Barton N. Milestone, MD

I joined the department of diagnostic imaging at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 2000. I have worked as a radiologist at other university hospitals, but have found Fox Chase to be the most collegial of all the institutions. This is because there are more and better interactions between the talented staff and the radiologists at Fox Chase.

Some patients wonder what radiologists do. My special interest is in cross-sectional imaging, specifically ultrasound, which uses sound waves; CAT scan, which uses X-rays; and MRI, which uses a powerful magnet and radio waves. Each imaging device uses a distinct form of energy with varying accuracies and capabilities for different parts of the body. However, each device creates images of the body that appear different.

Just as almost every person has the same outward features which are unique, so too everyone has the same inner structures, but they appear different. Our job as radiologists is to determine what is normal and what is abnormal. This often requires using more than one technique to image the same part of the body. Once all of the abnormalities are identified, then we decide whether or not they are pathologic and if they are related and part of one process. Finally, we provide a diagnosis based on pathologic abnormalities.

Different disease states sometimes can mimic one another on the diagnostic images. As a result, a single diagnosis may not be possible based on the images. In those cases, a list of probable diagnoses is given. A diagnostic procedure such as an image-guided biopsy might be required to finalize the diagnosis.

With the increased use of imaging technology, your radiologist plays an important role in diagnosing your disease and works closely with your oncologist or surgeon.