A serious, sensitive approach to imaging  

Imaging procedures help us make an accurate diagnosis and are often an important part of your child's treatment plan. All of our pediatric radiologists have tailored training to perform and interpret imaging for children. Our team uses kid-friendly expertise to select and perform the most appropriate imaging – as quickly, safely and precisely as possible.  

Our knowledgeable team focuses on children and understands the unique characteristics of growing bodies. Though we try to avoid sedation if possible, when patients do require anesthesia parents can rest assured that their child is in expert hands. Our dedicated pediatric anesthesiologists also have advanced and specialized medical training to care for even the youngest patients. 

Exposure to radiation can pose risks. Our team uses technology to ensure precise and as low a dose radiation as possible. We only subject children to imaging that requires radiation when absolutely necessary to pinpoint an accurate diagnosis.  

We understand that getting an x-ray or MRI can be scary for kids, in part because the equipment is big and sometimes loud. Our team takes special measures to calm your child's nerves and make them comfortable. From super hero capes to a mini MRI scanner that makes noises just like the real thing, we help kids understand what to expect and prepare them to conquer their imaging procedure. 

Families wait in a room close by, and we keep you inform throughout the procedure. In studies requiring sedation, the physician regularly reviews the images while the child is still in the procedure room to ensure that all appropriate images have been obtained and urgent decisions can be made if needed.  

Specialized services and procedures 

Our pediatric radiologists and technologists use the latest imaging equipment, including: 

• CT 
• EOS imaging 
• MRI 
• Fluoroscopy 
• Sonography (ultrasound)  
• X-ray 

Our specialists also conduct fetal MRIs to get information about an unborn baby's brain, chest and other essential body parts; these MRIs give insights that we might not be able to accurately assess just with ultrasound. 

The team uses specific pediatric protocols – which are special studies designed just for kids – with the goal of being as quick, quiet and precise as possible. In addition to leveraging best practices and emerging technology to improve our patients’ safety and experience, our physicians work closely with equipment manufacturers and application programmers, staying on the leading edge of technology and customizing tools for the best care for kids. 

3T MRI

The Children's Pavilion is home to Central Virginia’s only dedicated pediatric 3 tesla (3T) MRI, which is about twice as powerful as a standard MRI. This powerful magnet technology provides extremely clear, high-resolution images of the inside of the body, making it one of the most sensitive studies for detecting subtle abnormalities. This additional power is particularly helpful when imaging the brain, spine and joints, allowing your child's doctor to see things that may not be as clearly visible through conventional MRI imaging. 

Our kid-friendly hot air balloon-themed MRI suite is equipped with special high-tech goggles that allow children to watch movies as they are being scanned. This helps them pass the time more enjoyably, and further minimizes our use of sedation. They can even bring their favorite movies from home! Check out this video to find what to expect. 

CT

Our FLASH CT scanner scans within seconds, which eliminates the need for sedation in most children. We follow special pediatric protocols that help minimize the amount of radiation used for each study, while also creating a radiation plan tailored to your child’s body. 

EOS imaging 

New EOS imaging reduces a child’s exposure to radiation by about half, while conducting 3D imaging of the entire body in under 20 seconds. Because this technology reduces the number of images, we reduce the time spent in radiology. We offer EOS for the spine and lower body.