Bay Imaging now provides a complete interventional neuroradiology program at John Muir Medical Center. Cases are performed by Dr. David Goldberg and Dr. Ira Finch, who each have extensive training and experience in all aspects of endovascular neurointervention. Procedures include definitive occlusion of cerebral aneurysms and vascular malformations, preoperative embolization of intra and extracranial tumors, carotid artery stenting, and a host of other new and innovative techniques. The services are offered in close collaboration with staff neurosurgeons. Superb post-procedure care is provided by the skilled nurses and other personnel of the John Muir Neurosciences I.C.U.

Bay Imaging's radiologists have performed and interpreted nearly 2000 positron emission tomography (PET) examinations. This exciting technology employs fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a tracer, and allows imaging of tumors as well as functional abnormalities in the brain and heart. The large majority of these examinations contributed to the care of patients with known or suspected lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, head & neck cancers, breast cancer, and thyroid cancer.

From April 2001 to January 2004, these services were provided with a mobile service at both the John Muir and Mount Diablo campuses. In December 2003, Bay Imaging radiologists were selected for supervisory and interpreting responsibilities at California Imaging & Treatment Center (CITC; see www.calimaging.com). CITC has the Bay Area's first hybrid PET-CT system in a non-university setting. Hybrid PET-CT combines the functional PET and anatomic CT information is a single, fast procedure. All clinical investigations have shown significant diagnostic benefit of hybrid PET-CT over either modality alone. Dr. Barry Engelstad serves as Medical Director. He and Drs. Joan Reynolds, Rob Schick, and Rich Sigel are the skilled and specially trained radiologists who continue to interpret these examinations.

Bay Imaging is pleased to announce the successful endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in over twenty patients. Cases have been performed at Mt. Diablo Medical Center by Dr. John Rhee, one of our interventional radiologists, who has extensive training in this procedure, and Dr. Ronald Webb, an accomplished vascular surgeon in the community. During this procedure, which takes approximately between 2-3 hours, a synthetic graft mounted on a metallic stent is inserted through small incisions of both groins to treat the aneurysm. Open surgery is avoided, and the recovery time is significantly reduced. Patients are usually discharged in two to three days, following the procedure. Complications are also significantly reduced. Each aneurysm must be individually evaluated with a special CT exam.

Bay Imaging Consultants announces the completion of the MRI upgrade at Contra Costa Imaging Center, located on the Mt. Diablo Medical Center campus. The high resolution of a 1.5 Tesla magnet is housed in a short bore, a more open architecture heretofore only seen at low field strength. This device is capable of the full range of MR angiographic applications including dynamic, power-injector assisted renal MR angiography. High resolution MR cholangiopancreatography, dynamic liver imaging for characterization of focal lesions, high resolution spine and sports medicine imaging, and neurological imaging are strengths of this system.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a relatively new and innovative technique used in the treatment of painful vertebral body compression fractures. It can offer dramatic pain relief in patients who have been refractory to conservative treatment. This elective procedure allows the patient to be more mobile quickly, often having the same day discharge as the procedure.

The comprehensive Nighthawk program of Bay Imaging provides live, near-real time review and interpretation of emergency after-hours diagnostic imaging studies performed at both Bay Imaging hospitals and other selected San Francisco Bay Area facilities. Bay Imaging is expanding its local area network with added bandwidth, and has installed a new high-resolution workstation to better serve its referring physicians and patients.

Drs. Eric Gaensler, William Hoddick, Jonathan Posin, and Sundeep Nayak are some of the skilled Bay Imaging radiologists who continue on UCSF faculty, and give their time to teach medical students and residents. Dr. Jimmy Cardoza continues his faculty appointment at Stanford in Ultrasonography.