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A radiologist is a doctor who is specially trained in viewing medical images of the body. Some images are obtained using X-rays, sound waves, or magnetism. The most common radiology modalities that are used are X-rays, CAT scan, MRI and Ultrasound. Through these imaging techniques the radiologist can evaluate internal organs, muscles, body tissues, ligaments, tendons, and bones. With these images, along with other examinations and tests, the radiologist can confer with the referring physician (the doctor who ordered the test) and make a diagnosis such as injury or disease.
December 8, 2009
Dear Doctor,
It is unfortunate that the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has recently come out with new recommendations for screening mammography that are in conflict with the recommendations from established leading organizations. The American Cancer Society, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Society of Breast Disease all are unchanged in their recommendations for screening mammography. The confusion that this has cause has come at a time when many people already face a great deal of anxiety about the future of their health care.
Part of the problem is that the Task Force used only some studies for their analyses and ignored other, better trials that clearly demonstrate the benefit of screening mammograms in reducing mortality, throughout the age spectrum, specifically the Swedish trials. The Task Force also ignored the consequences for delaying a cancer diagnosis and looked only at mortality rates. The significant differences in morbidity, personal grief, and financial costs between early and late stage cancer were not addressed.
One of their main arguments was that screening mammography has inherent "harms" that outweigh it's benefits in certain instances. Again, the Task Force ignored literature describing survey results that show that women will accept false positives if additional cancers are found on screening. I would refer you to this webpage which has links to official statements from the main organizations http://www.sbi-
online.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=16 and I would specifically refer you to the response from Dr. Daniel Kopans, who is a respected leader in this discussion http://www.sbi-
online.org/associations/8199/files/Commentary%20Daniel
%20Kopans.pdf.
Ultimately, it is the decision of each individual woman to decide to obtain a screening mammogram. The recommendations of the Task Force confuses a complicated issue, making it harder for the layperson to make a well informed decision. It is our recommendation that no changes be made to your practice policy at this time.
Sincerely,
David Chun, M.D.
Director - Women's Imaging Services
MRI of Woodbridge/Doctors Radiology Center |
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Dr. Chun joined our practice in 1998. He graduated with honors with a BS in Biochemistry from Cornell University. He then graduated from SUNY Stony Brook in 1990 with honors in surgery, radiology research, psychiatry, neuroanatomy, microbiology and biochemistry. He completed an internship in internal medicine at University Hospital/Westchester County Medical Center and went on to complete his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Medical Center in New York. He also obtained a fellowship at Columbia in mammography/ultrasound. Board-certified in radiology in 1995, he is a member of many professional organizations including RSNA, ACR and the Society of Breast Imaging. |
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Dr. Doss joined our practice in 2006. He graduated with honors with a B.A. in Physical Chemistry from New York University in 1993. He attended University of Texas Medical School – Houston where he received his medical doctorate in 1997. He completed a General Surgery internship and then a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College. He then attained and completed a fellowship in Vascular/Interventional Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Doss was Board Certified in Radiology in 2003, and is currently a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology, ACR, RSNA, and the Society of Breast Imaging. |
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Dr. Fontana joined our practice in 2000. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers before attending medical school. In 1991 he graduated form Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he also completed an internship in Internal Medicine. Dr. Fontana completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at UMDNJ. He then went on to serve as a Fellow in Neuroradiology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, from 1996 to 1998. He then practiced at New York Methodist Hospital (a Cornell affiliate) from 1998 to 2000, where he served as director of the radiology residency program. Dr. Fontana is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology. He also earned a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Neuroradiology. He is a senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology and a member of the American College of Radiology.
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Dr. Rittweger joined the practice in 1982 and is currently serving as Medical Director. He attended Seton Hall University, where he graduated in the pre-med honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta. In 1977 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. After his internship at UMDNJ he completed a diagnostic radiology residency at Montefiore Hospital and served as chief resident. Dr. Rittweger became board-certified in 1982 along with additional certification in neuroradiology in 1998. He is a member of many professional societies, including the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR), and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI). |
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Dr. Charles Saniewski, board certified in Radiology and a member of the ACR, joined the practice in 1988, coming from a fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital of the University of Miami, Florida. There he received specialized training in Body Imaging and Interventional Radiology. Prior to this, Dr. Saniewski completed his Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Hackensack University Medical Center (1983-84). He received his MD degree from the University of Rome in 1983. Prior to that, he taught high school science in Port Washington, NY, after receiving a BA degree from St. John’s University. He resides in Montclair, NJ with his wife and two children.
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Dr. Singer joined the practice in 1998. After attending the University of Vermont, Dr. Singer earned his M.D. from UMDNJ in 1992 and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. At Saint Barnabas Medical Center he started his internship with rotations in medicine, surgery and various subspecialties. In 1997 he completed a residency at New York University Medical Center with special concentration in body imaging. Dr. Singer was granted a fellowship at New York University Medical Center in musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Singer has been board-certified since 1997 and is a current member of many professional organizations including the AMA, RSNA and the NJ Medical Society. |
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Dr. Wirtshafter joined the group in July 2001. He earned his M.D. in 1989 from Rutgers Medical School in Camden, NJ. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Cooper Hospital University and Medical Center. He then went to Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia to complete a residency in diagnostic radiology. He completed a cardiovascular and interventional radiology fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1995. Dr. Wirtshafter became board-certified in 1995 and received additional board certification for cardiovascular and interventional radiology in 1997.
He is a member of many professional societies including RSNA, the American College of Radiology, the Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology, and the New Jersey Medical Society. |
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