Working together to enhance imaging
services for cardiac patients, Winthrop-
University Hospital’s Division of
Cardiology and Department of Radiology
recently joined forces to launch a comprehensive
cardiac imaging service that
combines state-of-the-art diagnostic
technology and unprecedented image
quality with a team of specially-trained
cardiologists and radiologists who provide
expert assessments of a wide
range of cardiovascular conditions.
Juan Gaztañaga, MD, Director of Cardiac
MRI/CT at Winthrop.
“This is a strong collaboration
that was established – first and foremost
– with the needs of our patients
in mind,” said Orlando Ortiz, MD,
MBA, FACR, Chairman of the
Department of Radiology at Winthrop-
University Hospital.
“The unique partnership between
Winthrop’s Department of Radiology
and Division of Cardiology combines
the expertise of two disciplines –
interpreting imaging studies and clinical
applications – with advanced
imaging technology to provide
patients with the best possible care,”
said Kevin Marzo, MD, Chief of the
Division of Cardiology at Winthrop.
“Cardiac CT and MRI are complimentary
imaging technologies that
greatly assist in the diagnosis of a
range of heart conditions including
coronary artery disease, diseases of the
aorta and structural heart problems
including systemic diseases which may
affect the heart such as sarcoidosis,
amyloidosis and hemochromatosis,”
said Juan Gaztañaga, MD, a boardcertified
cardiologist and the Director
of Cardiac MRI/CT at Winthrop.
Dr. Gaztañaga is responsible for
ensuring that these imaging technologies
achieve their full potential
with cardiac patients at Winthrop. In
addition to having completed a fellowship
in cardiac medicine at
Winthrop and a fellowship in
Cardiac MRI/CT at Mount
Sinai School of Medicine,
3-D CT image of the heart.
Dr. Gaztañaga holds the highest
level of certification (Level
Three) for cardiac imaging
with CT and MRI by the
American College
of Cardiology
Foundation and
the American
Heart Association.
Dr. Gaztañaga
works closely
with members
of the Hospital’s
Department of Radiology including
Rakesh Shah, MD, an attending radiologist
who completed a fellowship in
body imaging at Columbia University
and has advanced training in cardiac
CT and MRI, with a subspecialty in
cardiothoracic and body imaging, to
ensure the highest quality imaging
studies and interpretations.
“During a CT scan there is always
a cardiologist present throughout the
entire test, which is unique to our
program,” said Dr. Gaztañaga. “The
cardiac portion of the exam is read by
an experienced cardiologist who is
board-certified in computed tomography,
and the non-cardiac structures
are read by a skilled radiologist. And
during an MRI, there is always a cardiologist
who is also an MRI specialist
present throughout the exam working
together with the MRI technician.”
In addition to the expertise of Dr.
Gaztañaga and Dr. Shah, the vital support
of a team of skilled CT and MRI
technicians and nurses who are crosstrained
in emergency and trauma care
facilitates the seamless delivery of
world-class care to patients.
“This is a very integrated program
that combines quality interventions
with quality staff – radiologists, cardiologists,
technologists and nurses –
working together to ensure patients
receive the best possible care,” said
Dr. Ortiz.
Cardiac CT
A cardiac CT scan is a painless,
non-invasive study that enables the
coronary anatomy to be imaged in
seconds with just a small injection
of contrast material which generates
remarkably detailed images. The test
enables cardiologists and radiologists
to thoroughly evaluate cardiac function
and blockages in the coronary arteries
while assessing cardiac structure for
other disease. It can also assess a
patient’s future risk of heart attack.
“If a patient is having chest pain,
a CT scan can help determine if the
pain is due to the blockages or narrowing
of the coronary arteries that
would otherwise be detected with
invasive testing,” said Dr. Gaztañaga.
“CT is a great study – it’s quick,
easy and safe,” said Joel Marden, CT
Technologist at Winthrop.
At Winthrop, the Siemens 128-
slice multidetector CT scanner offers
powerful imaging technology to provide
sharp, three-dimensional images
of the heart. The machine is capable
of performing scans at very low radiation
levels via prospective gating
(also known as “Step and Shoot”
technology). With the “Step and
Shoot” technology, the x-ray tube is
only activated during discrete steps
of the scanning process, thus reducing
the time that is required for
scanning and lowering the patient’s
exposure to radiation.
“We are committed to taking protective
measures to reduce patients’
exposure to radiation by utilizing the
lowest possible protocols to ensure
their safety,” said Dr. Shah. “Without
compromising image quality, we are
able to dramatically reduce the radiation
dose to the patient – which is a
vital part of our mission,” he added.
Cardiac MRI
Further enhancing cardiac imaging
services at Winthrop is the recent
addition of a third MRI system – a new,
state-of-the-art Philips 3.0 Tesla MRI
scanner. This advanced diagnostic tool
uses a combination of large magnets
and radiofrequency waves to produce
detailed still and moving images of the
heart, with no x-ray exposure.
This noninvasive study facilitates
the examination of the structure and
function of heart muscle, which can
reveal the cause of a patient’s heart
failure or assist in identifying the
specific location of tissue damage due
to a heart attack. In fact, cardiac MRI
is often referred to as the “gold standard”
for evaluating heart function.
“Cardiac MRI is very robust,” said
Dr. Gaztañaga. “It’s capable of evaluating
cardiac and valvular function;
diagnosing heart failure attributed to
coronary artery disease and that
which occurs independent of coronary
artery blockages; as well as cardiac
tumors and congenital heart disease.”
For more information about
advanced cardiac imaging services at
Winthrop, call 1-866-WINTHROP
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Vol. 20, No. 1
Winter/Spring 2010
Back to Publications
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