Radiology

The Department of Radiology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center is pleased to offer a wide range of the highest quality diagnostic and interventional services currently available in imaging. We perform more than 350,000 imaging examinations annually in three locations: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington; Lahey Medical Center, Peabody; and Lahey Outpatient Center, Lexington.

Our team of more than 40 board certified radiologists provides subspecialty expertise in breast imaging, CT scan, gastrointestinal imaging, genitourinary imaging, interventional radiology, interventional neuroradiology, MRI, musculoskeletal imaging, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, PET/CT imaging, thoracic imaging, ultrasound, vascular imaging and women’s imaging. Together with our outstanding support staff, we deliver compassionate and technologically advanced care and service, and are proud to achieve a high level of satisfaction with both patients and our fellow physicians.

We are entirely digital, resulting in the extremely efficient capture and processing of images. By using one of the most comprehensive PACS (Picture Archival Communications System) systems in the country, we further streamline the effective and economical transfer, viewing and archiving of images.

Our subspecialty divisions are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, including:

• Digital mammography including 3-D tomosynthesis
• Seven CT scanners with radiation dose reduction software, a bariatric CT scanner and the first portable CT scanner in the nation
• Six MRI units including an open magnet and a 3-Tesla magnet
• Three interventional suites

We are committed to medical education and maintains its own freestanding, four-year Radiology Residency Program. Post-residency fellowship training is also offered in fields such as abdominal imaging, musculoskeletal imaging and interventional neuroradiology. Lahey Hospital & Medical Center is a teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine, we offer an elective clerkship for fourth year medical students interested in learning more about radiology. Educational programs are also available for individuals interested in careers as radiology technologists.

We pride ourselves in staying on ‘the leading edge’ of diagnostic radiology imaging. Three-dimensional liver imaging for transplantation, uterine artery embolization for fibroids, MR-guided focused ultrasound thermal ablation, 3-D breast tomosynthesis, and the use of prostascint for nuclear imaging of prostate cancer are just some examples of existing, advanced technologies being offered in our department.

Finally, we maintain ongoing research partnerships with several companies specializing in the development of systems that apply computer technology to imaging processes. In addition, many other research projects specific to organ systems and our specialty services are conducted on a continuing basis.

The Department of Radiology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center is deeply committed to serving our patients by providing the highest quality of specialized radiological services in a compassionate, efficient, and cost effective manner. With our multidisciplinary team and state-of-the-art technology, we will maintain a consistent quality of clinical service and academic excellence in our dynamic practice of radiology. We offer a full range of diagnostic imaging techniques and interventional services.

Most of the examinations performed in the Department of Radiology are scheduled by your referring physician’s office.

Exceptions to this general rule are the following:

• Patients with a doctor’s order or prescription for “plain film” X-rays (i.e. chest X-rays, bone X-rays, etc.) may come to the Department of Radiology in Burlington, Peabody or Lexington, Mass., anytime on a “walk-in” basis during normal and extended hours of operation (see below) to have their X-rays performed.
• Patients wishing to have a yearly screening mammogram do not require a doctor’s order or referral and may call 781-744-8000 to schedule an examination in Burlington, Peabody or Lexington.
• Patients referred by a non-Lahey physician that have a doctor’s order or prescription for a specialty study (i.e. CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, mammogram, nuclear medicine study, GI study, etc.) may call 781-744-8000 to schedule their examination in Burlington, Peabody or Lexington. (Note: Not all services are offered on the Peabody and Lexington campuses. A telephone representative will be able to guide you as to which campus can accommodate you for your examination).

Normal hours of operation for the Department of Radiology in Burlington, Peabody and Lexington are 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Extended hours of operation are in place in the following specialty areas:

Breast Imaging

Burlington:
7:00 am until 8:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
7:00 am until 6:00 pm, Wednesday
7:00 am until 4:30 pm, Friday
7:30 am until 1:00 pm, Saturday

Peabody:
7:30 am until 7:30 pm, Monday, Tuesday
7:30 am until 5:00 pm, Wednesday
7:30 am until 4:30 pm, Thursday
7:30 am until 5:00 pm, Friday
8:30 am until 2:30 pm, every other Saturday

Lexington:
7:30 am until 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday
(Screening Mammography Only)

CT Scan

Burlington: until 10:30 pm, Monday – Friday
7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Peabody: 6:30 am to 7:00 pm, Monday – Friday

MRI

Burlington: operational 24 hours, Monday – Friday
12:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday
7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday
Peabody: 6:00 am to 10:30 pm, Monday – Friday
6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Lexington: 6:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday

Ultrasound

Burlington: until 9:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Peabody: until 7:00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

General X-Ray

Burlington: until 9:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Peabody: until 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Emergency hours of operation for all appropriate imaging services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are scheduled through Urgent Care, the Emergency Room, or Inpatient Services.

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington

To contact the Department of Radiology, call 781-744-8156.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for an examination, call 781-744-8000.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for a MRI, call 781-744-5116.

Department of Radiology fax: 781-744-5232.

Lahey Medical Center, Peabody

To contact the Department of Radiology, call 978-538-4248.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for an examination, call 781-744-8000.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for a MRI, call 781-744-5116.

Lahey Medical Center, Lexington

To contact the Department of Radiology, call 781-372-7035.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for an examination, call 781-744-8000.

To cancel or reschedule an existing appointment for an MRI, call 781-744-5116.

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center offers a number of opportunities for medical education in radiology including residencies and fellowships for physicians as well as special programs for radiologic technologists.

• Residencies
• Fellowships

Course Description

The clerkship will focus on clinical aspects of diagnostic radiology, with the student gaining exposure to general plain film reading, fluoroscopy, CT scanning, MRI, ultrasound (including vascular), neuroradiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and mammography.

Goals & Objectives

The student will:

1. Acquire a basic understanding of how various images are obtained, as well as how basic procedures are performed.
2. Learn the basics of radiologic interpretation.
3. Develop a logical, orderly and efficient approach to clinical problem solving via radiologic imaging.
4. Become able to correlate radiologic images with gross anatomy and pathology.
5. Gain an understanding of indications, contraindications and complications of radiologic exams and procedures.
6. Gain an understanding of what is involved in patient preparation for, and experience during, radiologic exams and procedures.
7. Obtain a basic understanding of radiation safety and the physics of radiology.
8. Acquire a sense of what radiologic exams and procedures cost.
9. Gain exposure to the different subspecialty areas of diagnostic radiology.

Method of Instruction

The student will:

1. Attend film conferences given by a staff radiologist, as an opportunity to interpret films.
2. Attend departmental conferences (didactic and film presentation) and certain interdepartmental conferences.
3. Be assigned to work stations supervised by residents and staff. Areas of assignment include: plain film reading, fluoroscopy, intravenous pyelogram, CT-Scan, MRI, ultrasound (including vascular), neuroradiology, interventional radiology, mammography and nuclear medicine.
4. Be assigned elective time to focus on areas of particular interest in radiology.
5. Organize and deliver a 10 to 15 minute case presentation to his/her fellow students, residents, and a staff preceptor. Presentations should include history, physical, pertinent lab data, radiologic findings, and a discussion of disease process with the focus being on radiologic evaluation and interpretation. Sources for cases include: work stations, “interesting case books”, on call and residents. No cases from teaching files are allowed.
6. Be provided with required text: Squire’s Fundamentals of Radiology by Novelline. Read it. Suggested reading and reference lists are also provided. Books are to be returned.
7. Be required to spend one evening on call until 10 pm with a resident.
8. Be given the option to attend the monthly New England Roentgen Ray Society Meeting in Cambridge, MA, which consists of lectures and film panel case discussions.

Student Evaluation

The student will:

1. Be monitored continuously throughout the clerkship by staff and residents at workstations.
2. Be evaluated based on their performance at film conferences, where they will interpret cases.
3. Be evaluated based on their performance on a very low-key practical examination.
4. Be evaluated based on the quality of their case presentations.
5. Be evaluated based on general evidence of reading and utilization of teaching files.
6. Be evaluated based on attendance.
7. Be evaluated on other factors including curiosity, enthusiasm, general fund of knowledge, professionalism, organization, problem solving and interpersonal skills.
8. Be asked, in return, to evaluate the clerkship.

Rotation Description

Radiology technologist students from Middlesex Community College and Regis College rotating through Lahey’s Department of Radiology will focus on clinical aspects of diagnostic radiology. At the same time, students will gain knowledge in the practical aspects of obtaining images in general radiology. In their second year, students will rotate to other institutions to gain further experience with additional types of general diagnostic equipment.

Goals & Objectives

The student will:

1. Acquire a thorough understanding of how images are obtained using ALARA (as low as reasonably accepted), in conjunction with radiation safety.
2. Take into consideration the condition of the patient and develop a logical, orderly and compassionate approach to obtaining diagnostic images.
3. Gain an understanding of what is involved in patient preparation for, and experience during, radiologic examinations and procedures.
4. Obtain a basic understanding of radiation safety and the fundamental physics of imaging.
5. Correlate didactic work with image acquisition and anatomy encountered.
6. Gain exposure to the various subspecialty areas of diagnostic radiology.

Method of Instruction

The student will:

1. Spend two days per week on clinical rotation in their first year.
2. Spend 10 weeks on clinical rotation between their first and second years.
3. Spend three days per week on clinical rotation in their second year, for a total clinical rotation time of 1,800 hours.
4. Be trained in all aspects of proper positioning and radiation safety.
5. Be assigned to work stations supervised by registered technologists under the direction of a clinical instructor. Areas of assignment will include plain film radiography, intravenous pyelography (IVP), fluoroscopy, OR and portable studies.

Student Evaluation

The student will:

1. Be monitored continuously throughout the clerkship by a clinical instructor.
2. Be evaluated using CBO (competency based objectives).
3. Be evaluated based on attendance.
4. Be evaluated based on other factors such as curiosity, enthusiasm, professionalism, organization, problem solving and interpersonal skills.

In an ongoing effort to enhance patient care and improve quality of life, the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Lahey continuously contributes to innovative research projects specific to organ systems and our specialty services. We also maintain ongoing research partnerships with several companies specializing in the development of systems that apply computer technology to imaging processes. View a list of our current clinical trials.