Wesley Healthcare
February 28, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. – On Sept. 16 of last year, Tiffany and James Stepien took their vivacious 4-year-old daughter Sophia to the pediatrician for bloating and constipation. By that night, Sophia was admitted to the pediatric floor of Wesley Medical Center, diagnosed with a Wilms tumor, a pediatric kidney cancer.

“We were in complete shock, just so upset,” Tiffany said. “She had a 4-year-old check up just a month earlier. It had grown very quickly.”

On Sept. 18, Sophia underwent a successful six-hour surgery at Wesley to remove the 3.5 pound cancer tumor.

Pediatric Oncologist David Rosen, MD, outlined Sophia’s follow up plan of care. Tiffany and James learned that the prognosis was good, but the 27 weeks or more of upcoming treatments would be hard for them and for Sophia. Part of that treatment would include routine CT scans to ensure the cancer had not returned.

“The amount of scan radiation that Sophia has been exposed to and will continue to be exposed to is just scary,” Tiffany said. “So we were thrilled to discover the hospital was going to be purchasing a low-dose CT scanner, and I know there are other parents who will feel the same way.”

The 128-slice low-dose CT scanner technology creates sharper, more detailed images and reduces the radiation dose by 50 percent across the body compared to predecessor CT systems. This is especially beneficial to pediatric patients or those with chronic conditions that require frequent scans.

“We are proud to be among the first to acquire the radiation dose reduction “Veo” technology in Kansas,” said Akash Joshi, MD, Wesley’s medical director of imaging. “With this technology, we can minimize the risk of radiation exposure without comprising the image quality.

“Having two children of my own, I feel safer knowing that an extremely low-dose scanner is now available for our community.”

“We couldn’t be more thankful that this technology is now available for Sophia as we continue with her treatment,” Tiffany said.

For more information about Wesley Medical Center, please visit www.wesleymc.com.

Wesley Medical Center is the region’s leading acute care hospital network providing a full range of diagnostic and treatment services for patients throughout Kansas and northern Oklahoma since 1912. As a leader in Overall Recommended Care, Wesley treats more than 24,000 patients annually and delivers more than 6,000 babies – more than any hospital in a 13-state region. Wesley provides the most extensive emergency network in Wichita, with the Wesley ER, Wesley West ER and Galichia ER. Wesley owns and operates Galichia Heart Hospital, WesleyCare Clinics and the Pediatric Center of Kansas. To learn more about Wesley Medical Center, please www.wesleymc.com.