About the Department of Radiology

Giving families a safe, comforting and effective imaging experience is our focus at the Department of Radiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We specialize in imaging for infants, children and pregnant women, using state of the art imaging technologies. We offer:

• Imaging equipment that has been adapted for children.
• Specialized sedation and pediatric anesthesia capabilities, which are tailored to make the entire experience safe and comforting for your child.
• Safe, low-dose imaging.
• Pediatric radiologists who interpret every scan, providing expertise that will help you and your child’s doctor make the best decisions about care.

The Department of Radiology is an accredited facility, recognized by the American College of Radiology for our commitment to safe imaging practices in computed tomography (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine and ultrasound.

The lowest dose for your highest priority

Imaging for children is a special skill. As medical imaging capabilities continue to improve, we remain committed to using these powerful technologies safely and reducing patients’ exposure to radiation, especially for children whose conditions require repeated studies over the years.

The Department of Radiology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers the most radiation-free and low-dose options in pediatrics in the region, including advanced EOS imaging. In fact, our team has set the standard for safe, low-dose imaging. Our pediatric radiologists help to write guidelines used around the country for safer imaging of children.

To keep your child's safety at the forefront, we:

1. Invest in machines that deliver less radiation.
2. Reduce the dose of radiological imaging to the lowest amount possible, while still obtaining high-quality images that provide the necessary diagnostic information. We were the first institution in the United States to introduce the use of “EOS micro-dose” for scoliosis follow-up — using one-third of the standard EOS radiation dose, which is already extremely low.
3. Reduce the use of CT and other types of imaging that require radiation by choosing non-radioactive alternatives (such as ultrasound or MRI) when possible.

CHOP radiologists are long-time leaders in the movement toward safer scanning for children. In 2007, CHOP leadership helped found Image Gently, an initiative of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging. The initiative is now an international movement comprised of more than 70 medical organizations worldwide dedicated to protecting children from the potentially harmful effects of imaging radiation.