Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates

The Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates (NWRA) provide State-Of-The-Art Medical Imaging services for Newton Wellesley Hospital patients.

NWRA is a hospital-based group of Board Certified, specialty-oriented Radiologists who are devoted to providing excellent, state-of-the-art, multimodality Medical Imaging and Image Guided Procedures for patients of all ages at Newton Wellesley Hospital. Our imaging modalities include Radiography (X-rays), Computerized Tomography (CT), Ultrasound (US), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Mammography with Tomosynthesis, Bone Densitometry (Dexa Scans), Interventional Radiology (IR), and Nuclear Medicine (including Positron Emitting Tomography/Computed Tomography or PET/CT).

At Newton Wellesley Hospital, all images are acquired digitally and stored in a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), allowing the radiologists to view images on high resolution workstations nearly instantaneously, for efficient interpretations and preparation of reports for the ordering physicians. The ordering or consulting physicians can also see the acquired images as soon as they are acquired.

All imaging studies performed at Newton Wellesley Hospital are planned for obtaining the best quality images with the lowest radiation dose. MRI and ultrasound studies are performed without the use of radiation.

PLAIN RADIOGRAPHY AND FLUOROSCOPY

Conventional radiography (X-rays) are the most common imaging procedure. Another common procedure performed in the department is fluoroscopy of the gastrointestinal tract using contrast material.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)

CT is performed on all body parts for many clinical conditions, primarily for diagnostic evaluation, but also for Image-guided biopsies and drainage procedures. Our state-of-the-art CT equipment provides for the exquisite imaging at the lowest possible radiation doses.


BREAST IMAGING

Newton Wellesley Hospital is a community and national leader in mammography and breast imaging. Our center occupies a large portion of the Newton Wellesley Hospital Women’s Imaging Center, which is located off the main hospital lobby. Our state-of-the-art Breast Imaging section offers patients Digital Mammography with Tomosynthesis, Breast Ultrasound, Breast MRI, and biopsies under Mammographic (stereotactic), Ultrasound, or MRI guidance.

Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates also interprets Digital Mammograms with Tomosynthesis from off-site Newton Wellesley Hospital facilities located in Natick and Walpole.

Additionally, the NWH Breast Imaging Radiologists work collaboratively with other specialists to provide collaborative care at the Auerbach Breast Center, a multidisciplinary facility where a team of Surgeons, Radiologists, Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, and Nurses assess patients with challenging breast related problems.

Ultrasound is a modality which uses sound waves to obtain images without radiation from all portions of the body, for a large range of clinical indications. The largest number of ultrasounds are performed for obstetrical and gynecologic patients, but Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates offer expertise in abdominal, vascular, breast, pediatric, and musculoskeletal (joints, tendons, muscles) ultrasound.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

The MRI section of our hospital was upgraded in 2015 to include the highest quality 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla equipment. MRI images are created by a magnetic field; MRI does not create any ionizing radiation exposure to patients.

MRI imaging of all body parts is helpful for assessing innumerable clinical problems in specialty areas such as Neurology, Orthopedics, and Oncology. Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates also interpret MRI studies and procedures performed on site at the Newton-Wellesley Orthopedic office at 54 Washington Street, in Wellesley.


NUCLEAR MEDICINE

Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates offer interpretation and oversight of a full gamut of Nuclear Medicine services, including bone scans, cardiac scans, PET/CT scans, SPECT (single positron emission computed tomography), thyroid scans, renal scans, GI tract studies, and others. As with all modalities, much care is taken to acquire precise diagnostic images at the lowest possible radiation dosage.


INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Comprehensive Interventional Radiology services (also referred to as Surgical Radiology services) are available at Newton Wellesley Hospital, performed by experienced subspecialty Radiologists, using all available imaging methods for guidance. Precise imaging allows for procedures that are more easily tolerated by patients than traditional surgical methods.

In appropriate cases, patients can have Moderate Sedation, a form of safe anesthesia which is managed by the Radiologist and Radiology Nursing team during the procedure.

BONE DENSITOMETRY

Also located within the Women’s Imaging Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital, bone densitometry is performed primarily for assessment and detection of Osteoporosis for postmenopausal women. Many other patients also require this specialized assessment for a variety of clinical problems. Newton Wellesley Radiology Associates also interpret bone density scans from off-site Newton Wellesley Hospital facilities in Natick and Walpole.

CONTRAST AND RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL STUDIES

Many CT, fluoroscopy, IR, and MRI studies require the usage of intra-venous (IV), and sometimes intra-arterial contrast, to optimally visualize anatomic structures for diagnostic purposes. In MRI, a Gadolinium-based contrast is used. In CT and fluoroscopy/IR, an Iodine-based contrast is utilized. Additionally, a Radiopharmaceutical will be used in Nuclear Medicine studies. The safety of all of these administered agents has been well established. These agents are used only if deemed necessary by the supervising Radiologist.

Like all medicines, it is possible for a patient to become allergic to these contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals. Newton Wellesley Hospital’s electronic medical record maintains a permanent history of all patient drug reactions.

Please always remember to let your Radiologist or Radiology Technologist know if you have experienced any allergy to such imaging agents in the past, no matter how long ago you might have had such problems.