About
Bio
I am a radiologist at the Loyola University Medical Center. I completed a body MRI fellowship at Stanford University, and residency and medical school training at the University of Chicago.
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
Languages spoken
English, Polish
Doctor Q&A
100 Answers
64 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: Collapsed lung or atelectasis is sometimes interchangeably used with consolidation in radiology reports; its not exactly the same thing but may look s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Only bases: An abdominal ct is not intended to look at the lungs, but usually some portion of the lower lobes (lung bases) is visible.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: Gallium scans are very good for detecting chronic infections or any chronic inflammatory process, often better than acute infections. Some infections... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Limited: An ultrasound can evaluate the bladder but to a limited extent. It can see how much urine is in the bladder and if there is anything large within it l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Probably normal: The endometrium can normally be up to about 16 mm premenopausal females, especially in the secretory phase which is when your exam was done. It is als... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Reactive?: Enlarged, painful lymph nodes can be seen if there is an infection in the region which they drain; they are referred to as reactive if this is the cas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
UTI: You may have a urinary tract infection and prostatitis for which you will need antibiotics and should see a doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
GI cause: Symptoms are not very specific for a single cause but are related to your GI tract, possibly a food intolerance such as lactose. These are not sympto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Meningitis: Meninges are layers of connective tissue that envelope the brain. When they get irritated, which among other things can be due to infection, they enha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Allergy? Reflux?: My best guess is that this could be due to irritation of your esphagus from reflux; this would be more likely if for example your symptoms were worse ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Appendicolith: A stone in the appendix is caused an appendicolith and results from calcification of residue. These can sometimes block the opening of the appendix a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Drink a lot of fluid: When you use the whey protein to try and decrease the abdominal pain. The best sources of protein are from regular food instead of supplements. Try ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
No: On a plain xray, definitely not. On ct, mri, or us, yes. Ultrasound is best for characterizing ovarian cysts.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Depends : On where the stroke occurs in the brain. The paralysis is usually on the opposide side of the stroke in the brain, so a left sided stroke would cause... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
6-8 weeks: Ultrasound dating is most accurate early in the pregnancy using the crown-rump length (crl) of the small fetus. The measurement can be done starting ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Could be helpful: Pulsatile tinnitus may be caused by a variety of things such as a dural arteriovenous fistula, an aberrant blood vessel, or possibly a vascular tumor ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
IV contrast: Gadolinium is an IV contrast agent used for mri. As long as kidney function is fine, there should not be any long term effects. Some patients experi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old male asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
No obstruction: The Lasix (furosemide) renal scan you had is good for differentiating a dilated collectong system from true obstruction. Sometimes urine will not cle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
If recommended by Dr: Mri of the knee and ankle can best assess soft tissue structures like ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. If you have pain in the areas and the MRI wa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Don't eat: You should not eat anything for about 4-6 hours before an abdominal ultrasound. The food material and extra gas can obscure structures being evaluated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 62-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Lower neck: Most likely this is referring to nodes located in the lower part of your neck closer to the sternum and clavicles.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: Both ct and MRI would show metal. Metal would be very bright on ct and cause serious and noticeable artifact on mri.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Head and orbit CT: W/ and w/o means with and without IV contrast. The head ct without contrast is good for looking at any blood in the head and any major abnormalities. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Not sure what you...: Mean in your question. Gallbladder disease like cholecystitis can affect nearby organs such as the pancreas and duodenum by the spread of inflammatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Major abnormalities: Ct is typically used in the acute setting to look for blood. It can also show major abnormalities such as masses and edema from large strokes. Ct is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Normal: It is normal for premenopausal women to have a thickened endometrium, which can up to about 15 mm in thickness. The thickness changes based on the pha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: When done with IV contrast, the ct scan is usually only done after the contrast is given rather than before and after. This lowers the radiation dose... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Spontaneous pneumo-: Mediastinum by itself is benign and resolves on its own, as opposed to pneumothorax which can be dangerous. Sp can be caused by activities that rasie ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Normal variant: Concha bullosa is a normal variation where air is present in the bones of the nasal cavity (turbinates). Usually there is no need to remove this, unle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Lipoid pneumonia: Inhaling any kind of oil is not a good idea. Oil can accumulate in the lung alveoli and cause a chronic type of pneumonia called lipoid pneumonia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Not a bad thing: Not a bad thing in terms of the result but shouldn't take that long. Try calling your doctor who ordered the exam or the radiology group where you had... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Blood supply: Cancers can either have more or less blood supply than the organs they are in. Without contrast the cancer and organ usually look similar in brightnes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
The fibrosis and : Atelectasis isnt anything to worry about, just some lung tissue collapsed on itself and scarring. The ground glass nodule is something that may need ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Probably infection: If a lymph node is painful, it is a reassuring sign and likely due to infection. Cancers tend to cause hard but painless node enlargment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
CT: If appendicitis is truly suspected then an abdominal and pelvis ct would be ordered by your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Possible: It depends what the final report by the radiologist says about it. If an xray has a questionable finding, an MRI can always be done to give a definit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Multiple projections: A ct cross-sectional image (slice) is reconstructed from a combination of xrays shot from multiple directions/projections; therefore, there is no ove... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Inflammation: Fat stranding is most commonly a descriptive term used in the presence of inflammation. The "strands" in fat surrounding bowel represent fluid and in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
MRV: Mri of the brain evaluates the brain tissue for any abnormal signal, lesions, or masses. An mrv (mr venography) uses special sequences to look at the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Worth a try: Us does not have any associated radiation vs ct so not bad way to start, especially in a young/pediatric or pregnant patient. Often the appendix can't... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Contrast: An xray (also called radiograph) is done by sending xrays through a body part but only in one projection so there is overlap of body parts and contras... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Not ideal: Ovaries are usually seen on ct, especially in premenopausal women, and ct will be able to identify any large cysts or masses. Ultrasound is the the b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: Usually a ct looking for gastrointestinal problems will be done as a ct of the abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast. The abdomen part of the exam will ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Ask your doctor : to help you understand the report. I can also try to help you make sense of it if you have specific questions.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Yes: This is often done. The cast material may interfere slightly with the interpretation but is still of diagnostic quality.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Not sure: Its difficult to figure out what is wrong just based on those two symptoms. One possibility that comes so mind is mononuclesosis (aka mono). This cou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Short exam: Ct is a relatively short exam taking less than 10 minutes. You will be placed in a donut like ring but it is not the small space like with an MRI so y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Carpal tunnel?: It's possible this may be related to carpal tunnel if the pain is centered on the palmar side of your wrist. Pain from this can extend up to the arm.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
CT: A CT scan is usually done to diagnose a kidney stone. It shows up a bright, dense round object in the kidney, ureter, or bladder. Kidney stones, if th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Piotr Obaraanswered
Radiology 16 years experience
Tennis elbow?: Might be inflammation at the origin site of the extensor tendons on the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. Ultrasound and xray would be normal; an MRI w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >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.
2
Recommendations
125
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Obara is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Obara is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! YourThank you for our concerns to my question. I like this site, and will try to get family to ask also. Again thank you.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Eased my anxiety alot. Was concerned it was more serious than a bleed.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I just had an MRI with contrast dye last Friday, results on Feb 11
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Chicago
Graduated 2007MD
Residency
University of Chicago
Awards
Alpha Omega Alpha
Top Radiologist, Second Place, Illinois - Summer
2013
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