Pediatric Radiology

At Corewell Health Children's in Southeast Michigan, specialized pediatric radiologists, technologists, and supporting team members work closely with other pediatric specialists to understand what's going on inside your child's body. We provide a wide range of advanced imaging technology and services to help your child's care team diagnose diseases, develop treatment plans, and if necessary, perform minimally invasive procedures.

We know that imaging can cause anxiety for some children. We work hard to create a safe, comfortable, and friendly environment to help put your child at ease.

Child-friendly technology

Many of our imaging machines have child-friendly options, including child-controlled lighting and sound elements or the ability to listen to music or watch movies. Our open MRI even allows parents to hold their child’s hand during certain procedures.

Collaborative care

We provide seamless, complete care for your child by working closely with specialists across Corewell Health Children’s, including primary care, emergency and critical care doctors, surgeons, cancer specialists, infectious disease experts, and more.

Low-dose practices

Your child’s safety is our priority. We tailor each imaging session to your child’s body and needs, using the smallest possible dose of radiation on the smallest possible area.

Specialized team

Our pediatric radiologists are board certified and fellowship trained, with extensive experience in imaging and image-guided procedures. We pride ourselves on using clear communication so kids know what to expect and families understand the results and treatment plans.

Computed tomography (CT scan)

CT scans create 3D images of bones, organs, and other tissues by taking X-rays from different angles. Our state-of-the-art Flash CT technology works up to 40 times faster than a conventional CT scan, making it ideal for children.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI creates detailed images using magnetic fields and radio waves. It is radiation-free and is typically used for examining tissues such as the brain, heart, abdomen/pelvis, and bones. Some of our MRI machines have an extra wide or open tunnel design, which can help children who are uncomfortable in small spaces or anxious about the procedure.

Nuclear medicine

A radiologist gives your child a small dose of a chemical compound called a radiotracer, which is then tracked it as it moves through their body. This allows them to see how well your child’s organs are functioning.

Ultrasound

This technology uses sound waves to create real-time images of the body. Specialty-trained pediatric ultrasound technologists and doctors place a small, handheld probe (called a transducer) on your child’s skin to see the tissues and organs inside the body.

X-ray

X-rays use quick, painless bursts of low-dose radiation to create images of bones, organs, and other body tissues.

Imaging may be used as a part of your child’s care plan help detect, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of pediatric conditions. Our specialists can use the imaging results to identify structural defects, tumors, blockages, inflammation, bleeding, and other physical or functional problems with organs and systems throughout the body, including:

In addition to simply viewing body structures (diagnostic radiology), imaging techniques can also guide nonsurgical and surgical medical procedures in real time (interventional radiology). When doctors are able to see the structures deep in child’s your body, they are able to make more precise injections, use smaller incisions, and minimize pain and risk. Dedicated pediatric interventional radiologists perform a variety of procedures including:

Biopsies

Collecting small samples of tissue for testing.

Chest tube placement and management

Inserting a tube to allow excess air or fluid to escape, and making sure it remains anchored, sealed, and sterile.

Complex vascular procedures

Including repairing or widening blood vessels, inserting stents, removing blockages and clots, injecting dye to show blood vessels on imaging scans, and other minimally invasive procedures.

Drainage procedures

Removing excess fluid from the body using a thin tube (catheter) to relive pressure or infections.

Embolization and sclerotherapy

Image-guided injections to block off, shrink, or collapse abnormal blood vessels (vascular malformations) or vessels supplying cancer cells.

Pain management procedures

These procedures target the source of pain to provide relief. Examples include guided steroid injections and using heat therapy to destroy nerves causing pain (radiofrequency ablation).

Tumor and lesion ablations

Destroying masses of abnormal tissue, including cancer cells, using heat, cold, or microwave energy.

Vascular access

Accessing blood vessels to draw blood or inject medications.