Body Imaging

Our radiologists are recognized experts in diagnostic imaging of the abdomen and pelvis, including gastrointestinal and genitourinary subspecialties. Our areas of expertise include abdominal and pelvic CT and MR scanning, fluoroscopy and ultrasound technology. We perform the latest techniques in MDCT and MR transplant imaging, multiphasic imaging of pancreatic, hepatic and renal neoplasms, dual-energy CT, CT enterography and urography, MR techniques including MR cholangiopancreatography, MR enterography and urography, diffusion-weighted imaging and MR elastography and multi-parametric prostate MR with ultrasound-guided fusion techniques to assist the urologists in prostate biopsies.

The Department of Radiology also has a robust ultrasound service providing specific expertise in general abdominal ultrasound, liver imaging, elastography, transplant imaging, gynecological ultrasound, small parts and musculoskeletal applications. Northwestern also has an active ultrasound contrast service in liver and GU applications. Fluoroscopy offers gastrointestinal and genitourinary evaluations.

The MR-Predominant Body Imaging fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a highly desirable position. We also offer a Body Imaging Research Fellowship. Visit the Fellows page for more information.

The Body Imaging Section has a large variety of research interests including gastrointestinal and genitourianary topics like hepatobiliary, pancreatic, prostate, renal, adrenal, testes, intestinal, appendiceal imaging, as well as placental imaging. 

The outstanding network of clinicians at Northwestern Medicine allow for a multi-disciplinary approach to research. Given the expertise in the Interventional Oncology Section, we have been able to investigate the challenges of interpreation in post-therapy imaging. Another collaboration of note is our work on functional MR with diffusion-weighted imaging and MR elastography with Dr. Dick Ehman from Mayo Clinic. We also have seen great results from our work with Urology, where PET-MR, MR, CT, and ultrasound have been beneficial to prostate imaging projects and assessment of renal and adrenal masses. 

Pancreatic and biliary imaging, including assessment of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, with advanced techniques are areas of scholarly pursuit. MDCT interests include radiation reduction techniques and dual energy CT. Ultrasound techniques include ARFI and contrast-enhanced imaging. Newer techniques such as textural analysis and deep learning are under way.