Neuroradiology

Neuroradiology

Faculty:

The Division of Neuroradiology at the UF and Shands is an integral component of the total neurosciences care provided to both in- and out-patients at the Shands hospital. We provide complete adult and pediatric neuroimaging services (CT, MRI, Angiography, Neurointerventional , Myelography, and imaging-guided biopsies), provide consultative services, and participate in the education of allied neuroscience personnel, medical students, diagnostic radiology residents, and neuroradiology fellows. For more information on the neuroradioilogy fellowship program, click here. While our primary focus is that of state-of-the-art clinical support, we are also active in research.

The neuroradiology section teams with neurosurgery for neuro-interventional procedures, interprets all neuro studies in radiology and performs a broad range of research in brain disorders, trauma, and disease. UF capabilities in state-of-the-art MRI, CT, PET, and very high end image processing allow the newest techniques to be used for diagnosis and intervention. .

Members of the Neuroradiology Faculty participate in the new UF Stroke Program.

Interventional Neuroradiology

Interventional Neuroradiology is a specialty branch of medicine predominantly dedicated to the treatment of vascular disorders of the brain and spine using minimally invasive techniques. The Interventional Neuroradiologist is a radiology physician with additional specialized training and expertise in endovascular (means within the vascular system) therapy, who specializes in treating these disorders by navigating small catheters through the blood vessels (arteries and veins) using x-ray guidance. Through the use of these small catheters, Interventional Neuroradiologists are able to perform procedures and treat disorders of the brain, head/neck, and spine that may otherwise require open surgery. In addition to treating a wide variety of neurologic vascular disorders, the Interventional Neuroradiology Physicians perform Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for painful vertebral compression fractures.

Procedures Performed by Interventional Neuroradiologists

Resident Rotations

Radiology residents rotate through the neuroradiology section for a total of 16 weeks (divided into four-week blocks of time) during their four-year residency. There is a four-week rotation during the second year at Shands and an additional four-week rotation at the VA hospital. There is a second four-week rotation at Shands in the late second or third year. In their third or fourth years, residents also rotate on MRI at the VA hospital, which is largely neuro imaging. Residents may also choose to spend additional elective time on the Neuroradiology service during their later resident years.

Imaging includes MR, MRA (MR angiography), CT, CTA (CT angiography) of the brain, spine, skull base, orbits and head and neck (ENT imaging).Imaging includes both adult and pediatric studies.

Procedural studies include mainly myelography and contrast cisternography plus diagnostic CSF punctures mainly of the lumbar region but also occasionally of the cervical (C1/C2) area. About 25 - 30 head and neck biopsies are done each year. Radiology residents rotating on service may assist in neurovascular procedures but are never the primary operator.

Radiology residents rotate through the ENT subsection of Neuroradiology for a total of 4 weeks during the 3rd or 4th year of their radiology residency training. Additional exposure to some radiographic ENT-examinations will occur during the Neuroradiology rotation at Shands and at VA Hospitals. Residents may also choose to spend additional elective time on the ENT-Radiology service. Imaging includes MRI and CT of both adult and pediatric patients. Biopsies of extracranial lesions in the head and neck are done routinely and the radiology residents on service may assist in such procedures or may perform such a procedure under the direct supervision of a faculty member.