Locations
MD Imaging Vascular & Interventional Center
Redding, CA
About
Bio
Board certified interventional radiologist with broad experience in most aspects of the field. Particular interests include the imaging diagnosis and endovascular management of vascular disease. Experienced in fibroid embolization, treatment of compression fractures, and venous access devices
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
Doctor Q&A
61 Answers
28 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
No: If the question is did the MRI cause your nerve sheath tumor, the then answer is no. There are no known tumors caused by medical MRI.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Your Doc.: If you believe you are having a problem related to the procedure, you should contact your treating physician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Livers: There is often slight variances in how the liver is measured based on different imaging modalities. Sometimes the way the liver is measured on the sam... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
May be result of DVT: Varicose veins can potentially be the result of prior thrombosis in a deep vein or superficial vein.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
MRI: An MRI can be intimidating. The machine is a large magnet and for safety reasons is in a special room, therefore make sure you have no metal on you. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
YES: The aorta is the major artery arising from the heart. It has two main components the thoracic and abdominal segments. The abdominal aorta would be s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Digital: Just like typewriters and CD's the film box is a thing of the past. Radiology is almost exlusively by computer in the US.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Bright cyst on ct: Usually a high attenuating cyst means the cyst is bright on a CT scan. While malignancy is in the differential diagnosis there are benign causes as w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
X ray: Broken bones are usually diagnosed by X-ray
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
CTA: CTA stands for computed tomography angiogram. It is a type of CT scan that allows to get a detailed images of the brain arteries. It requires an IV ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Soft bones: Rickets is a disorder of children caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, It leads to softening and weakening of the bones. Usually caused by lack of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Removing plaque: Atherectomy is the removal of plaque build up in the lining of an artery. The plaque causes a narrowing of the arterial lumen decreasing blood flow. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Yes: Compression fracture of the spine is when the vertebral body (bone of the spine) has collapsed on itself. While the bone may heal, the loss of height... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Variable: Mri scans typically take 40-60 minutes, but there are many factors that determine the length of time. How the study is protocoled and the machine its... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Yes if licenced: Radiologist are MD or DO and as long as they meet the requirements of licensing in their state, they can moonlight as clinicians.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Increased risk, yes.: Not moving for a long period of time such as a long plane or car ride is just one of many risk factors for developing DVT. Medication such as some bi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Heart Tests: EKG is a tracing of the electrical activity of the heart. Echocardiogram is an ultrasound evaluation of the heart and used to evaluate how the heart ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Between bones: The peroneal artery can be one of the most challenging arteries to image in the leg below the knee. It is in between the two bones of the lower leg a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Usually NOT: MRV or MR Venography is to study the veins in the area of interest. There is usually no diagnostic evaluation of additional structures.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
No: It is unusual to have pain remote from entry site for an angiogram. Complications of angiogram can include bleeding under the skin that can cause pai... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Fatty Liver: Hepatiic Steatosis is when fat builds up in the liver and if not treated can lead to inflammation to the liver which can lead to cirrhosis. It has a v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Atelectasis: Atelectasis ( collapsed lung) can be caused by 4 ways. 1.Blockage of the airway. 2. Compression of the airway. 3.Adhesion, a sort of scaring of the lu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Angiogram: Ultrasound is a good test for determining if there is appropriate arterial flow to the upper extremity. Up to the level of the wrist it is a very goo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Difficult: By venous closure, I am assuming you mean venous ablation? It can be very difficult to determine that on an MRI, the test of choice would be ultrasou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Not needed: It is not necessary to map the deep veins by MRI before saphenous vein ablation. It is usually done by ultrasound before the procedure. If you have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Perhaps: Patients can get pregnant after fibroid embolization and live healthy births have been reported. There is an increased incidence of abnormal positioni... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Can be either way: Historically most studies are read with a black background due to the nature of film developing process. However most images are digital and black on... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Should be Safe: In a radiology department medical radiation is used and there should be care to make sure that there is no accidental exposure to others in the area. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Better for something: Some structures and pathology are better evaluated with CT scan rather then an ultrasound and vice versa.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
NO: Ultrasound cannot be used to evaluate constipation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Maybe Cysts?: Many things can be hypodensities on liver and kidney. Many are benign and commonly are cysts, benign fluid filled structures that rarely cause sympto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Perhaps: Patients can get pregnant after fibroid embolization and live healthy births have been reported. There is an increased incidence of abnormal positioni... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Damaged Valves: Damage to valves in veins usually refers to the valve no longer functioning appropriately. The valves open and close and allow blood to go against gr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Yes: You should have access to your medical records. Radiology reports are often written for the audience of a medical professional, so best reviewed with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Perhaps movement?: MRI imaging is susceptible to a variety of artifacts. Movement is a one reason for poor quality imaging. Since MRI images take time to generate, oft... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Renal Cyst: Renal cysts are very common , often benign and asymptotic fluid filled structures of the kidney's. Sometimes they can contain blood and can be diffi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Current Guidelines: Current guidelines recommend 12 month follow up CT scan for incidental pulmonary nodule nodules less then 4mm in high risk patients over the age of 35... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Atelectasis: Atelectasis ( collapsed lung) can be caused by 4 ways. 1.Blockage of the airway. 2. Compression of the airway. 3.Adhesion, a sort of scaring of the lu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
MRCP: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non invasive way to diagnose diseases of the biliary tree and the pancreatic ducts. It is don... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 66-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
There may be options: Plavix (clopidogrel) is a platelet inhibiting drug. The purpose of the medication is prevention of future myocardial infarction and death following a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
CTA : CTA is very good at differentiating soft vs hard ( calcified) plaque. Likely the best modality for that purpose.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Follow up CT: The importance of the findings may depend on why your ct scan was done. Current guidelines suggest Incidental single lung nodules between 4-6 mm in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Walk around.: Moving around during flight can be helpful. Getting up and out of seat if possible and walk around every so often. If you can't get out of the seat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Yes: If appropriate fibroid embolization can be repeated. It is possible to grow new arteries to old fibroids or to grow new fibroids. Both situations ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Depends: Depending on location and insurance, there may be resources available. Some providers will offer a discounted cash price or sliding scale. Best cont... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Yes: Patients can get pregnant after fibroid embolization and live healthy births have been reported. There is an increased incidence of abnormal positioni... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Cyst of Liver: Cysts of the liver are fluid filled structures that are almost non-cancerous. They rarely cause symptoms, unless they are very large. A 2.5cm cyst is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Most likely: The procedure is usually performed by an interventional radiologist in a procedure room with a special X-ray machine referred to as an "Angio Suite." ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
NO: X ray will not show where a venous closure procedure was performed in the leg. An ultrasound might. It is always a good idea to share your prior med... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Gliosis: Gliosis is essentially what is left over in the brain after some injury. Think of it as scar tissue. Ischemic means it is result of decreased blood ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k 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.
3
Recommendations
49
Thank you notes
Nov 30, 2014
Highly recommend. Very know legible.
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hofkin is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hofkin is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Even after colon cancer and liver met???
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful! Thanks :) thanks
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Medical College of Pennsylvania, PA
Graduated 1993MD
Residency
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Awards
Top Radiologist, Second Place, National - Fall
2014
Top Doctor, Third Place, Redding Region - Fall
2014
Most Influential Doctor, Third Place, Redding Region - Fall
2014
Affiliations
Society Of Interventional Radiology
American College Of Radiology
RSNA
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