The ‘Pictures’ of Success

The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences reports success in raising funds to convert to a fully digital radiography system and to enhance its special imaging capabilities.

As a result of the campaign launched in 2005, all small-animal radiology rooms are now digital, and equine and food-animal rooms are digital except for the larger films.

A new CT has been installed and soon an MRI will be in place. Both are DICOM 3.0 compatible and interface with CVHS’s digital PACS system to allow digital image sharing with referring veterinarians and clients.

The new four-slice helical GE Lightspeed QXi CT replaced an outdated, single slice non-helical CT. This new CT’s rapid image acquisition improves patient care by reducing the procedure time. For example, the brain of a 60pound dog can be imaged in a matter of 10 to 20 seconds.

The software package with the new CT also provides for 3-D image reconstruction and vessel analysis.

In addition to these major imaging upgrades, the CVHS has upgraded the ultrasound machine to a newer HDI 5000 model, which is likewise DICOM 3.0 compatible and provides better and clearer images for abdominal and cardiac ultrasound studies.

The center also has enhanced student instruction with the purchase of two high-resolution medical grade monitors that provide exquisite detail for viewing digital films.

The CVHS recently acquired a digital scanner to scan regular radiographs into digital images that can be stored on a computer server in the PACS for future availability. Films of great teaching cases can now be scanned and accessed digitally.

The anticipated installation date for the MRI is early spring of 2008. The MRI is expected to be a 0.4 Tesla machine that will provide excellent studies of the nervous system and equine joints and tendons as well as many other tissues. Both the CT and MRI will be equipped with large animal tables so that horses and food animal patients can be imaged with either modality.

These imaging upgrades come with a large price tag. The total cost for the CT and its corresponding room renovations was $677,500. The anticipated cost for the MRI and its room renovation is $500,000.

“Without the support of various donors who have given generously to fund these projects, the dream of having this diagnostic imaging center would not have come to fruition,” says Dr. Michael Lorenz, dean of the CVHS.

“The investments made by these donors will have a positive impact for years to come on the services we can offer to pet owners and on the training of tomorrow’s veterinarians.”