Facilities of the Department

1. Conventional Radiography
   
   The Radiology department is equipped with a number of computer and digital radiography machines. Apart from this an image intensifier fluoroscopy unit is available on which contrast examinations and fluoroscopic guided procedures are done. The procedures done under fluoroscopy include barium studies for GIT, hystero salpingogram, siailogram, sinusogram, venorgram, etc. The department also does urological investigations such as intravenous urogram and micturating cystourethrogram. Percutaneous vertebral biopsy, vertebroplasty, peripheral angiograms are done under fluoroscopic guidance.
   
   
2. Ultrasound
   
   The ultrasound facility of the department of Radiology of SRMC & RI is one of the earliest ultrasound units set up in the city and the major work profiles using ultrasound include transabdominal sonogram, antenatal sonography, ovulation monitoring, paediatric and neonatal sonography, neurosonography, mammosonography, musculoskeletal sonography, transvaginal and transrectal ultrasound. Sonography of small parts such as thyroid, parathyroid and scrotum are routinely done. Doppler sonography of the abdomen, carotid and peripheral vessels and for pregnancy, transplant kidney and impotency are also performed routinely. A number of invasive procedures like biopsy of liver, kidneys, mediastinal and retro-peritoneal lymphnodes, breast and muscul-oskeletal lesions are done under sonographic guidance. USG – guided aspiration of pleural effusion, ascites, liver abscess, psoas abscess, subphrenic collection and pancreatic psuedocyst are also done routinely. The sonographic examinations is rapidly progressing year by year.
   
   
3. Computed Tomography (CT)
   
   The Department has two CT scanners. India 's first 16 – slice Multidetector CT (MDCT Light speed Ultra, GE Milwaukee) was installed in 2002 and is still functional and caters currently to emergency head injuries, fluoroscopic guided procedures. The state of the art Light Speed VCT XT 64 Slice Scanner (GE Milwaukee) is being installed. The workload of CT scan on an average is 35 scans per day and is on the rise month by month. The major activity includes routine spiral CT scans, CT angiography, coronary calcium scoring and various CT endoscopic procedures. The volume data of the CT images are processed in AW 4.3 workstation to produce excellent 3D reconstructional images. Coronary imaging, CT brain perfusion are the added features done routinely. CT guided biopsies of lung, liver mediastinal and vertebral lesions are the CT guided interventions done regularly. Aspiration of thoracic collections with catheter insertion, peritoneal/ pancreatic collections – catheter drainage, alcohol ablation of liver tumors are also performed under CT guidance.
   
   
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
   
   The department is equipped with 1.5T MRI (GE – Signa HDx). Around 12 MRI examinations are carried out every day. The majority of the work comprises of brain and spine scans. Other investigations using MRI includes MRCP, MR Angiography, Functional MRI, cardiac studies. Fetal MRI, MRI of obstructive sleep apnea, cochlear imaging are certain unique investigations carried out in this center.
   
   
5. Nuclear Medicine
   
   Department of Radiology has a well functioning nuclear medicine facility, which has a Gamma Camera (Simens DIACAM) installed in the year 1993. Wipro GE Millennium MG Dual Head Gamma Camera is being installed. An average of five examinations are being done per day. The majority of the cases are renal scan, bone scan, thyroid scan, myocardial perfusion studies etc. Other special procedures done using this facility include hepato biliary scan, lung perfusion scan, lympho-scintigraphy etc. The facility has also started radio iodine treatment and P 32 therapy for bone pain palliation.
   
   
6. Interventional Radiology
   
   The department has been regularly performing image guided (Ultrasound, fluoroscopy and CT) biopsies/aspirations of various organs and lesions routinely. The department is well known for its expertise in performing complex biopsies and aspiration procedures. Several publications and presentations of scientific articles on this aspect from this department makes it one of the popular among the clinicians. The most important image guided procedures include unique biopsy of complex deep seated mediastinal / lung lesions and vertebral biopsies.
   
   Diagnostic conventional angiograms were started in 1994 with the conventional II fluoroscopic system followed by DSA of the entire vascular system in 1996 (Siemens Biplane DSA). Limited interventional procedures such as embolisation angioplasty were also being practiced since then. Carotid angioplasty and stenting was performed first at SRMC in the year 2000.
   
   Commissioning of the state of the art biplane 3D-Rotational DSA facility has been a boon for the department of radiology. More complex and advanced neurointerventions like aneurysm coiling, embolisation of dural AVM, thrombolysis for acute stroke, Protected PTA and Stenting of carotid stenosis, aortic stent grafting for dissection and aneurysms were started. Encouraged by the steady growth over a short period of time, fellowship programmes has been approved by the board of studies of SRMC&RI. The growth of this speciality is facilitated by the excellent team support from neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgeons and physicians. Further, well equipped intensive care units with dedicated supporting staff are available for patient care. The growth profile of interventions and invasive diagnostic procedures are given below. The division also mans the outpatient and inpatient care services, who requires interventional procedures. A steady growth in the patient care services reflects the popularity of this sub speciality.
   
   In conclusion, the department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, SRMC & RI offers diagnostic services through wide array of imaging modalities, performs academic activities by publications, presentations scientific conferences, conducts research based studies, executes projects organize conferences/workshop for education and also involves in patient care activities, maintain in patient and out patient for interventional procedures and executes intensive care for these patients. This was possible by a dedicated team of radiologists, interventionists, and allied health staff.