From the November 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine

• MAGEC rods: Kids with early onset scoliosis are typically treated using growing rods, which require multiple X-rays over the course of their treatment. Historically, X-rays are needed before treatment begins, and are used to measure progress and determine rod adjustment over time. Understanding the radiation exposure with this approach, Phoenix Children’s began using the MAGEC System (magnetically controlled growing rods), created by Nuvasive, Inc.

MAGEC rods give providers a noninvasive option for treating patients with early onset scoliosis. The system includes an adjustable growing rod with innovative magnetic technology and an external remote controller to elongate or shorten the implanted device. With MAGEC, we now monitor rod adjustments and patient progress with ultrasound instead of X-rays, eliminating radiation exposure for patients.


In addition, children with MAGEC undergo significantly fewer surgeries than traditional growing rod patients, all while achieving the same clinical outcomes. It is a win-win all around.

• IQon Spectral CT: Through our strategic partnership with Philips Healthcare, Phoenix Children’s is the second pediatric hospital in the nation and the fourth in the world to use the IQon Spectral CT scanner in a clinical imaging setting. It provides dual-energy imaging on traumatic injuries, tumors, vascular structures and infections – all in a single scan.

Located in our new emergency department and Level I pediatric trauma center for patients in need of a quick diagnosis, the scanner provides very low-dose, highly detailed images. This enables our radiologists to make faster, clearer diagnoses and ensures our physicians have the information they need to create the best possible treatment strategy.

New learning in magnetic resonance imaging
Beyond our day-to-day work, Phoenix Children’s strives to be at the forefront of research, particularly in understanding the effects of imaging on our young patients. We know that dose is a critical consideration, but we’re looking beyond dose to safeguard the health of the children in our care.

• Impacts of free gadolinium: A subject that’s heating up in the medical field is the impact of free gadolinium in the brain.

Gadolium contrast is a chemical substance commonly used in MR scans. Evidence shows that gadolinium can cause problems, especially in children who undergo multiple MR examinations over a long period of time. In an effort to build awareness of the issue and minimize the impact on children globally, we published two of the first studies on gadolinium deposition in the brains of children, which appeared in Pediatrics and Pediatric Radiology.

November 2017 Magazine

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