PetsDX Veterinary Imaging Because your pet can't tell you where it hurts.
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Pittsburgh Office:

807 Camp Horne Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: (412) 486-4800 &
(412) 348-2577
Fax: (412) 774-1999

Corporate Office:

1050 Saxonburg Blvd.
Glenshaw, PA 15116
Phone: (412) 486-1775

Vienna, VA Location:

PetsDx Veterinary Imaging
140 Park Street, SE
Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (703) 242-4747
Fax: (703) 888-7566
CT only at this location

Akron, OH Location:

1321 Centerview Circle
Akron, Ohio 44321
Phone: (330) 576-6275
Fax: (330) 319-7445

Information for Veterinarians

When should I use MRI instead of x-rays, ultrasound, or CT?
When should I refer for an MRI?
How does the referral process work?
What happens when my patients come to the PetsDx facility?
How and when are results delivered?

When should I use MRI instead of x-rays,
ultrasound, or CT?

Body Part
MRI Preferred
CT Preferred
Brain
  • Arteriovenous malformation and aneurysm
  • Congenital anomalies
  • Extra axial trauma with negative CT
  • Infarction
  • Inflammatory disease
  • Primary and metastatic neoplasia
  • Sella and pituitary disease
  • Vasculitis
  • Virtually all applications, in view of its superior soft tissue visualization and absence of beam hardening artifacts like those seen on CT
  • Acute intracranial trauma
  • Craniocervical junction bony anomalies
  • Skull Fracture
  • Skull base tumors
Orbits
  • Cortical blindness or optic pathway disease
  • Optic neuritis
  • Retrobulbar neoplasms or masses
  • Retinal hemorrhage or subretinal effusion
  • Sudden blindness
  • Vascular abnormalities
  • Orbital trauma with fracture
Head & Neck
  • Nasal Neoplasia
  • Neck masses or adenopathy
  • Otitis - middle and inner ear
  • Oropharynx and Nasopharynx
  • Salivary gland masses
  • Thyroid masses (in conjunction with thyroid scintigraphy)
  • Bony head and neck trauma
  • Dental associated masses
  • Skull base neoplasia
Spine
  • Congenital anomalies
  • Discospondylitis
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Myelitis
  • Primary or secondary or metastatic neoplasia of the spinal cord
  • Paraspinal/vertebral neoplasia
  • Post operative recurrence of intervertebral disc disease
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Syringomyelia
  • Bony spinal trauma (vertebral fracture)
Orthopedics
  • Avascular necrosis (i.e. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease)
  • Joint effusion
  • Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma
  • Meniscal, tendon or ligamentous injury
  • Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
  • Primary bone tumors (in conjunction with bone scintigraphy)
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas
  • Complex Fracture
  • Prosthesis planning
Abdomen
  • Adrenal masses
  • Hepatic masses
  • Pancreatic masses
  • Renal masses (in conjunction with renal scintigraphy)
  • Splenic masses
  • Portosystemic shunt
  • Ectopic ureter evaluation
  • Renal/ureteral calculus evaluation
Thorax  
  • Primary or metastatic lung carcinoma
  • Pleural disease
  • Pneumothorax
  • Pneumonia, abscess and empyema
  • Metastasis screening
Pelvis
  • Anal gland adenocarcinoma
  • Bladder carcinoma
  • Soft tissue sarcoma
  • Primary bone tumor
  • Prostate carcinoma
  • Uterine neoplasia
    Trauma (complex fractures)
Cardiovascular
  • Cardiac and pericardial masses
  
Vascular
  • Intracranial aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation
  • Evaluation of thrombosis including aortic, caval, and portal vein.
  • Pulmonary embolism

MRI is a powerful imaging modality that allows us to safely and quickly gain both anatomical and functional information about our patients without the need for invasive procedures. The detail provided by MRI is so much better than other imaging modalities that it is considered the gold standard for imaging soft tissues, especially the brain and spine.

For example:

  1. In a study of elbow joint fractures, radiographs only detected fractures 33% of the time. MRI detected fractures 95% of the time.
    (Dec 1997, Journal of Veterinary Research)

  2. Tumor margins and behavior can't be predicted with ultrasound and use is limited to areas not obscured by bone.

  3. For our cancer patients, MRI is even more sensitive than CT and can help us more accurately determine tumor behavior and margins.

When you have to make a serious clinical decision,...

X-Ray of a canine spine

X-ray of a canine spine

...which image would you prefer?

MRI of a canine spine

MRI of a canine spine

"It is this ability to show detail that has made MRI the gold standard for imaging soft tissues and in particular the brain and spine."* *DVM Sept 1, 2000

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When should I refer for an MRI?

MRI provides exceptional soft tissue detail, making it extremely useful in imaging the nervous system, joints, cardiovascular structures, and the abdominal organs.

It is particularly useful in (1) situations where other diagnostic tests have failed to give a diagnosis, (2) a client is hesitant to pursue invasive procedures, or (3) an owner needs an accurate diagnosis when making difficult decisions regarding the care of their pet.

Specific uses are as follows:

  • Seizure Patients
  • Patients with Vestibular Symptoms
  • Neck or Back Pain
  • Paresis
  • Ataxia
  • Lameness
  • Abnormal Nasal Drainage or Swelling

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How does the referral process work?

A referral can be made by speaking directly with the staff veterinarian at your local Imaging Center.

  • Once the referral has been arranged, your clients can schedule an appointment with us directly.
  • All pertinent information, including medical record and results of recent blood work should be faxed to our office in advance of your client's appointment.
  • X-rays can be brought in by the client on the appointment day.
  • The day of the MRI, our staff veterinarian will speak with you personally after the study has been completed to update you on your patient's condition.
  • Billing can be done either directly at our facility (VISA, MasterCard, Check) or through your referring veterinarian's office.

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What happens when my patients come to the
PetsDx facility?

Your client's and patient's comfort is very important to us. They will be immediately greeted by the professional personnel at PetsDx. The staff and veterinarian will familiarize them with the facility and the procedure.

All patients will have a full physical in anticipation of general anesthesia. Once the physical is completed and all your client's questions have been answered, your patient will be given a pre - medication if indicated.

Every patient will then have an intravenous catheter placed. Once the IV is in place, we will induce anesthesia, intubate your patient, and maintain anesthesia with a gas anesthetic. The MRI will then be performed. Full patient monitoring will be maintained, using MRI compatible monitoring equipment.

Once the MRI is complete, images will be submitted to a board certified radiologist. Your patient will be discharged once fully recovered. The radiologist's report will be returned to you within 24 hours and you will then follow up with your client regarding further treatment and care.

The PetsDx reception area can be used by your client during the scan process or they can return after the exam.

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How and when are results delivered?

We strive to provide referring veterinarians with accurate information in a timely manner.

  • Our staff veterinarian will always call after the study is completed to update you on your patient's condition.
  • All images will be reviewed in detail by a veterinary board certified radiologist with years of experience interpreting MRI's.
  • In most cases, the veterinary radiologist's report will be submitted to your office within 24 to 48 hours so that you can follow up with your client as quickly as possible. We would be happy to provide your office with copies of your patients' images.
  • So that you retain complete control of case management, we will not discuss any test results or treatment options directly with your client. We will, however, be available to answer any questions you may have regarding the radiologist's report.

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