Peninsula Radiological Associates is honored to provide top quality imaging services for the new Riverside Doctors’ Hospital.  For more than 50 years, our team of board certified and fellowship trained radiologists have delivered the most comprehensive range of medical diagnostic imaging and procedures available anywhere on the Virginia Peninsula.

Peninsula Radiological Associates consists of a group of fifteen Board Certified Radiologists with a wide range of sub-specialty, fellowship trained expertise. Our radiologists are experienced, and highly trained in Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Interventional Oncology, Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Nuclear Medicine, Women’s Imaging, and Neuroimaging and Head and Neck Imaging.

Our team includes:  Dr. Dennie Bartol, M.D., FACR,  Dr. James D. Baylous, M.D.,  Dr. Valentine W. Curran, M.D.,   Dr. Jonathan H. DeMeo, M.D.,   Dr. Jon Zachary Elliott, D.O. ,   Dr. Timothy Farrell, M.D., FACR,  Dr. Yizhi Liang, M.D.,   Dr. James M. Grimson, M.D.,  Dr. Steven M. Irby, M.D,  Dr. Janice M. Newsome, M.D.,  Dr. Sharon Outten, M.D.,  Dr. Benjamin J. Pettus, M.D., PhD ,    Dr. Thomas A. Pincus, M.D.,   Dr. David J. Schengber, M.D.,  Dr. Curtis D. Stoldt, D.O.

Peninsula Radiology is proud to have many of  our physicians living in Williamsburg with the rest close by in Yorktown, Newport News and Suffolk.  Dr. Valentine Curran, will be leading the team as the Head of Imaging at the Williamsburg Doctor’s Hospital. He specializes in body imaging and musculoskeletal radiology. He has been a part of the Peninsula Radiology/Riverside team for over eight years. Dr. Curran has been living in Williamsburg with his wife, Dawn, and two daughters for the last seven years. They enjoy spending time together and “being tourists” in Williamsburg.

In addition to Dr. Curran, Dr. Zack Elliott, Timothy Farrell, Dr. Benjamin Pettus, and Dr. James Grimson also reside in Williamsburg.  Dr. Elliott specializes in Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention. Dr. Elliott resides in Williamsburg with his wife, Sarah, and two daughters. Dr. Elliott especially enjoys golfing, trail running, and paddle boarding on the James River. Dr. Farrell specializes in Interventional, Nuclear Medicine, and Stereotactic Biopsy he currently resides in Williamsburg with his wife Barbara. During his free time he enjoys spending time with his two sons studying history, politics, music, reading, and golfing.  Dr. Pettus specializes in Mammography and Breast Imaging. He and his wife love the history, culture, and arts offered in Williamsburg. Dr. Grimson recently moved to Williamsburg, VA and enjoys spending time with his wife, son and daughter.  Dr. Schengber is Yorktown resident. He is a body imaging, breast Imaging and Intervention specialist.  He is an avid runner most recently competing in the Boston Marathon. He loves the restaurants in Williamsburg especially the loves Fat Canary.

Annie Smith will serve as the Imaging Manager for the Riverside Doctors’ Hospital. She has been with Riverside for over ten years.  Annie received her training in Radiography at Mid Michigan. She has been living in Williamsburg for eleven years and enjoys outdoor pursuits including fishing.

As a team we look forward to serving the healthcare needs of our Williamsburg community.

What are fibroids?

Treatment for Fibroids
One option for treating fibroids includes Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE).
This is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed by an Interventional Radiologist (IR), a medical doctor with extensive experience in diagnostic radiology.

In a UFE procedure, we use an x-ray camera to guide the delivery of small particles to the uterus and fibroids. These block the arteries that provide blood flow, causing the fibroids to shrink. Nearly 90 percent of women with fibroids experience relief of their symptoms.

Patients who are ideal for UFE include women who:
• Want to keep their uterus
• Do not want surgery
• Want an overnight or outpatient hospital stay
• May not be good candidates for surgery
• Have excessive bleeding

Benefits of UFE

• Decrease in heavy menstrual bleeding from symptomatic fibroids.
• Decrease in pelvic pain and/or pressure.
• Out-patient procedure
• Overall significant improvement in patient’s physical and emotional well-being.

Overall, uterine fibroid embolization is a safe procedure and treatment for uterine fibroids that involves minimal risk. Don’t let fibroids take over you life, if you are suffering form symptoms caused by fibroids, schedule a consultation today to learn more about UFE.

Dr. Janice Newsome attended Society of Interventional Radiology’s 38th Scientific Meeting. This five-day conference was held in New Orleans and provided a wonderful opportunity for radiologist to develop professional. Nearly 5,300 physicians, scientists and allied health professionals improving patient care through image-guided therapy.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “IR Reaching Out”, and some of the topics featured in the conference include:

• Treating enlarged prostates
• Using stents that dispense medicine
• Freezing cancer treatment technologies
• Helping dialysis patients

We are proud to announce that Dr. Janice Newsome was selected as the featured speaker to discuss the future of Interventional Radiology”.  In addition, Dr. Newsome spoke to Nurse practitioners and technologist about the importance of safety in radiology. She covered  “15 shades of grey”, which featured the 15 worst cases in interventional radiology.

Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-ray, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally.

The goal of Society of Interventional Radiology‘s is to promote the high-quality practice of interventional radiology. By attending the conference, Dr. Newsome received latest information in basic and clinical research; experienced techniques and technologies utilized by interventional radiologists around the world; saw the latest equipment used in interventional radiology; and discussed social, political and economic issues important to the IR community.

Dr. Newsome was featured in an article aimed at understanding liver cancer. The liver can be affected by primary liver cancer, which starts in the liver, or by cancer, which forms in other sites and then spreads to the liver. Most liver cancer is secondary or metastatic, meaning it started elsewhere in the body.

Because the liver is made up of several different types of cells, several types of tumors can form in the liver. Some of these are benign, and some are cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. These tumors have different causes and are treated differently.

The two treatment methods discussed by Dr. Newsome include ablation and embolization.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one treatment option for patients who are not candidates for liver transplants. “RFA is an excellent treatment for tumors smaller than 3 cm,” says Dr. Janice Newsome. This minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer uses an image-guided technique that heats and destroys cancer cells.

Another treatment method is embolization, which work by blocking the blood supply to tumors. “This is done by placing a small catheter into the femoral artery through a small nick in the groin and feeding it under image guidance to the problem area,” Dr. Newsome explains. “The catheter can be placed directly into the artery supplying the tumor, then deliver various tiny clotting agents (beads) to stop the blood flow to a tumor, causing it to shrink and die.”

In transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), the same process is used, but with cancer fighting drugs impregnated into the beads. “Since the chemotherapy doesn’t go into the blood stream, we can give higher and higher doses without worrying about systemic attacks on organs that aren’t involved,” Dr. Newsome states.

Dr. Newsome emphasizes that these minimally invasive techniques not only control the disease process in the liver, but in some instances can downstage organ involvement and allow the cancer to be cut out.

“We know that combination therapy is the future of treatment for primary liver cancer,” Dr. Newsome says. Using Nexavar with transarterial chemoembolization – using radiofrequency ablation with TACE and other variations – such studies are ongoing, and the results will change our treatment and ultimately help our patients.”

Dr. Jon Zachary Elliott recently attended the 8

The five-day course provided a comprehensive overview of MSK diagnostic tools through a concurrent schedule of didactic lectures with live scanning demonstrations as well as the unique feature of supervised hand-on workshops with live models. For example, one interventional workshop allowed participants to practice needle placement under ultrasound guidance, while other workshops involved raw turkey breasts and pig feet. These workshops were proctored by internationally known experts in the field of radiology so that participants were able to thoroughly discuss these advanced applications in a collaborative environment.

The program provided daily instruction in musculoskeletal ultrasound of joints and extremeties. For example, the first day of the conference focused on topics involving the shoulder, such as rotator cuff ultrasound and biceps pathology. Another day focused entirely on medical conditions regarding the elbow, wrist, and hand. Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound-guided interventional techniques were also discussed extensively with great opportunities for radiology professionals trying to hone their scanning skills. Some specialists were able to use and compare several different ultrasound machines from various companies. Participants from every corner of the country, as well as internationally, were able to provide plenty of opportunities among themselves for engaging in discussions regarding MSK ultrasound and its growing role in the United States.

Peninsula Radiology is proud to announce that Riverside Walter Reed Hospital has successfully passed their Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Accreditation with the American College of Radiology. In addition, the ACR has deemed this facility a “Breast Center of Excellence”.

By awarding the hospital the status of Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the American College of Radiology recognizes the breast imaging services at this center are fully accredited in Mammography, Stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound.

This accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. To earn this award, a facility must meet the ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.

“This is the most prestigious honor that can be awarded in breast imaging,” says Dr. Benjamin Pettus, a radiologist with Peninsula Radiology who specializes in women’s imaging.  “It speaks of our commitment to high quality breast imaging and technical competency with breast biopsies.”

The rigorous, though voluntary process requires facilities to pass breast imaging accreditation programs and modules. In addition, there is also an assessment of image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which then provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital strives to be a leader in of women’s imaging. Our radiologists are dedicated to the latest diagnostic techniques, and offer compassionate care with the highest of practice standards.

The ACR, is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Did you know that March is Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month? This campaign is aimed at raising awareness among consumers, healthcare professionals, and policy-makers about DVT and pulmonary embolus (PE) blood clots on national, as well as local levels. For those of you who don’t know, DVT is a serious medical condition that results from a blood clot in the vein. These kinds of blood clots are normally found in the lower leg, but they can also occur in the arm and shoulder veins as well. The biggest risk of DVT is that a piece of the clot could break free and directly enter the blood stream. Since the blood in your veins travels straight to your lungs in order to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen, the clot (now called embolus) will cause the vein to enlarge until it reaches your lungs, where the passageway narrows. PE can result when the blood clot blocks the vein and sufficiently stops further blood flow through the lung.

DVT mainly affects the larger veins in the lower extremities (like the lower leg, thigh, or calf). Normally, they are only on one side of your body. Symptoms include sudden loss of breath and dizziness. The blood clot can also cause noticeable redness and warmth on your skin, leg pain, and swelling.

According to the American Heart Association, DVT occurs in about 2 million Americans every year. Since they can be so immediately fatal, pulmonary embolus clots are responsible for an estimated 300,000 deaths in the U.S. per year, which is more than breast cancer and AIDS combined. With such frightening statistics, it is important to learn and spread the word about DVT and PE.

Although this condition can be prevented and treated with anticoagulant medications, our staff specializes in catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), which is a minimally invasive treatment that dissolves these troublesome blood clots directly in the blood vessel. By this procedure, x-ray imaging allows the physician to insert a specialized catheter into an affected vein in order to guide it to the blockage site. Once contact is made, the blood clot can then be dissolved by delivering either medication or a mechanical device to the affected area in order to break up the clot.

In addition to this process, we can also easily diagnose DVT by performing a duplex ultrasonography exam, which is a non-invasive procedure that allows us to visualize the flow of blood within an artery using color-doppler imaging.

A recent study presented at the annual Radiological Society of North America meeting determined that more than 64% of respondents stated that they had little or no understanding regarding the critical role of radiologist.  To clarify, radiologists specialize in producing pictures of the human body using state-of-the-art imaging technology, such as X-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  These medical specialists are central members of the multidisciplinary clinical care team who play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries within adults and children, including babies and unborn fetuses.

Since Peninsula Radiological Associates is affiliated with the esteemed Riverside Health System, patients are offered the following specialties and services:

•    CAT Scans, which display several different types of tissue
•    X-rays, which identify and treat bone fractures
•    DEXA Scans, which measure bone loss and density
•    Embolization, which stop blood supply to destructive tumors
•    MRI, which diagnose cancer, vascular disease, and neurological disorders
•    Musculoskeletal imaging, which pinpoint spinal disorders and arthritis
•    Nuclear medicine, such as PET scans, which evaluate respiratory problems and organ function
•    Radiofrequency Ablation, which locate and eliminate tumors using electrical energy

Of course, there are several other imaging procedures available through the dependable care of our board-certified radiologists.  Women’s Imaging, for example, includes a wide range of valuable services related to breast cancer, such as digital mammography and image guided biopsy.

Because these terms can appear confusing or overwhelming to some patients, we uphold the ideas behind the “Radiology Cares” initiative, which seeks to effectively promote effective communication between the patient and healthcare providers.  As a result, our patients are empowered to make informed decisions regarding their rehabilitative care.

Overall, direct communication is essential to improving our community’s awareness of the dynamic role radiologists play in healthcare. Even more importantly, direct interactions with these specialists will enhance patient understanding and maintain comfort regarding their undergoing tests and procedures. These are the goals that we strive to achieve on a daily basis in order to provide the best healthcare possible.

We strongly encourage patient education, and are always ready and willing to answer any questions regarding your health.

This gift, honoring Dr. Outten as a special caregiver has been made to the:

Riverside Tree of Life Cancer Fund – This year alone, the fund has provided over $34,700 in financial assistance to qualified Riverside cancer care patients to help with things like obtaining necessary medications or transportation to and from appointments for cancer treatment.  The fund also helps to assure that underserved community members have access to life saving cancer screenings and prevention programs.

In the kind words or the donor:

“Dr. Outten was very careful to answer all my question’s truthfully and to not hurt me.  And when they told me what they thought, she hugged me and I felt loved and cared for.”

We are proud of Dr. Outten for brining the Riverside Mission – “caring for others as we would care of those we love” – to life.

Dr. Janice M. Newsome, a board certified radiologist, is a graduate of City University of New York. She received her medical degree from the Mont Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Upon graduation she completed an internship with the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also completed her Residency in radiology. Dr. Newsome was a junior fellow in radiology at the Virginia Medical Center, and later a fellow in vascular and interventional radiology at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute.

Dr. Newsome spoke about endovascular procedures in the management of Complicated Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. This is a serious condition because a blood clot that has formed in your vein can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and lodge in your lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism).

Some of the risk factors include family history, recent surgery, obesity, and prolonged immobilization. One treatment option for DVT, provided by Peninsula Radiology, is Catheter Directed Therapy for DVT. This method has many benefits including prompt resolution of symptoms, prevention of pulmonary embolism, preserving of valve function. It does not prevent clot propagation and does not prevent re-thrombosis. However, catheter therapies can preserve quality of life, as we as save limbs.

Standard treatment for DVT is Anticoagulation and supportive care. This treatment prevents thrombus propagation, reduces the rate of new thrombus, and reduces the rate of pulmonary embolism. However it does not eliminate the existing thrombus.