Dr. Schmelka comes to Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants as a board certified interventional radiologist who completed fellowship training in Interventional Radiology at the University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center.

Dr. Schmelka has interests in endovascular stent grafting of aneurysms, carotid artery stenting, varicose vein treatment, and kyphoplasty.

To learn more about Dr. Schmelka and the other health professionals at Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants, please click on the Our Radiologists tab at the top of the page.

The new technology produces three-dimensional images of the breasts which are intended to reveal the inner architecture of the breast free from distortion typically caused by tissue superimposition or shadowing. It allows our Radiologists to see and search through the breast in 1 mm layers and thus eliminates and reduces the tissue superimposition effects with an ultimate goal of reducing the patient callback rate and increasing the chances of detecting breast cancers that may be more difficult to visualize or possibly missed by conventional mammography.

Both digital and 3D mammograms are performed simultaneously on the mammography unit during a single compression. It only takes a few more seconds for each view as the mammography machine sweeps over the breast from one side to the other in a slight arc. A series of digital images will be obtained and processed to generate the 3D images.

As 3D mammography has only recently received FDA approval, it is not currently covered by insurance. Patients can elect to have this exam at the time of their screening or diagnostic mammogram for a $50 fee to be paid by check or credit card at the time of examination. As a referring physician, you may choose to include an order for 3D mammography on your mammography script. We kindly request that patients be aware of this in advance for ease of scheduling and to ensure that 3D tomosynthesis will be performed in conjunction with their annual screening or comprehensive mammogram.

A link to the article can be found here.

Dr. Petrovitch is a dual-fellowship trained radiologist with specialty training in body imaging of the abdomen and pelvis as well as cardiac imaging.

You can learn more about Dr. Petrovitch, along with our other health professionals in Our Radiologists.

“Your mammogram demonstrates that you may have dense breasts which can hide cancer or other abnormalities.  A report of your mammography results, which contains information about your breast density has been sent to your referring physician’s office and you should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about this report.”

What does this mean to you as their primary physician, and how can we help?

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/mammograms

What should you be advising as follow up care and is adding breast ultrasound and MRI appropriate?

Dr. Amin comes to Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants as a board certified diagnostic radiologist who completed fellowship training in women’s imaging at Georgetown University Hospital.

Dr. Amin has interests in breast imaging and interventional breast procedures, as well as abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, CT and MRI.

To learn more about Dr. Amin and the other health professionals at Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants, please click on the Our Radiologists tab at the top of the page.

Q. What is MRI and how is it used in diagnostics?

A. MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to obtain detailed images of the soft tissues — organs, muscles, veins, and nerves — in the body. It is the most advanced imaging that we offer, and there are no known side effects, because there is no radiation.

MRI is used to diagnose tumors, infection, neurological conditions, and orthopedic injuries, and can be used to image virtually any part of the body. MRIs of the heart can identify structural abnormalities such as aneurysms and can visualize physiologic abnormalities such as valvular disease and heart failure.  MRI can also be used for dynamic imaging to monitor bloodflow to the brain and liver, as well as evaluate the contractions of the small bowel and the muscles of the pelvic floor.

Q. Who interprets MRI results?

A. At Virginia Hospital Center, MRIs are read by fellowship trained subspecialty radiologists.  Our radiologists have been trained at prestigious academic centers including UCSF, Stanford University, the Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of Maryland. The radiologists work closely with your doctor to make sure you get accurate and timely results to provide you with the best care.

Q. What is it like to have an MRI?

A. Many patients find an MRI to be a relaxing experience and may even take a nap. During an MRI, the patient lies down on a padded table and is positioned so that the part of the body to be scanned is in the center of the magnet. Each exam takes about 30 minutes and the patient must lie completely still during the imaging.

Q. How does the staff make an MRI exam comfortable for patients?

A. Since all MRIs make noise during the examination, we provide our patients with earplugs or can listen to music on our sound system or their own iPods or CDs. They will still hear the MRI sounds, but not as loudly.

We know that the exam room can be chilly, so we offer all patients warm blankets.

Most importantly, we stay in constant communication with the patient. At all times during the MRI, we talk to patients and can hear them. There also is a call button for patients to press if they need us right away.

The Skyra 3.0T MRI has an open bore with increased space to provide improved patient comfort.

Q. How does an open bore MRI compare to a standard MRI?

A. It offers faster exams, more patient comfort, and sharper images. An open bore MRI is a tube that is much wider in diameter compared with a standard MRI. The larger diameter is more comfortable for the patient and results in less claustrophobia. The larger bore can also accommodate larger patients, up to 550 pounds.

Q. Can patients request open bore MRI?

A. MRI and open bore MRI are both outstanding diagnostic tools. The radiology team will tailor the exam to the appropriate machine to meet the individual needs of each patient.

Q. How do I schedule an MRI appointment?

A. MRI appointments are available seven days a week by calling 703.558.8500.  Please have your physician referral and insurance information available when you call. Since the MRI uses a magnet, the appointment scheduler will ask you several safety questions about metals.

Original HealthReach Magazine article

If you have any additional questions regarding MRI, please feel free to contact any of the physicians at Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants by using the contact link form at the top of the page.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants and the Virginia Hospital Center are fully accredited by the American College of Radiology in multiple modalities.  Learn more about our accreditation and why it matters.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exams have become one of the fastest growing types of medical diagnostic tests in the United States, due, in large part, to its ability to provide non-invasive diagnostic images of soft tissues, bone, fat and muscles and to help in the detection and diagnosis of a variety of health conditions, including orthopedic injuries, breast cancer, neurological disorders and cardiac diseases. In the past MRI exams have not always been comfortable for or well tolerated by certain patient groups, including the elderly, obese (up to 550 pounds) individuals or those who experience claustrophobia, excessive pain or limited mobility. This is due to the relatively small doughnut-like opening where the patient lies, called the bore, and the long tube-like structure of the machine, which can feel confining. However, the MAGNETOM Skyra’s large 70cm open bore – along with its short length (173 cm) can help reduce patients’ anxiety and help put them at ease.

The accommodating features of the MAGNETOM Skyra, combined with 3 Tesla (T) magnet strength – the strongest clinically available– means that NVRC patients can now enjoy a larger array of imaging options with high quality images.

To schedule an MRI exam, patients should call the Radiology Department scheduling line at 703-558-8500.

Dr. Schwab’s interests include endograft placement for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, and hepatic artery chemoembolization.

Dr. Washington’s interests include endovascular treatment of uterine fibroids, treatment of pelvic vein congestion syndrome, as well as endovascular treatment of both thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Dr. McWey’s interests include TIPS, hepatic artery chemoembolization, biliary and vascular stents, as well as in the treatment of varicose vein diseases.

You can learn more about Drs. Schwab, Washington, and McWey, along with our other health professionals in Our Radiologists.

Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants is proud to welcome Dr. Joseph Couvillon to our staff of Interventional Radiologists.

Dr. Couvillon comes to Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants as a board certified interventional radiologist who completed his fellowship training in Interventional Radiology at the prestigious Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute in Miami, FL.

Dr. Couvillon has special interest in EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair), peripheral arterial disease, hepatic chemoembolization, and endovascular treatment of uterine fibroids.

To learn more about Dr. Couvillon and the other health professionals at Northern Virginia Radiology Consultants, please click on the Our Radiologists tab at the top of the page.