Chest Imaging

Faculty: John Worrell M.D. (section chief), C. Leon Partain, M.D., Ph.D., and Edwin Donnelly, M.D., Ph.D.

The Chest Imaging Section currently is staffed by two full-time, board-certified radiologists with subspecialty training in chest radiology. The section participates proactively in the immediate care of all intensive care unit patients. Additionally, there is real-time consultation with all physicians in both the inpatient and outpatient areas requiring chest radiographs in the diagnosis and planning of acute care. These consultations not only include films on active inpatients and those in The Vanderbilt Clinic but those chest examinations done on patients in ancillary facilities, such as cases transmitted via teleradiology from Bedford County Hospital in Shelbyville. The Chest Imaging Section is currently and intensely involved in the establishment of a picture archiving communication system (PACS) being installed at Vanderbilt in all the intensive care units, the emergency room, and selected areas of The Vanderbilt Clinic. This involvement extends to the establishment and upgrading of a high-tech learning center for the residents as well as expanded capabilities in the electronic classroom.

Consultative services are also offered in CT of the thorax, MR of the thorax, biopsy procedures, fluoroscopy, plain film tomography, and, rarely, bronchography.

The research interests of the Chest Imaging Section extend from the monochromatic x-ray project of the Free Electron Laser to the clinical evaluation of lung water, lung injury, and barotraumas. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and combat casualty care research are some of the additional research interests by the members of the chest service.

Teaching sessions encompass all levels from pre-medical training through medical school, externships, pulmonary fellows, and radiology resident training. The chest service offers a Chest Fellowship for subspecialty training in chest radiology. (link)

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