Overview of the Abdominal Imaging Program
The Abdominal Imaging Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Imaging Institute is led by highly knowledgeable physicians who are subspecialized in abdominal radiology. The Abdominal Imaging Program team collaborates directly with physicians from the Digestive Disease Institute and urologic surgeons from the Surgical Subspecialties Institute to offer patients the best possible care and imaging diagnostics using cutting-edge technology.
Multidisciplinary collaboration is at the center of Patients First care at the Abdominal Imaging Program. Every testing protocol is developed by imaging experts to answer clinical questions posed by colleagues, for the maximum benefit of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s patients.
What We Treat
Abdominal radiologists conduct medical imaging studies to support the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues. These include:
- Abdominal pain
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Infections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
- Diverticulitis (small pouches that form in the wall or lining of the colon and become inflamed)
- Cholecystitis (painful inflammation of the gallbladder wall)
- Tumors of the GI tract and genitourinary tract (the genital and urinary tracts)
- Kidney failure
- Kidney stones
- Prostate cancer
- Hernia
- Gallstones
- Incontinence and problems with urination
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Oncologic (cancer-related) imaging for initial staging and follow-up
- Complications related to diabetes
Diagnosis & Treatment with Abdominal Imaging
Abdominal Imaging Program physicians specialize in conducting diagnostic imaging studies of the abdominal region, as well as performing minimally invasive, image-guided treatment procedures.
Diagnosis with Abdominal Imaging
Patients are typically referred to the Imaging Institute’s Abdominal Imaging Program by physicians who are treating the patient for a specific condition or aiming to provide an initial diagnosis. The imaging tests offered by abdominal radiologists at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi include:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test, which uses magnetic waves to create images of specific organs, assists physicians in the diagnosis and follow-up of several illnesses. MRIs may be used for patients with conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or cirrhosis of the liver; to characterize liver masses or conditions of the pancreas; to detect prostate cancer; to examine renal tumors; to diagnose difficulties with urination (with images of the pelvic floor); or to diagnose disorders of the rectum, uterus, and ovaries.
- Computed Tomography (CT): This study takes multiple images using x-ray beams. A CT scan can help physicians in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, colon tumors, or renal tumors, as well as to determine the causes of abdominal pain or blood in the urine.
- Ultrasound: This imaging technique uses sound waves to visualize specific organs in the abdominal region. Physicians may request focused ultrasound examinations like renal ultrasound (used to diagnose the causes of kidney failure), liver ultrasound (used to look for liver disease or obstruction of the bile ducts), or gallbladder ultrasound (used to check for gallstones).
Treatment with Abdominal Imaging
In addition to imaging tests, the highly experienced radiologists in the Abdominal Imaging Program perform a wide spectrum of image-guided procedures, including:
- Paracentesis (drainage of fluid from the abdomen)
- Thoracentesis (drainage of fluid from the chest)
- Lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap, a test of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord)
- Arthrogram (joint injection for pain or to aid in diagnosis)
- Image-guided drain placement in the chest and abdomen
- Kidney biopsy
- Liver biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- Bone biopsy
- Lung biopsy
- Thyroid biopsy
Abdominal Imaging Program Caregivers
The Imaging Institute’s Abdominal Imaging Program is a multidisciplinary team of caregivers who specialize in abdominal imaging. Caregivers involved in patient care for this program are:
- Abdominal radiologists
- Ultrasound technologists
- CT technologists
- MRI technologists
- Nurses specialized in care for patients undergoing abdominal examinations
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