Locations
Office
La Crosse, WI
Phone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan Inc
About
Bio
Military trained radiologist with interest in mammography and general radiology.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Radiology
Licenses
United States: Wisconsin
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
220 Answers
518 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
No perfect test: It is possible that what is picked-up on a mammogram is not cancer. Unfortunately, there is overlap between the benign and malignant. This is why addi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old male asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Usually no: Your doctor should go over your meds to look for a cause of your gynecomastia. If you feel enlargement or a mass then you should have it checked out ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
496 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Both use x-rays: A chest ct is a very detailed look at the lung, blood vessels, heart and bony thorax. It takes very thin (3-5mm) slices which allows for detailed ana... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Equipment&training: Mri scanners require liquid helium to keep them cool. They have to be cool in order to "super conduct" and generate the very strong magnetic field nee... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Most likely OK: Small pleural based nodule is most likely a granuloma (left over from prior infection) but could conceivably be a small cancer. You will most likely b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
CT is more sensitive: Regarding the lungs, ct is more sensitive in detection of pulmonary nodules and masses. If done with contrast, ct can also detect vascular issues like... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Many: Difficulty walking. Sometimes a sudden inability to speak or speaking non-nonsensically. Sudden loss of strength. Facial droop. Numbness. In ability t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Biopsy needed: "suspicious" means suspicious for cancer. This is categorized according to the birads system as birads 4. This can be further broken down as 4a, 4b or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Minimize radiation: If your insurance will cover it, i would do MRI in order to minimize the radiation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
MRI: Blood clots can lead to strokes, which MRI is more sensitive at detecting.
To evaluate blood vessels for narrowing, one can use either MRI or ct.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Usually done togethr: A pet scan measures the uptake of glucose. The uptake of glucose is increased in most cancers. A ct scan is a basically a series of xrays over the are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Very common: Especially if you or your physician were able to feel something, ultrasound is frequently requested following a mammogram, even if the mammogram is no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Often: Because brain mri's are considered the cadillac of brain imaging, contrast is often used to improve sensitivity for detection of infection and tumor. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Several possible: May have had a cyst at time of ct which resolved at time of us. Lesion could also be beyond the depth that us can see. Follow up ct or MRI may (emphas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Yes: Typically acute cholecystitis would show no filling of the gallbladder and in chronic there would be some filling and a diminished ejection fraction. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Discuss with doc: There can be many reasons to be called back. Maybe the technologist forgot to do a measurement. Maybe one of the measurements doesn't make sense. May ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
CT: It is very unlikely that you would find a small kidney stone on mri. Ct without contrast is the way to go.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Where are they?: Petechial hemorrhage in general is caused by broken capillary vessels and may be found on the skin, brain or elsewhere in the body. Most commonly they... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Generally not: Usually the area of the aorta is blocked out of the image so the study focuses on the vertebral bodies, disks and central canal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Usually not barium: Barium is used in barium enemas, not for ct scans. Gastrograffin is used for ct scans to see the small and large bowel. Gastrograffin and barium are e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
For renal,OB&pelvic: If you are having a pelvic, OB or renal ultrasound patients are typically asked to have a full bladder for the first (or transabdominal) portion of t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Yes and no....: Early on i doubt any changes would be detectable. However, with extensive use structural changes may be seen. In my experience, drug users show loss o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Very unlikely.: At 23 you have a very low likelihood of having colon cancer. Other causes for lack of appetite such as depression, anorexia, flu/cold, among many othe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Echocardiogram: Acoustic waves (in the mega-hz so they can't be heard) are sent from the probe and the time the reflected wave takes to return is measured. This is si... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
It depends.....: Something on the ct of the abdomen may have lead to a search for metastatic disease. Perhaps a primary malignancy of the kidneys, bladder or prostate.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
No: A stroke may take 24-72 hours to be detected on a head ct. Mri is more sensitive in detecting strokes earlier, so if the clinical symptoms are quite s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Small back of skull.: Chiari malformations develop due to a decreased size in the back of the skull. Because there is not enough space for the brain to develop, a part of t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Typically not.....: Spinal hemangimoas are typically not a source of pain. However, they are rarely symptomatic and may require therapy. In this case you may be referred ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Unlikely: I have not heard of this happening.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
See your doc: I would start with your primary care provider. They may be able to help to narrow down your feelings of spaciness and detect any associated neurologic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
It depends....: Was the hemorrhage associated with a stroke? How large was the hemorrhage? Was the hemorrhage subdural (more likely venous cause) or epidural (more li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
No..: Gastrographin is high osmolar - meaning it has high capacity to draw in water. That is most likely why you had the episode of diarrhea.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Not unusual: Changes in behavior following a stroke are certainly not unusual. Behavior is a complex aspect of our species and multiple parts of the brain are invo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Different studies: Chest ct is fast and widely available. It allows for the rapid diagnosis of entities such as pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection and diseases of the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
A Dynamic study.: You should expect to drink a suspension of barium sulfate (sometimes flavored) and you will be asked to move to certain positions in order to obtain t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Bleeding vs ischemia: Hemorrhage refers to bleeding which can happen due to trauma, hypertension, aneurysm, tumor or stroke. Brain attack refers to a transient ischemic att... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Many things: The mammogram can show non-cancerous lesions like lymph nodes, cysts and fibroadenomas. The appearance of the milk-producing tissue (fibroglandular ti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
CT is faster..: Once you are positioned on the table, the actual ct scan takes only seconds to perform. It is much faster than mri.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
See your doc: First you have to see a doctor to be evaluated. If your symptoms suggest something that needs further work-up, then your doctor may order a ct or mri.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Can be done: Mammograms can be done on virtually anyone. You will get 2 views - one from head to toe and the other from the side. Women with smaller breasts can be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Yes.: Lesions due to inflammation or infection could quite easily heal and not be seen on a follow-up mri.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Cyst = aneurysm?: If by cyst you mean aneurysm, then yes an aortic aneurysm can be serious depending on how large it is. They are typically treated at 5 cm in diameter.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Many things: Ct can often tell if someone has a mass, hemorrhage or a stroke. It can also detect changes that come with aging. Inflammation and infection can also ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
MRI may see changes: Stimulants can cause changes in the blood flow to the brain. This manifests in changes in metabolism of different parts of the brain. This is especial... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Upper endoscopy: You may need an upper endoscopy. This is more sensitive than the barium swallow in evaluating esophageal mucosa.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Correlation of findings: The radiologist performing the mammogram, ultrasound and MRI must confirm that the finding correlate with one another. A birads four score on the MRI... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Possibly: There are cases in which a person may readily recognize the symptoms of stroke such as sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or slurred speech.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Possibly....: If you had the diagnostic mammogram for something you can feel, like a lump, then you will almost certainly need an ultrasound. If you were called bac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Change on mammogram: The technologist may have asked because of a change in appearance of the breasts on the mammogram. Sometimes, adipose tissue is deposited in the breas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Carl Deckeranswered
Radiology 26 years experience
Screening CTcan help: Low dose screening ct can reduce mortality due to lung cancer by as much as 20%. Some centers are implementing this technique. Check with your local h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
5
Recommendations
340
Thank you notes
Oct 1, 2013
Dr. Decker is a compassionate and dedicated physician and bright radiologist!
Jul 21, 2012
Obviously great knowledge and experience
Oct 13, 2013
A spot on radiologist.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank u very much i had a brain haemorage and have a shunt fitted in my brain i still suffer wiv headaches now and again.
HealthTap member
Appreciate the response, just can't understand how I can go to bed perfectly fine and wake up in excruciating pain. Oh well, live and learn.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! No ultrasound. Abd ct with contrast negative . Low grade temps pain nausea
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Rosalind Franklin University - Chicago Medical School, IL
Graduated 1997MD
Residency
madigan army medical center
Awards
Luisada Cardiology Award, Chicago Medical School
Top Doctor, Second Place, La Crosse Region, WI - Summer
2013
Most Influential, First Place, La Crosse Region, WI - Summer
2013
Affiliations
gundersen lutheran
American College of Radiology
Radiologic Society of North America
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