Locations
Mayo Clinic Florida
Jacksonville , FL
My office hours
Thursday: 7:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Florida
About
Bio
I am a che mistry bachelor of science undergraduate and completed medical school at the state university of New York at Buffalo. I was an US Navy Medical Officer for 3 years including a tour as the "Winter Over Medical Officer" for Operation Deep Freeze, on the Antarctic continent. I am board certified in Radiology with a Nuclear Medicine fellowship, also from SUNYAB, now working at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida following 12 fantastic years at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, MN. I love to read, tinker with computers and am learning to fly remote controlled aircraft. I am blessed with a wonderful wife, Renée, and 3 great kids.
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
Nuclear Medicine
Doctor Q&A
836 Answers
484 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Usually not much: Metal can block the gamma rays that are emitted by the patient, and block the xrays from the ct portion of the pet/ct, which can create errors on one ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
More info: It would depend on what disease was being looked for. Pet/ct looks at function, while MRI and ct look at the anatomy primarily.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Because your : Uterus is getting bigger, pushing the other organs up, which limits how far down your diaphragm can move when you breathe.
If this is acute shortne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
No: All imaging tests that expose a patient to radiation should only be performed for certain conditions/symptoms. That is called appropriate use.
Med... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
No: Radiation dose from a standard hida scan (5 mci of radiopharmaceutical administered) is 3.1 millisieverts, equal to just over 1 year of natural backgr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Greater than 50%: More than 50% normal, 36-49% is indeterminant, and 35% or less is abnormal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
New recommendations: Were just released from the us preventive services task force (uspstf) on ct lung cancer screening: "up to 20, 000 deaths a year from lung cancer migh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Generally F-18: The p in pet stands for positron - all isotopes used in pet have to be positron emitters. The most common isotope used in pet today is f-18 fluorine.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Consuming more: Hypermetabolic means to be metabolizing (using, consuming) more.
Most clinical pet/ct scans use f-18 FDG as the radiopharmaceutical injected into t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Physiology of lesion: Pet scans most often use a radioactive form of glucose, the energy source for most of the cells in our bodies. The pet scanner can detect and measure... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Strain urine: Urinate through a strainer to catch the kidney stone when it passes from your bladder and through your urethra.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
IV dye, CT scan: A ct scan will be performed after injection of iodinated contrast via a vein, generally in the arm. The contrast makes blood vessels more opaque to x... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
A radionuclide: Pulmonary perfusion scan is usually performed in conjunction with a radionuclide ventilation scan, in order to find areas of the lung which are ventil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
You and your oncolog: You and your oncologist need to discuss this. Given the low stage, and assuming successful completion of treatment, pet/ct might not be indicated at ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Absolutely not!: All employees who have any potential radiation exposure risk are constantly monitored with personal dosimeters (to measure their radiation exposure).
... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Need to see an ENT: And/or a neurologist. This could be sinus or inner ear related (ent focus) or related to migraine or other headache causes (neurologist).
Please c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Most lung cancer: Presents as a shadow on a chest x-ray, or a nodule (0.5 to 3 inches in size) on a ct. Many patients have symptoms of coughing or spitting up blood wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Get the biopsy: A tissue diagnosis is required in order to tell what is causing the node to be hyper metabolic. Then a plan can be developed to treat whatever the ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Just an IV injection: Most nm procedures require an intravenous injection and lying still on a narrow bed for imaging. That's it.
There can be a variable waiting time b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Not usually: Most of the abnormalities seen on a chest xray are not cancer. Old (or new) infections, scarring or fibrosis, benign sclerosis in a rib and benign tu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Most tests are less: Than 1 hour to 4 hours total, with generally less than 1 hour "under the camera". The radiopharmaceutical agent (a radioactive element, usually tech... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Stay calm: Renal cysts are incredibly common, and the vast majority are benign. Thin calcifications involving the cyst wall are still benign.
The ct scan will... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Adnexal soft tissue: Are the tissues between your uterus and the pelvic side wall, generally the ovary, fallopian tube and supportive ligaments.
Prominent means the are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Comparisons?: 1st, are there any old cds to compare? If so, is the nodule truly new?
The 7 mm nodule could be infectious. Consider waiting a month and repeating... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Very good test: Pet/ct is used quite often in the initial diagnosis and restaging of many types of lymphoma. Lymphoma consumes glucose at a much higher rate than nor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
As few as needed: All tests should only be performed when medically necessary, and when the results will help make a decision about treatment, that is true for blood t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Yes, it is possible: But less likely than ejaculation inside the vagina. Also, if period length is 28 days, and the first day of the last period was july 3, then ovulatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Depends on the size: A small to moderate ovarian cyst should not appreciably affect the chances of getting pregnant. Cysts 3 cm or smaller are considered normal by some do... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Probably normal: The description you provide sounds like transient hepatic attenuation differences (thad) that can show as areas of enhancement on arterial phase imagi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
HCG levels should: Be doubling every 2-3 days in a normal pregnancy, not falling.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Unlikely: Most home pregnancy tests (hpts) claim to be 99% accurate on the first day of the missed period.
However, research suggests that most hpts do not ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
No lenses, but ...: Lots of radio waves. A very strong, uniform magnetic field causes hydrogen atoms to slightly align with it. Variable magnetic fields add a bit more ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
On an abdominal CT,: The size of the heart would be the primary item to see. If the mitral valve of the heart or the right coronary artery had a lot of calcium in them, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Need a neurologist,: A complete history and detailed physical examination, an eeg and probably a focussed, high resolution MRI of the brachial plexus.
Biceps is innerva... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Sounds pretty normal: Ef is normal, tiny effusions are nothing to worry about. Was valvular function normal - ie no stenosis or regurgitation?
Also, how much dilation? ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Endometrial polyps: Are generally quite small and (relatively) easy to get to via the vagina/cervix.
Hysterectomy is a significant surgery with associated risks. The ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Not rare: About 5% of americans have kidney stones, so it is not common. 1 in 1500 pregnant patients will have recurrent kidney stones. Most stones pass spont... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
? Mass vs. Vol Ave.: Depending on the MRI protocol, it is possible there is slight angling of the image, and one side is seen well while the other is not as clearly seen. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Crystal chemicals: About 5% of americans have kidney stones, so it is not common. When the concentration of dissolved chemicals (70% calcium oxalate) in urine is too hi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Usually: Usually, if the MRI was to look at the neck, and not the cervical spine.
Small throat cancers, or cancers without enlarged lymph nodes or masses ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Uterus, ovaries and: The surrounding tissues are the focus. Incomplete imaging of the bladder usually also happens.
Kidneys and bladder are imaged with a retroperitone... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Incomplete workup: Assuming this was an unexpected finding in a ct done for another purpose (i would guess to evaluate for pulmonary embolism), the ct technique was not ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Rare to be cancer: In the medical literature, the rate of cancer found in an endometrial polyp ranges from less than 1% to 8%, with an average around 5%. Approx 95% of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Need more info...: About the exact wording in the report, but we all have multiple bowel loops (like 30 feet worth!).
Did the report say something like: "multiple pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Get the US scan: Although it is probably either nothing, or something benign, please get the us scan. You may be surprised and find something that needs to be further... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Perhaps: If the enlarged lymph node is associated with infection, consider waiting a couple of weeks to see if it resolves.
The ct scan may be useful in de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Likely unrelated: Any bleeding from your lithotripsy would be from your kidneys, end up in your bladder and through your urethra in the urine.
This is completely s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Seizure location: This work up is trying to confirm the location in your brain where the seizures are starting. If the data support 1 location, then the can be a more ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Usually: Cervical dysplasia is usually treated with focal, surgery, possibly using a laser.
Depending on the extent of the dysplasia and the required surger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Accursoanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Depends on the .....: Method used to administer and dose of the gallbladder contracting medicine (sincalide).
The best validated reference data uses a dose of 0.02 mic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k 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.
8
Recommendations
801
Thank you notes
Aug 31, 2013
Dr. Accurso provides a wonderful resource to patients & other doctors with his informational & caring accurate answers and personal style. I trust him.
Dec 25, 2014
Dr. Accurso is doing a fabulous job help not only the patients but fellow doctors! I am so grateful for you!
Jul 28, 2013
As a fellow radiologist I appreciate (and learn from) the excellent posts by Dr. Accurso.
HealthTap member
Thank you again! I am hopefully going to be given the reports and xrays tomorrow, and then will be seeing a pulm. in a few weeks. I have quit smoking (again) it's been 5 days, and I think the scare wi...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you! I am day 4 of no smoking, not even the e-cigs I was using to wean off of regular cigs... Just hope it's not too late, I am taking some solace in your response, thank you so much :)
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I have an appt w a urologist on Mon. Been trying to deal w dr for a month now. Not in a lot of pain, went to dr for blood in urine.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, NY
Graduated 1992MD
Residency
SUNY at Buffalo
Awards
Mayo Clinic MacMillan Scholarship
Top Doctor, Second Place, Jacksonville Region, FL - Summer
2013
Thought Leader, Second Place, Jacksonville Region, FL - Summer
2013
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