At first glance, the bright white of bones may dominate an X-ray image. Look closer, and softer grays reveal the shape of organs and other body structures. Hidden among the gradient between light and dark is vital information that can change the course of a patient’s treatment. 

It takes experts to uncover and interpret that data. At the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), those experts are members of the Medical Imaging Service. Over the past year, four new veterinary radiologists have joined its ranks and have jumped right into serving the VMC’s patient community.  

With thousands of patients spanning various species coming through the center’s doors each year and 15-plus speciality services to support, every day is different and every case can present a new diagnostic challenge. 

“Our role goes beyond simply identifying abnormalities on an image,” says Erica Chávez-Peón, assistant professor of medical imaging and head of service. “We have to critically evaluate the imaging findings, integrate them with the patient’s history and clinical presentation, and provide an interpretation that helps guide the next steps in diagnosis and treatment.”

For example, a patient could come in with a problem that clinical staff has difficulty pinpointing the origin or nature of without more information. Imaging provides the missing pieces, whether that means identifying a surgical lesion, finding an unexpected but treatable condition, ruling out something more serious, or giving the primary veterinarian confidence in the next step. Having that information translates into an appropriate treatment plan. 

The Medical Imaging team has an arsenal of tools and equipment to gather this information.  Radiographs (X-rays) and ultrasounds are common forms of medical imagery many people are familiar with, but the team also uses computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy—imaging that captures the movement of body structures in real time (think of it like an X-ray movie)—and, less frequently, nuclear medicine, which involves using a small amount of radioactive material and tracing it through specific body systems to examine organ function and structure.

“Each of these provides a different perspective and allows us to evaluate different aspects of a patient’s anatomy and disease,” says Jessica Wild, assistant professor. “In addition to interpreting diagnostic images, we also perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to obtain samples from organs or lesions.”

While there are certainly memorable cases where imaging leads to a life-changing diagnosis or helps guide a complex treatment, the team notes that often the greatest successes are everyday cases that simply help a patient get the right diagnosis at the right time so that their veterinary team can move forward with the best possible care. 

“Although we may not interact directly with the patient’s family very often, we are working behind the scenes to help answer important clinical questions and support the teams caring for these patients,” says Rebecca Manley, associate professor. “In many ways, we are the diagnostic ‘detectives’ helping connect the pieces of a complicated case and provide the information needed to make the best decisions for the patient.”

In addition to the reward of helping patients, the team also enjoys the day-to-day collaboration with so many people across the hospital, including faculty, house officers, staff, and students. 

Medical Imaging also plays a vital role in supporting research that advances veterinary and human health, including studying joint diseases and injuries in both animals and humans to develop effective approaches for managing these conditions across species. 

“There is always something new to learn, which is one of the things that makes veterinary medical imaging so rewarding,” Chávez-Peón says.