| EMAIL: |
| PERSONAL WEBSITE: |
| PUBLICATIONS: |
My special clinical and research interests lie in venous interventions for portal hypertension, selective venous samplings (SVS) for endocrine disorders, prostatic artery embolization, and interventional oncology for primary and secondary liver malignancies. Cryoablation of soft tissue tumors is another new IR service I started in recent years.
Among various venous interventions, the endovascular management of complications associated with portal hypertension is always at the top of the list. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation, coil- or plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration of gastric varices (CARTO or PARTO), and embolization of spontaneous portosystemic shunt are the most frequently performed procedure in this category. One of the research projects is to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia, skeletal muscle enhancement, the severity of liver disease, and clinical outcomes after interventional procedures in patients with portal hypertension.
We implemented a STAT assay of cortisol levels within an hour to reduce the technical failure rate for adrenal vein sampling (AVS). With this new protocol, we could repeat the procedure immediately on the same day if the cortisol level shows a low selectivity index. To better understand endocrine disorders and communicate with referring services, I recently published a book as one of the editors, “Diagnosis and Management of Endocrine disorders in Interventional Radiology,” covering clinical, surgical, and interventional management of endocrine disorders in different SVS techniques.
Interventional oncology includes transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radioembolization (TARE), and percutaneous microwave ablation for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. One of the recent research projects focuses on the relationship between patient performance status, sarcopenia, and post-procedure outcomes. Cryoablation of soft tissue desmoid tumors is a new area of clinical services.
Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a new and exciting field of IR that continuously grows as other specialties’ understanding of its efficacy expands. I participated in publishing a book titled “Prostatic Artery Embolization” as one of the editors and am currently participating in a multicenter study evaluating the radiation exposure associated with prostatic artery embolization.
| UNC AFFILIATIONS: |
CLINICAL/RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Cancer Biology, Cardiovascular Biology, Cardiovascular disease, Clinical Trials, Health Services, Imaging, Medical Education, Prostate Cancer, Quality and Patient Safety |