consistently reduced on the order of 50-60% for patients scanned before and after the acquisition of this technology.
The following case is an example of how the new software has a significant impact in dose reduction.  A patient had a CT scan of the chest in December 2009 with a radiation dose of 5.20 mSv.  The patient had a follow-up CT on October 2010.  Using the newly installed low dose technology, the radiation dose was reduced to 2.52 mSv, a reduction of 52%.

Dosage Card - Front
Click on image to enlarge

Zilkha Radiology often sees patients who have had CT scans at other offices or hospitals, and who want to have their follow-up CT scans in our office because of the new technology.  In one such instance, a patient had a CT scan of the chest at another facility on December 2011.  At that visit, the patient received a radiation dose of 12.36 mSv.  The patient came to our office five months later for a follow-up chest CT.  The radiation dose received at Zilkha Radiology was 3.69 mSv, a much lower radiation dose.  The 12.36 mSv is more than three hundred percent higher when compared to the dose at Zilkha Radiology.  We have encountered similar instances of patients with higher dose of radiation received at other facilities, including hospitals, hospital affiliated facilities and other radiology groups.  Zilkha Radiology believes so deeply in this technology that the patient’s dose is printed on every report sent to their doctor. If you want to have your follow up CT at Zilkha Radiology, bring in your prior study and we can tell you what your radiation dose was on your prior CT scan.

Zilkha Radiology is the first and only practice in the Northeast, New York State and Long Island to acquire and provide this new low dose technology in our West Islip and East Islip offices.  We optimize diagnostic quality while keeping patient safety our number one priority.           

The offices are accredited by the American College of Radiology.  

The facility is accredited to perform monitored anesthesia by Board Certified Anesthesiologists.

The facility is equipped to perform blood work analysis prior to contrast injection. 
 
 
 
 

What is a digital mammogram?


  

Digital mammography is a sophisticated technique that uses a very low dose of x-rays. The system captures the images of the breast by a specially designed detector and transmits the images to high resolution computer monitors.  The transmitted images can then be viewed, enhanced and magnified for analysis.  It is important that women also perform monthly breast self examinations and having a yearly physical examination of the breasts by a physician.

 A screening mammogram is used to help find the breast cancer early in women who have no symptoms. A diagnostic mammogram is done as a problem-solving examination in patients who have abnormal physical findings or an abnormal screening mammogram.

The best time for a mammogram is one week following your period. Be sure to inform your doctor, x-ray Technologist or our office if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.


How is digital mammography compared to a standard mammography?

With a conventional film-based method, the images are recorded on films and cannot be further manipulated for brightness and magnification.  With digital mammography, the images are captured by an advanced state-of-the-art detector and digitally stored on high resolution computers.  The data can then be viewed, manipulated for optimal contrast and brightness and magnified.

Our digital mammography has a large digital plate to facilitate more precise imaging of larger breasts, making full use of the large detector of the system.  The large size of the detector enables imaging of all breast sizes and there is no need to take additional images in most instances.  The study is performed in a painless manner with minimal compression of the breasts.

In younger patients and patients with dense breasts, image analysis has been made more easier. There is a full-field magnification capability for every image.  This will curtail the need to bring back patients for magnification.

What is computer-aided detection (CAD)?

CAD uses a digitized mammographic image of the breast to search and detect abnormal areas of density, mass or microcalcification that may indicate the presence of cancer.  The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist for further analysis.

What can I expect during the procedure?

As with traditional mammography, a radiology technologist will position you to image your breast.  The breast is placed on a platform and mildly compressed with a paddle.

How should you prepare for the digital mammogram?



A two piece outfit is usually the most convenient because you will need to undress above the waist. You should not use any powders, deodorants, perfume, lotions or creams prior to the exam because they can affect the quality of the mammogram.

How long does the procedure take?

The mammography procedure takes about 20-30 minutes.


When will you know the results?

A qualified radiologist experienced in mammography, will analyze the x-rays. The radiologist will send your doctor a written report. You should contact your physician within 2-3 days of your exam to make an appointment to go over your results.

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