Neuroradiology/Head and Neck Imaging

Neuroradiology is an integral part of the Diagnostic Imaging division and supports all the multidisciplinary care centers at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Neuroradiology department in partnership with the Brain and Spine Center, the Head and Neck Center and Cancer Systems Imaging delivers the highest quality patient care available. Our faculty participate actively in the clinical program, as well as collaborate in research. A thriving translational research program exists in Neuroradiology in collaboration with the Brain Tumor Center and the Cancer Systems Imaging department.

MD Anderson’s Neurosurgery department is considered one of the best programs in the country with patients from all over the world. Our neurosurgeons perform on average over 1,700 brain and spine surgeries a year. The Neuroradiology department plays a key role in diagnosing a variety of brain tumors that are referred to our neurosurgeons. We also assist the neurosurgeons in of brain tumors, particularly in the Brain Suite.

MD Anderson interpreted 68,316 procedures in 2014. This represents an increase of 11,749 procedures, compared to the 56,567 procedures performed in 2010.

We provide diagnostic and therapeutic services pertaining to the brain, spine, and head and neck. The scope of our responsibilities encompasses diagnostic and interventional procedures using MRI, CT, ultrasound, PET/CT, intra-operative and functional MR imaging. The Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory provides post-image processing and advanced analysis for clinicians throughout MD Anderson.

Neurointerventional Ultrasound (NIR US) Clinic

• The NIR US Clinic has developed imaging of the soft tissues of the neck to a high level that sets the standard, both nationally and internationally, and includes several diagnostic innovations developed at MD Anderson.
• Currently, the faculty and staff at the NIR US Clinic perform 11,000 ultrasounds of the soft tissues of the neck and almost 3,000 US-guided FNA/CORE biopsies each year. To our knowledge, this is the highest number of ultrasound procedures of the neck done annually compared to other institutions within the United States of America.

Head and Neck Radiology

• The Head and Neck Radiology program at MD Anderson is unique because of the scope and excellence of our Head and Neck Oncology program. At present, the Head and Neck Cancer program, which integrates head and neck radiation oncology, medical oncology, speech and voice, basic science research and diagnostic imaging, sees approximately 60-70 new patients each week, spanning the entire gamut of head and neck malignancy. Our many experienced neuroradiologists participate in all phases of diagnosis and imaging modalities including MRI, CT and PET/CT.
• We have established CT imaging criteria to diagnose parathyroid tumors that other institutions are now using as a guideline. In the neuroradiology section, we have leading experts to diagnose tiny parathyroid tumors from the vast experience they have gained having interpreted over 1,000 parathyroid studies over the past years.