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Neuroradiology/Head and Neck Imaging

Donald Schomer, M.D.

Chair

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Neuroradiology Head & Neck Imaging

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Neuroradiology Head & Neck Imaging
- Faculty & Staff

Donald Schomer, M.D. Chair

Neuroradiology is an integral part of the Division of Diagnostic Imaging and supports all the Multidisciplinary Care Centers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Department of Neuroradiology in partnership with the Brain and Spine Center, the Head and Neck Center, the Brain Tumor Center and Experimental Diagnostic Imaging delivers the highest quality patient care available. Our 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 Experimental Diagnostic 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 1700 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.

The 16 at 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.

Research

Rivka R. Colen, M.D.
Imaging Genomics and Radiome Sequencing and Big Data, Biomarker Development and Validation, Image-Guided Therapy and Preclinical Imaging Genomic

Dr. Colen’s research is comprised of both clinical-translational and preclinical-translational research with the overarching goal to help cause a significant dent in the cure for patients and improve patient outcomes by “helping cure cancer using imaging”. On the clinical-translational side, our research focuses on imaging genomics, where the power of imaging and genomics converge to non-invasively visualize the tumor heterogeneity in total and connect it with the underlying molecular heterogeneity, and radiomics, high dimensional automated feature extraction of images, to improve patient outcomes. We are developing, validating and integrating novel robust quantitative, reproducible imaging and imaging genomic biomarkers into the oncological therapeutic pipeline, using standard conventional imaging as well as using advanced imaging techniques such as perfusion, diffusion and spectroscopy. We are developing radiomic and other imaging software platforms as well as imaging genomic informatics pipelines (predictive modeling, machine learning, among other) that can be integrated into automated imaging analysis platforms as well as the integration of imaging and imaging software into the Big Data and –omics project pipelines. On the preclinical-translational side, we are focused on the validation of genomic targets identified in our imaging genomic screens, a novel approach to target discovery pioneered in our laboratory and developing animal models with specific imaging features for use in preclinical studies and co-clinical trials.

Dawid Schellingerhout, M.D.
Numerous research endeavors

Education and Training

Neuroradiology Head and Neck Fellowship

This educational program is for the neuroradiologist interested in a comprehensive program of imaging for brain, spine, head and neck tumors, with a focus on advanced imaging techniques. The fellow rotates on a weekly basis through a wide variety of clinical experiences in the hospital and outpatient settings, attends numerous conferences and participates in research.

Lectures and conferences

Six weekly multidisciplinary conferences provide collaboration with Neuro Surgery, Neuro-Oncology, Neuropathology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical-Oncology, Radiation-Oncology, Endocrinology, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, and Stereotactic Radiosurgery team. These meetings give faculty members opportunity to fulfill their scientific, intellectual and educational goals in addition to providing expert clinical service.