Zwanger-Pesiri hosts official grand opening at Lynbrook location

As seen in LI Herald:

"Town and local officials, as well as staff and other well-wishers, were on hand last Saturday as Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology officially opened its newest location at 443 Sunrise Highway. It is the Long Island-based radiology center's seventeeth location. Zwanger-Pesiri specializes in radiological procedures such as MRI/PET, breast MRI, cardiac and vascular CTA, 3D mamography, PET/CT, digital X-ray, nuclear medicine and ultrasound. The new facility in Lynbrook is housed in a large, multi-floor glass building, surrounded by landscaping. It will feature some of most advanced radiological equipment and procedures available."

The First & Only Private Radiology Facility in the Nation to Offer MRI/PET

On November 11, 2014, at its newest facility in Lynbrook, NY, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology has once again led the way in medical imaging by being the first private radiology facility in the United States to acquire an MRI/PET (Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Positron Emission Tomography) scanner. The Biograph mMR, by Siemens, is the only FDA-approved device that has the ability to acquire both an MRI and a PET scan simultaneously -- leading to better detection, characterization and treatment of oncologic, neurologic and cardiac diseases.

For many years before the Biograph mMR was available, the modality of choice had been PET/CT, a hybrid modality that performs both a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and a CT (Computed Tomography) scan. However, because of the dangers of radiation exposure with CT and its low soft tissue resolution, radiologists have chosen to use software techniques that combine a patient’s MRI scan with the patient’s PET scan -- creating fused MRI/PET studies. But due to motion and alignment issues with fusing two exams from two different scanners, diagnosing certain diseases was problematic -- but not anymore.

The simultaneous imaging of MRI and PET with the Biograph mMR scanner will:

- Eliminate CT radiation exposure that is received from PET/CT scans, which is equivalent to approximately 100 chest X-rays.

- Provide superior soft tissue information than PET/CT, thus increasing the sensitivity and specificity of the exam.

- Increase diagnostic confidence by eliminating motion from two separate scans.

- Reduce the number of office visits and acquisition time by combining two important imaging techniques in one system.

“These points are of the utmost importance to us here at Zwanger-Pesiri,” says Chief Executive Officer, Steven L. Mendelsohn, MD. “Not only are we committed to giving our patients access to the most advanced imaging techniques on the market, but we are dedicated to reducing radiation exposure whenever possible. The fact that MRI/PET delivers better diagnostic information than PET/CT and reduces radiation exposure equivalent to 100 chest X-rays, is what makes this modality an integral part of who we are and what we stand for.”

“We know that by having an MRI/PET unit at Zwanger-Pesiri, patients and physicians around the country, and even the world, will now have access to this valuable imaging modality in a more private, comfortable and family-like environment. And being that Lynbrook is only 15 minutes away from John F. Kennedy International Airport, this office will be accessible to many,” says Robert Day, Chief Operating Officer of Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology.

Lynbrook Office is Open!

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is proud to announce the opening of our new Lynbrook office. With the opening of this office, patients now have 17 locations to choose from across Nassau and Suffolk counties. The new office is located at 443 Sunrise Highway and, like our other locations, offers the most advanced radiologic technology on Long Island in a welcoming environment that focuses on patient comfort and care. Among the many services offered are: 3T wide-bore MRI, MRI/PET, PET/CT, low dose CT, 3D mammography, ultrasound, digital X-ray, nuclear medicine, DEXA bone density, and fluoroscopy.

Not only is Lynbrook home to the most advanced imaging modalities such as 3T MRI, 3D mammography, etc., but it is also the first and only private radiology facility in the United States to have a Siemens Biograph MRI/PET scanner—the only modality on the market that acquires both a PET scan and MRI scan at the same time. This combined technique will lead to a significant reduction in radiation exposure compared to a PET/CT, and lead to better detection, characterization and treatment of oncologic, neurologic and cardiac diseases.

We look forward to providing you with exceptional care and serving you at our new location.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology ALS Ice Bucket Challenge 2014

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National Brain Tumor Society Walk- September 20th

Nearly 700,000 Americans are living with a brain tumor today, and many more will be diagnosed each year. Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is honored to be the flagship sponsor of this year’s Long Island Brain Tumor Walk, hosted by the National Brain Tumor Society.

This event is held to raise awareness and resources to fund programs for those affected by brain tumors. Join the fight! Sign up for the walk or donate today.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014

Location: Jones Beach State Park at Field 5 – Wantagh, NY

Registration: 8:00am – 9:00am

Program & Activities: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Length of Event: 5K (approximately 3.1 miles)

Interested in volunteering for this event? Learn more about volunteer opportunities. 

BAB Radiology Merges with Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology

On Tuesday, July 29^th, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, the largest private radiology practice on Long Island, NY, announced its acquisition of BAB Radiology, a Suffolk County-based radiology group with five facilities located in Amityville, Bay Shore, Commack, Hauppauge and Shirley.

The agreement brings together two long-standing radiology groups who have been serving the Long Island community for over 50 years, and expands Zwanger-Pesiri’s reach in providing easier access to the most advanced radiological services in the industry today. With the additional locations, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology now has 17 practicing offices spanning Long Island from Elmont in Nassau County to Shirley in Suffolk County, with continued plans for growth in the near future.

               

“These new locations not only increase the availability of the most cutting-edge technology and patient-centric care to more people, but also provides Zwanger-Pesiri with additional opportunities to give back to the communities,” said Chief Executive Officer of Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, Dr. Steven L. Mendelsohn.

“The economic growth of Long Island is a critical factor to the success of Zwanger-Pesiri. Over the years we have employed hundreds of residents of Long Island, and with the addition of BAB’s employees and radiologists, our staff numbers have grown from over 700 to nearly 900 members,” said Daniel VanVorst, Director of Human Resources of Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology.

This September, Zwanger-Pesiri will open its 18^th location in Lynbrook, NY and will be the first and only private radiology facility in the United States to have an MRI/PET (Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Positron Emission Tomography) scanner — the only FDA-approved device that has the ability to perform both an MRI and PET scan simultaneously to better detect, characterize and treat oncologic, neurologic and cardiac diseases.

About Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, one of the largest and most respected practices on Long Island, has been serving the community for over 60 years. To date, there are 17 locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties, each providing a range of radiological procedures such as Breast MRI, Cardiac andVascular CTA, Digital and 3D Mammography, PET/CT, Digital X-ray, NuclearMedicine, Ultrasound and more.

Having over 60 certified radiologists that have multiple subspecialties, and offering 14 3T MRIs, 17 3D Mammography units and four PET/CT scanners, Zwanger-Pesiri is able to provide quality care and excellence to all of its patients.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology strives to provide the most advanced technology available with a strong focus on delivering a quality of care unmatched in the industry. Visit the Zwanger-Pesiri website for further information at www.zprad.com.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology High School Essay Contest Winners

This year marked the first annual Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology High School Essay Contest where we asked students to tell us either how radiology helped them and their family, whether or not they saw technology advancing radiology, or how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act impacted the field of radiology.  ZPR awarded $1,000 dollar scholarships to two worthy high school students in the community.  Our two winners, Emily and Jonathan, not only wrote outstanding essays, but both remained active in their communities while maintaining a GPA of 85 or higher. Emily (from Shoreham) wrote about how radiology affected her and her family,  and will continue her education next year as a freshman at Quinnipiac University.  Jonathan (from Mt. Sinai) wrote about the advances in technology, and will be starting at Duke University this fall.  We wish them the best of luck for their bright futures!

For more than 60 years, ZPR has been dedicated to providing state-of-the-art radiological services to our patients with a level of care unmatched in the industry. Click here for a location nearest you. 

Study: 3D Mammograms May Detect More Breast Cancers

A recent study about 3D mammography published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has garnered significant attention from the national press for reporting that the exam may detect more breast cancers in women. The study, funded by Hologic  (the manufacturer of the 3D imaging machine) and the National Cancer Institute, reported improved cancer detection as a result of the newer test (called “tomosynthesis”), finding cancer in 5.4 of every 1,000 scans compared to 4.2 with digital mammography alone. Some experts are even predicting that this test will some day replace mammograms as the standard of care.

The New York Times, The WashingtonPost, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Time, Bloomberg, CNN, and Reuters  were just a few of the publications and networks that reported favorably about the new study.

Tomosynthesis (3D Mammography) is nearly identical to the routine mammogram most closely associated with testing for breast cancer, except that with the new test, the machine moves over the breast. The result is a 3D image that gives doctors better visibility through overlapping breast tissue, allowing for a more comprehensive view that can increase the appearance of small tumors previously difficult to detect in dense breast tissue. The 3D mammography exam can thus improve cancer detection and reduce false-positive and false-negative findings. Fewer women are being called back for additional imaging or for biopsies. 

During tomosynthesis, your breast will be under the identical compression of a mammogram. While the X-ray tube makes an 8 second arc over your breasts, 15 low-dose images are obtained at incremental angles. These images are computer processed to make hundreds of thin 1 mm slices, which are viewed in 3D. This eliminates overlapping shadows and uncovers hidden lesions.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is the leading breast imaging facility on Long Island with over 80,000 3D studies performed.  All mammography units are 3D and offered in 11 of our locations.

Low-Dose CT Scans: The Answer to Reducing Radiation Exposure

Imaging tests are vital to doctors for discovering and diagnosing disease and injury. CT (Computed Tomography) scans can mean the difference between life and death. But that doesn't mean they should be administered without thought to the amount of radiation they expose you to. Think about it. At some point, you've likely had a CT scan or will have a CT scan performed. But do you know how much radiation was used? At Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, new CT software significantly reduces radiation exposure and improves image quality, surpassing most CT systems in use today. And the radiation dose is documented in your report each time you have a CT scan, so it can become part of your medical record.

Depending on the imaging test used and the part of the body focused on, radiation levels vary. However, if you’re facing health issues, the benefits of having a CT scan greatly outweigh the risk of receiving a small amount of radiation. But it makes sense to be as mindful as possible.

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourdiagnosis/examsandtestdescriptions/imagingradiologytests/imaging-radiology-tests-rad-risk

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology follows the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), and participates in Image Wisely and Image Gently, awareness programs that encourage smart medical imaging by eliminating unnecessary scans and using lower radiation doses. Patients are exposed only to the minimum amount of radiation needed to form an accurate diagnosis. SAFIRE, dose reduction software used in the low-dose CT scans at Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, utilizes a complex algorithm to minimize graininess that results from imaging at a low dose and can mean up to a sixty percent dose reduction.

https://www.healthcare.siemens.com/computed-tomography/options-upgrades/clinical-applications/safire/features

How do you prepare? Click here. What happens during the test? Click here.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is dedicated to providing Long Island with the latest CT technology, which greatly reduces the radiation dose to patients while still maintaining the highest resolution. You can be assured that our CT technologists and radiologists are fully dedicated to your comfort and safety.

Cardiac CT Calcium Scoring

Are you at risk of a heart attack?

More than a million Americans have a heart attack each year according to the American Heart Association, and almost half of them are fatal. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/104/11/1212.full

As with many things in life, some of the factors that could contribute to you having a heart attack are out of your control. Take your age, for instance. If you’re a man over the age of 45, or a woman over 50, you are more likely to be at risk. Then there’s gender. Men are at greater risk of heart attack than women, and have attacks earlier in life. Last, there’s your family history -- you’re more likely to be at risk if your parents had heart disease. Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes, and African Americans are at higher risk because they typically have more severe high blood pressure.

While you have to play the cards you’re dealt when it comes to age, sex, and heredity, there are even more things that are in your control: smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, and being overweight. Reducing these factors won’t necessarily guarantee you won’t have a heart attack, but it can definitely improve your hand. Another thing that can help stack the deck in your favor? A calcium scoring CT (Computed Tomography) scan.

Calcium builds up in our heart vessels along with plaque from fat in our diet. This can stiffen the vessels and form fissures or cracks that can turn into clots. When clots rupture, they block blood flow triggering a heart attack. We can use drugs to treat the high blood pressure that can cause tension in blood vessels, and statin medications like Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Crestor to lower cholesterol and limit the buildup of plaque. But it’s important to know how much plaque is in your arteries. That’s where the calcium scoring test comes in.

Calcium scoring scans are painless, easy, and can be completed within 10 to 15 minutes. A technologist positions you on the table, electrodes are attached to your chest connecting you to an electrocardiograph machine that records the electrical activity in your heart, and then the CT table moves slowly through the machine as the scan is done. The only thing you have to do is hold your breath for up to 15 seconds while images are recorded. Because these scans are noninvasive, you can usually resume normal activities immediately.

Having an accurate idea of your calcium buildup can help your doctor to prescribe the best course of action to heart health. If you're currently taking heart medication, it doesn't necessarily have to be a life sentence. Based on a total examination, including a calcium scoring test, your physician may advise that certain cardiac medications are no longer needed. 

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is dedicated to providing Long Island with the latest CT technology, offering low-dose CT at 11 of our offices.  Ask your doctor if a calcium scoring CT scan is right for you.

Walk MS: Long Island 2014

For the fifth year in a row, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is the lead sponsor of Walk MS: Long Island, a two-day fundraiser to benefit members of the community suffering from multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, known as MS, is an unpredictable, disabling disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 2 million people worldwide. MS interrupts the flow of information between the brain and body, resulting in symptoms including numbness of limbs, tingling or pain, slurred speech, fatigue, double vision, and dizziness. Walk MS: Long Island is an opportunity to connect people living with MS and those who care about them.

The first Walk MS: Long Island fundraiser will take place on Sunday, May 4^th, in Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon where the site will open at 8 a.m. The opening ceremony for the 1.5 mile walk begins at 9:45 a.m. (actual start time is 10 a.m.). Man’s best friend can get involved in the effort to stamp out MS too! There’s a Pooch Parade that starts at 10:30 a.m. The second walk takes place two weeks later on Saturday, May 17^th, on Field 5 at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh at 10 a.m., with a new family friendly 5K Fun Run beginning at 8 a.m.

While there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, there is promising research, and early and ongoing treatment with FDA-approved therapy can make a difference. When you participate in Walk MS, the funds you raise give hope to more than 42,000 people affected by MS in our community. The dollars raised support critical MS research and programs, as well as services for people living with MS.

To register or volunteer for Walk MS, visit www.walkMSlongisland.org or call (631) 864-8337.

http://walknyh.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=22968&pg=entry

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/basics/symptoms/con-20026689

7th Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults

Late April marks the 7th Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults, an amazing high-energy event at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas that demonstrates the passion, fight, and human spirit of hundreds of cancer survivors and caregivers, and for the first time Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology (ZPR) will be an official bronze sponsor.

“As one of the top radiology groups in the country, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology understands the needs of these young adults affected with cancer and therefore will become the first outpatient facility in the USA to acquire the first-ever simultaneous MRI/PET scanner,” noted ZPR’s Clinical Specialist MRI/PET, DebbieAnn Pustam.

Cancer touches every American, whether you experience it directly or through a friend or family member. And while it’s hard to watch anyone  fight this fight, it’s even more difficult to see young adults fight. There’s something about the insanity of a young adult with cancer, well… it’s just  not fair. Stupid cancer.

And that’s just the driving force behind the OMG! Cancer Summit: Stupid Cancer.  OMG! Cancer Summit is the signature program of Stupid Cancer, the nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Matthew Zachary, a young cancer survivor, and is among America’s largest support communities for a population that’s added to by some 72,000 new diagnoses each year.

During the summit’s four days, April 24^th through the 27^th, OMG!’s agenda gives cancer fighters, survivors, and caretakers the opportunity to gather, join together, and celebrate life and the fight for it against this disease in one of America’s most vibrant cities. After getting settled by viewing some of Sin City’s highlights and a pre-celebration pool party, participants can join a fun walk and sit in on panels and discussions centered on a variety of topics from those centered on caregivers and how their lives have changed, to no-holds-barred talks about the effects of cancer on youths, and gender-specific issues related to the disease. It’s a real chance to address real issues for a good cause.

For more than 60 years, ZPR has been dedicated to providing state-of-the-art radiological services to their patients with a level of care unmatched in the industry.  The Siemens Biograph MRI/PET scanner offered at ZPR will decrease cumulative radiation exposure over a lifetime, provide a more accurate tool for diagnosing, staging, evaluating and detecting recurrence of cancer, and help those affected with the disease get back to living faster by combining two scans in one (MRI & PET).

50 Percent of Breast Cancer Deaths Occurred in Women Under 50 Years Old

An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Cliche, right? Maybe. But it’s really common sense. And there’s some truth behind this and other timeworn aphorisms like it. Two recent studies confirm that early detection can be a big plus, especially for women between 40 and 49.

The journal, Cancer, published a study just last September illustrating how important early detection through mammograms can be. Previous studies show a range of benefits, but this one, involving 7,301 patients, discovered that 71 percent of confirmed breast cancer deaths happened in the 20 percent of the women who didn't get regular mammograms. In fact, 50 percent of breast cancer deaths occurred in women under 50. Most who died from breast cancer never had a mammogram.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.28199/abstract

These findings were reinforced earlier this month when researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine published findings in the American Journal of Roentgenology comparing two groups of women between 40 and 49: those being screened and women with symptoms. After reviewing 230 primary breast cancers, the study concluded that women between 40 and 49 who underwent routine screening mammography were diagnosed earlier with smaller tumors. They were also less likely to require chemotherapy.

http://www.medimaging.net/radiography/articles/294750653/for_younger_women_study_
reveals_mammography_saves_lives.html

Being careful and proactive about screening for breast cancer isn’t about paranoia, nor is it something to put off. Mammograms, which take so little time, can give you the chance to have and spend so much more of it with your friends and loved ones.

Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is the leading breast imaging facility on Long Island, featuring 3D mammography, groundbreaking technology that generates 3D images of the breast that gives physicians better views through overlapping breast tissue. Studies demonstrate that 3D mammography is superior to conventional mammography in detecting cancer and lowering the risk of false-positives. ZPR is the only radiology practice using all Hologic 3D machines -- the gold standard in 3D mammography -- in every location.