Division of Abdominal Imaging

Members of the Division of Abdominal Imaging are nationally and internationally recognized experts in their fields. This division works in close collaboration with the Division of Cardiothorac Imaging, and the combination of thoracic and abdominal imagers allows for the highest quality performance and interpretation of a multitude of focused studies as well as a collaborative approach in the interpretation of oncologic patients.

Services

The Division of Abdominal Imaging routinely performs a variety of advanced imaging studies across multiple hospitals and outpatient imaging sites, including:

• Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Milstein Hospital Campus
• NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
• NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
• ColumbiaDoctors/NewYork-Presbyterian Imaging Tarrytown 
• ColumbiaDoctors/NewYork-Presbyterian Imaging Midtown
• MRI Center at the Neurological Institute

Our imaging practice reflects the tertiary and quaternary care provided by our world-class clinical colleagues. Abdominal radiology studies cover a broad range of pathologies, including but not limited to:

• Liver/Biliary: Ultrasound and MRI elastography, HCC and cholangiocarcinoma screening with CT, MRI, and US including contrast-enhanced ultrasound, post-interventional evaluation (TIPS, transarterial chemoembolization, Y-90 radioembolization), pre- and post-transplant evaluation, pre- and post-living liver donor evaluation, MRI iron and fat quantification.
• Pancreas: Pre- and post-operative primary pancreatic solid and cystic neoplasm evaluation, high-risk patient screening, acute and chronic pancreatitis with associated complications and interventional treatment, secretin-enhanced MRCP, autoimmune pancreatitis, and pancreas transplant.
• Adrenal: Primary adrenal malignancies (ACC, pheochromocytoma), CT/MR washout evaluation of adrenal lesions
• Gastrointestinal: MRI and CT enterography evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease and perianal fistula, MRI and fluoroscopic evaluation of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, CT virtual colonography, MRI and fluoroscopic defecography for incontinence and incomplete emptying, multimodality evaluation of pre- and post-operative bariatric patients, MRI rectal cancer staging and post-treatment response
• Genitourinary: MRI and CT urogram for hematuria and urinary tract malignancy evaluation, MRI bladder with and without upper tracts for bladder urothelial carcinoma, MRI prostate, multimodality imaging of gynecologic cancers, MRI and ultrasound evaluation of the uterine for pre- and post-treatment fibroid embolization, ultrasound evaluation of renal transplants, ultrasound first trimester and high-risk pregnancy evaluation, and MRI fetal imaging
• Vascular: Abdominal aortic aneurysm pre- and post-endovascular repair with 3d reconstruction, CT and MRI angiography for pelvic congestion, CT angiography and MRI angiography of the upper and lower extremities for evaluation of peripheral arterial disease, ultrasound evaluation of renal artery stenosis and mesenteric venous insufficiency, CT and MR angiography of perforator arteries for breast reconstruction

Education

The Abdominal and Abdominal/Cardiothoracic Fellowship trains and educates up to four body imaging fellows and two body/chest imaging fellows every academic year, under the guidance of fellowship program director Lyndon Luk, MD. Fellows and radiology residents work together on service to interpret complex imaging studies for patients across multiple inpatient hospitals and outpatient imaging centers. 

Our faculty take great effort in spending time during readout sessions with residents and fellows at the workstation during the day. A daily joint in-person and virtual conference at noon encourages residents to evaluate interesting cases of the day to practice differentials and simulate consultations with clinical colleagues when on overnight call. Fellows also present cases to practice teaching and encourage discussion with faculty. Journal clubs and interesting topic presentations throughout the academic year keep residents, fellows, and faculty up to date on imaging recommendations and impactful changes in daily practice.

Several members of the division have been awarded the Lecturer of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards by our residency program. Our attendings lecture throughout the year at resident morning and afternoon conferences as well as at regional, national, and international conferences for various radiology societies.

Clinical Collaboration

The division works closely with our clinical colleagues to provide optimal imaging evaluation and management of our patients. CUIMC/NYP is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare delivery systems and provides care to a diverse local patient population in New York City, Westchester County, and northern New Jersey in addition to patients coming for tertiary care from across the country and world.

Our radiologists participate in over 20 multidisciplinary conferences throughout the year and play an integral role in the patient’s medical and surgical management. We also lecture residents and fellows from various clinical specialties and participate in monthly medicine-radiology lectures led by radiology and internal medicine residents with accompanying faculty.

Research

Our faculty are actively engaged in clinical, translational, and educational research and routinely present at conferences. Interested residents and fellows work together with our division members to learn research methods, manuscript writing, and how to develop their own projects. Current and former residents have been awarded grants and have gone on to distinguished academic careers.