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Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic Imaging overview
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- Willows has one of the most experienced Imaging teams in the UK, with over 40 years combined experience in veterinary referral imaging
- Three highly trained Specialists...
- who have over 50 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals
- who have written 8 book contributions
- who are regularly invited to speak at conferences/CPD meetings in the UK
and overseas - An NHS trained radiographer with over 18 years experience including 9 in veterinary imaging
- In-house CPD film reading evenings for local veterinarians, run throughout the year
- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on-call, in-house Imaging Specialist supporting all our disciplines
- A belief that the highest imaging quality
should be the ‘norm’ - Rapid radiographic reporting service
- Unsurpassed, comprehensive service,
24 hours a day, 365 days of the year
MA VetMB CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
MA VetMB DVR DipECVDI FHEA MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
BVSc CertAVP DipECVDI MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
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1.5 Tesla superconductor MR T2* gradient echo
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- 1.5 tesla GE Signa HDe MRI scanner
- Full range of coils for optimal signal to noise ratio
- Superconducting system gives excellent magnetic field homogeneity and stability affording precise high resolution images and minimum acquisition time. Also allows full range of sequences including 3D high resolution imaging, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping
- Specialist radiologist available to assess the sequences as they are acquired, allowing appropriate and specific sequence selection for each case, coordinating with the Specialist clinician in charge of the case where appropriate
- Dedicated reporting workstation
- Patient safety is paramount
- All anaesthetics monitored by a member of the
Specialist-led anaesthesia team - Remote monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, pO2...
- MRI trained nursing staff
- All anaesthetics monitored by a member of the

1.5 Tesla superconductor MR unit at Willows Referral Service

T2* gradient echo image of a haemorrhagic mass in the piriform lobe: Radiological diagnosis – glioma
T2-weighted sagittal image of the lumbar spine of a dog showing an intramedullary spinal tumour
Ultrasound |
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![]() Ultrasound machine with range of probes used at Willows Referral Service ![]() Colour Doppler image of a ureteral jet in the bladder
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Ultrasound
- GE Logiq S8 series ultrasound machine
- Comprehensive range of probes for all of our imaging needs
- 8-15 MHz ML6-15 matrix linear probe
- 7-10 MHz 10C microconvex probe
- 3-5 MHz 5C convex probe
- 3-4.6 MHz 3Sp phased array probe
- Colour, power, pulsed wave and continuous wave Doppler imaging
- Harmonic and spatial compounding for increased image quality
- Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and tissue core biopsy
- Dedicated reporting workstation
- All ultrasound scans performed by Specialist radiologists
Ultrasound machine with range of probes used at Willows Referral Service

Colour Doppler image of a ureteral jet in the bladder
Increased gut wall thickness and corrugation in a dog with enteritis
Computed Tomography |
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![]() 16 slice CT scanner at Willows Referral Service ![]() Reformatted CT angiogram and volume rendered image of a portosystemic shunt obtained with the pressure injector |
Computed Tomography
- 16 slice GE Brightspeed CT scanner
- Multidetector scanner and fast rotation speed allows rapid acquisition of very thin slices, reduced movement blur and dynamic bolus tracking
- Medrad dual head Stellant pressure injector for contrast bolus tracking studies
- Portosystemic shunts
- Arterioportal hepatic fistulas
- Pulmonary thromboembolism
- Aortic aneurysm
- CT guided biopsy software
- Dedicated reporting workstation
16 slice CT scanner at Willows Referral Service

Reformatted CT angiogram and volume rendered image of a portosystemic shunt obtained with the pressure injector
Radiography |
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![]() One of the computed radiography (CR) suites at Willows Referral Service Positive contrast retrograde urethrogram in a cat showing urethral rupture Images are reviewed on powerful workstations and then sent to PACS for general access |
Radiography
- Two GE Proteus digital X-ray suites
- Fuji computed radiography
- Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)
- All imaging systems are linked to PACS, allowing easy access to images on over 100 PCs throughout the hospital and enabling further discussion with our Specialist colleagues, members of staff and clients
- In-house CPD film reading evenings for local veterinary surgeons, run throughout the year
One of the computed radiography (CR) suites at Willows Referral Service
Positive contrast retrograde urethrogram in a cat showing urethral rupture
Images are reviewed on powerful workstations and then sent to PACS for general access
Fluoroscopy |
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![]() Fluoroscope in use during correction of a portosystemic shunt Fluoroscopic study of a dog with a ureterocoele |
Fluoroscopy
- Mobile GE Fluorostar C-arm fluoroscopy
- Full vascular package
- Road mapping
- Digital subtraction angiography
- Portosystemic shunt attenuation
- Thoracic duct ligation
- Swallowing studies
- Urogenital studies
- Intraoperative screening for complex orthopaedic repairs
- Removal of tracheal foreign bodies
- Tracheal stenting
- Urethral stenting
Fluoroscope in use during correction of a portosystemic shunt
Fluoroscopic study of a dog with a ureterocoele
Recent publications
- Mahoney, P. (2012) Musculoskeletal imaging in the cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 14, 13-22
- Lamb, C.R., Parry, A.T., Baines, E.A., Chang, Y.M. (2011) Does changing the orientation of a thoracic radiograph aid diagnosis of rib fractures? Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 52, 75-78
- Swinbourne, F., Baines, E.A., Baines, S.J., Halfacree, Z.J. (2011) Computed tomographic findings in canine pyothorax and correlation with findings at exploratory thoracotomy. Journal of Small Animal Practice
52, 203-208 - Parry, A.T., Volk, H., Lamb, C.R. (2011) Imaging anatomy of the cranial nerves in the dog. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 52(1 supp 1), S32-S41
- Mahoney, P., Martin, N. (2011) EMS: Developing a structured approach. In Practice 33, 38-41
- Parry, A.T. (2010) The use of positive contrast peritoneography in the diagnosis of a pleuroperitoneal hernia in a cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12, 141-143
- Parry, A.T., Harris, A., Upjohn, M.M., Chandler, K., Lamb, C.R. (2010) Does choice of imaging affect outcome in dogs with thoracolumbar spinal conditions? Journal of Small Animal Practice 51, 312-317
- Schlegl, K., Parry, A.T., Lamb, C.R., Kneissl, S., Probst, A., Tichy, A., Mayrhofer, E. (2010) Röntgen- und CT-Morphologie von Atlasvarianten beim Hund [Radiographic and CT morphology of atlas variants in the dog]. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 123, 425-430
- Parry AT, Upjohn MM, Schlegl K, Kneissl S, Lamb, C.R. (2010) Computed tomography variations in morphology of the canine atlas in dogs with and without atlantoaxial subluxation. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 51, 596-600
- Parry, A., Tanner, A., Chandler, K., Lamb, C.R. (2010) What is your diagnosis? Unexpected metallic inclusion in a dog. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 15, 237(4), 359-360
- Parry, A.T., Lamb, C.R. (2010) Radiology of thoracic trauma in the dog and cat. In Practice 32, 238-246
- Claridge, H.A., Piercy, R.J., Parry, A., Weller, R. (2010) The 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joints in the horse and their topographical relationship to the spinal cord. Equine Veterinary Journal 42(8), 726-731
- Bapodra, P., Bouts, T., Mahoney, P., Turner, S., Silva-Fletcher, A., Waters, M. (2010) Ultrasonographic anatomy of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) eye. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 41, 409-417
- Baines, E.A., Grandage, J., Herrtage, M.E., Baines, S.J. (2009) The radiographic definition of the anticlinal vertebra in the dog. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 50, 69-73
- Tivers, M., Baines, E. A., Mahoney, P. N., Corr, S. (2009) Diagnostic accuracy of positive contrast computed tomography arthrography for the detection of injuries to the medial meniscus in dogs with naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency. Journal of Small Animal Practice 50, 324-332
- Parry, A.T., Penning, V.A., Smith, K.C., Kenny, P.J., Lamb, C.R. (2009) Imaging diagnosis – necrotizing meningomyelitis and polyarthritis. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound 50, 412-415
Book contributions
- Baines, E.A. (2011) All radiographs for the new edition of Colour Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy. Volume 2: The Horse.
R. R. Ashdown and S. H. Done (eds). Elsevier, Oxford - Mahoney, P. (2010) The Spleen. In BSAVA Manual of Canine & Feline Ultrasonography
- Baines, E. A. (2010) Thoracic Radiology. In: BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiorespiratory Medicine.
L. Johnson and V. Luis-Fuentes (eds) BSAVA Publications, Cheltenham - Baines, E. A. (2010) All radiographs for the new edition of Colour Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy.
Volume 1: The Ruminants. R. R. Ashdown and S. H. Done (eds). Elsevier, Oxford - Baines, E. A. (2009) The Peritoneal Cavity. In: BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Abdominal Imaging.
F. J. Barr and R. O’Brien (eds). BSAVA Publications, Cheltenham - Baines, E. A. (2009) All new radiographs for the new edition of Colour Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy.
Volume 3: The Dog and Cat. S. H. Done, P. C. Goody, S. A. Evans and N. C. Stickland (eds). Elsevier, Oxford - Mahoney, P. (2009) The Adrenal Gland. In BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Abdominal Imaging
- Baines, E. A., (2008) The Mediastinum. In: BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Thoracic Imaging.
V. S. Johnson and T. Schwarz (eds). BSAVA Publications, Cheltenham pp177-199