Pediatric Radiology
A Clear Picture of Childhood Illnesses & Injuries
Our pediatric radiologists are experts in selecting the best imaging techniques to diagnose medical and surgical problems in infants and children. They help providers “see” inside the body to diagnose the cause of your child’s symptoms or see how well your child is responding to a treatment.
Pediatric Imaging Services
Our imaging specialists give you exact results using the least amount of radiation possible. They help providers get a closer look at what’s happening inside your child’s body. They can then diagnose the cause of your child’s symptoms or how well your child is responding to a treatment using a variety of specialized tests, such as:
- CT scan
- Fluoroscopy
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
Our team of pediatric radiologists, anesthesiologists, intensivists, nurses, technologists, and child-life specialists work with children every day. Our equipment is designed for children, making tests more comfortable for them. Exam rooms are bright and cheery to help children feel safe and more at ease. Sedation, fetal MRI, and “Image Gently” initiatives ensure your child receives the best possible testing for a safe and accurate diagnosis.
Specialized Care for Your Child
Baystate offers state-of-the-art technology and the most compassionate specialists. Leave the details to our experts. We’ve got you covered.
Most children, especially very young ones, are unable to hold still for the 15-90 minutes it takes to complete an MRI or other imaging study. That’s why many of them receive moderate sedation to decrease their movement so the scan can be completed. Baystate Children’s Hospital is the region’s only hospital with this service.
Our pediatric anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists manage children with complex medical problems and those who need general anesthesia to complete their MRI studies.
If your child needs only moderate sedation, our experienced pediatric intensivists oversee medications used for sedation. Pediatric intensivists may also provide sedation for a variety of radiology procedures, including:
- Insertion of PICC lines and feeding tubes
- CT scan-guided removal of fluid from the chest, abdomen, or around the heart
- Ultrasound-guided biopsies of the kidney of the liver
- Other procedures performed in conjunction with imaging
The information from the fetal MRI may be used to change the management of the pregnancy, or in preparation for possible complications at birth.
Baystate’s pediatric radiologists participate in the national Image Gently® campaign, designed to increasing awareness of opportunities to lower radiation doses when imaging children. We follow the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle of radiation safety, scaling back radiation doses for children.
Our experts offer advice about what imaging procedures are appropriate and, when possible, what alternatives are available that don’t use radiation.
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