Thoracic Radiology Fellowship

The objectives of the Thoracic Imaging Fellowship are to:

• Educate trainees in the advanced interpretation of chest radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/ computed tomography and in the performance of ultrasound and CT guided procedures
• Educate trainees in the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, staging, pathology, treatment and complications of malignant tumors, particularly lung cancer
• Provide an opportunity for academic research, with the case material and resources of MD Anderson Cancer

Trainee must have completed an ACGME approved (or equivalent) residency training program in diagnostic radiology. Selection will be supervised by the program director of thoracic radiology, with the consultation of other faculty members in the section. Materials solicited for review will include a CV, medical school transcripts, residency program director's recommendation, three other letters of reference and a personal statement. Interviews will be required. One fellow will be appointed each year. This will depend on the applicant pool and the availability of funds.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is an equal opportunity employer.

The trainee will spend his or her time in the areas of chest radiography including studies from the intensive care units, CT, MRI, PET/CT and interventional radiology. In CT and MRI, responsibilities will include protocol design for patient studies and monitoring of studies for patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. However, the focus will be on the interpretation of clinical cases. The studies will all be reviewed by a faculty member, and then dictated by the fellow. Graded responsibility will be given over the year for the consultation service with clinicians including the multidisciplinary conferences for lung cancer, esophageal cancer and mesothelioma. The trainee will review the films and patient histories with the faculty assigned to that conference and attend and/or present the cases at that conference to clinicians including those from Thoracic Medical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Pathology and Pulmonary Medicine.

Other available rotations

The Vascular /Interventional Service to plan and perform CT and ultrasound-guided biopsies and drainages

PET/CT to enhance the trainee's knowledge of the staging of lung cancer

The trainee is responsible for "call" on a rotating basis, but no more than every third or fourth weekend. Physical requirements are those related to visual perception, communication and manual dexterity.

Thoracic Imaging Fellowship research papers

The trainee will have one day per week off the regular schedule for research. It is the responsibility of the trainee to identify a project early in the year and to complete a potentially publishable paper by the end of the year. Research papers previously produced by radiology fellows include:

• Benveniste AP, Marom EM, Benveniste MF, Mawlawi OR, Miranda RN, Yang W. Metastases to the breast from extramammary malignancies - PET/CT findings. Eur J Radiol. 2014 Jul;83(7):1106-12.
• Godoy MC1, Saldana DA, Rao PP, Vlahos I, Naidich DP, Benveniste MF, Erasmus JJ, Marom EM, Ost D. Multidetector CT evaluation of airway stents: what the radiologist should know. Radiographics. 2014 Nov-Dec;34(7):1793-806.
• Shroff GS, Boonsirikamchai P, Viswanathan C, Godoy MC, Marom EM, Truong MT. Differentiating pericardial recesses from mediastinal adenopathy: potential pitfalls in oncological imaging. Clin Radiol. 2014 Mar;69(3):307-14.• Odisio EG, Truong MT, Duran C, de Groot PM, Godoy MC. Role of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Thoracic Oncology. Radiol Clin North Am. 2018 Jul;56(4):535:548.
• Godoy MCB, Odisio EGLC, Erasmus JJ, Chate RC, Dos Santos RS, Truong MT. Understanding Lung-RADS 1.0: A Case-Based Review. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2018 Jun;39(3):260-272.
• Godoy MCB, Odisio EGLC, Truong MT, de Groot PM, Shroff GS, Erasmus JJ. Pulmonary Nodule Management in Lung Cancer Screening: A Pictorial Review of Lung-RADS Version 1.0. Radiol Clin North Am. 2018 May; 56(3):353-363.
•  Odisio EG, Marom EM, Shroff GS, Wu CC, Benveniste APA, Truong MT, Benveniste MF. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Diagnosis, Staging, Pitfalls and Follow-up. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2017 Dec;38(6):559-570.

Faculty will provide supervision on all cases interpreted by the trainee. Procedures will initially be closely supervised; however, it is expected that less faculty involvement will be required as the year progresses.

Evaluations of the trainees will be performed twice during the year, by means of a standardized form with comments. The program director will meet with the trainee informally to discuss his or her progress. The trainee will also evaluate the program at the end of the year and discuss his or her experience with the program.