Imaging (see more articles like this)

WHAT: Last night, the Imaging Department at Florida Hospital Orlando scanned a “patient” unlike any other they have ever seen before – that’s because the “patient” in this case was a live 6-foot albino alligator!  Florida Hospital Orlando performed the 16-slice CT on this scaly 7-year-old reptile named Tibou for a PBS/WNET/National Geographic Channels International documentary being produced by Icon Films in the United Kingdom looking into the evolution and conservation of crocodiles.  Although not a crocodile, this alligator, one of fewer than 100 albino alligators in the world, will provide valuable information since the two animals have similar internal structures and are in the same crocodilian family.  The 16-slice CT is usually used for high-detail 3-D imaging of the human body – In fact, it is used to obtain very thin “slices” of the body for CT Angiography as well as routine CT scanning.  This time, the scan will reveal the skeletal structure and information about the internal organs of the alligator. 

BACKGROUND: Icon Films chose Florida Hospital because of its technically advanced imaging scanners.  Florida Hospital is the leader in medical and diagnostic imaging services in Orlando and the surrounding area.  Cutting edge diagnostic equipment available at Florida Hospital includes Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT, 3-D MRI, and 4-D Ultrasound capabilities. 

The alligator came from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park in St. Augustine, FL.  This 113-year-old zoo is the only zoo in the world with every species of crocodilian.  The alligator was transported to Florida Hospital by a trained alligator handler. 

VIDEO: 
• Renee Power, Florida Hospital Interim Lead CT Tech – Hear about this tech’s experience scanning her first alligator.
• John Brueggen, Director of the Alligator Farm – Learn more about the rare albino alligator and how the animal did during the CT scan.
• Dr. Gary Felsberg, Director of Neuroradiology at Florida Hospital – Learn how similar alligators actually are to humans and see the images.