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Ganesh Rao, M.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1400 Holcombe Boulevard, FC7.2000
Unit Number: 442
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-792-2400
Fax: 713-794-4950

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1998 University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, MD, Medicine
1994 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, BS, Cum Laude, Microbiology
1994 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, BS, Cum Laude, Chemistry

Postgraduate Training

2005-2006 Clinical Fellowship, Neurosurgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
1999-2005 Clinical Residency, Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
1998-1999 Clinical Internship, General Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Board Certifications

2009 American Board of Neurological Surgery

Honors and Awards

2006 Eisenberg Fellowship Award, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2006 Young Oncologist Travel Award, American Radium Society
2002 Academy Award for Resident Research, American Academy of Neurological Surgeons
2002 Resident Research Award, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society
1998 Medical Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha
1998 Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Arizona College of Medicine
1997 Van Winkle Medical Student Research Award, University of Arizona College of Medicine
1995 Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship Award, University of Arizona College of Medicine
1990-1994 Arizona Board of Regents Academic Waiver, University of Arizona

Professional Memberships

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Member, 2006-present
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Member, 2006-present
Texas Medical Association, Houston, TX
Member, 9/2007

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Rao G, Giordano SH, Liu J, McCutcheon IE. The association of breast cancer and meningioma in men and women. Neurosurgery 65(3):483-489, 9/2009. PMID: 19687693.
2. Williams BJ, Suki D, Fox BD, Pelloski CE, Maldaun MVC, Sawaya RE, Lang FF, Rao G. Stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors: a comprehensive review of complications. J Neurosurg. e-Pub 3/2009. PMID: 19301968.
3. Kong L-Y, Wei J , Sharma AK, Barr J, Abou-Ghazal MK, Fokt I, Weinberg J, Rao G, Grimm E, Priebe W, Heimberger AB. A novel phosphorylated STAT3 inhibitor enhances T cell cytotoxicity against melanoma through inhibition of regulatory T cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 58(7):1023-1032, 2009. e-Pub 11/2008. PMCID: PMC2674523.
4. Hatiboglu MA, Weinberg JS, Suki D, Rao G, Prabhu SS, Shah K, Jackson E, Sawaya R. Impact of intraoperative high-field magnetic resonance imaging-guidance on glioma surgery: A prospective volumetric analysis. Neurosurgery 64(6), 2009.
5. Prabhu SS, Levine NB , Rao G , Shah K, Weinberg J. Report of negative diffusion –weighted MR imaging during tumor resections using intraoperative MRI. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 87(5):304-308, 2009. PMID: 19641341.
6. Fox BD, Patel A, Suki D, Rao G. Surgical management of metastatic sarcoma to the brain. J Neurosurg 110(1):181-186, 2009. PMID: 18834268.
7. Williams BJ, Fox BD, Scubba DM, Suki D, Tu SM, Kuban D, Gokaslan ZL, Rhines LD, Rao G. Surgical management of prostate cancer metastatic to the spine. J Neurosurg Spine 10:414-422, 2009.
8. Feiz-Erfan I, Rao G, White WL, McCutcheon IE. Efficacy of trans-septal trans-sphenoidal surgery in correcting visual symptoms caused by hematogenous metastases to the sella and pituitary gland. Skull Base 18:77-84, 2008. PMCID: PMC2435478.
9. Klimo P Jr, Kan P, Rao G, Apfelbaum R, Brockmeyer D. Os odontoideum: presentation, diagnosis, and treatment in a series of 78 patients. J Neurosurg Spine 9(4):332-342, 2008. PMID: 18939918.
10. Rao G, Suki D, Chakrabarti I, Feiz-Erfan I, Mody MG, McCutcheon IE, Gokaslan Z, Patel S, Rhines LD. Surgical management of primary and metastatic sarcoma of the mobile spine. J Neurosurg Spine 9(2):120-128, 2008. PMID: 18764743.
11. Klimo P Jr, Rao G, Brockmeyer D. Congenital anomalies of the cervical spine. Neurosurg Clin N Am 18(3):463-78, 7/2007. PMID: 17678749.
12. Tatsui CE, Rao G, Rhines LD. Radiotherapy for a destructive cervicothoracic lesion from multiple myeloma. J Neurosurg Spine 6(5):493, 5/2007. PMID: 17542520.
13. Klimo P Jr., Rao G, Brockmeyer D. Pediatric arteriovenous malformations: a 15-year experience with an emphasis on residual and recurrent lesions. Childs Nerv Syst 23(1):31-37, 1/2007. PMID: 17053936.
14. Samlowski WE, Watson GA, Wang M, Rao G, Klimo P Jr., Boucher K, Jensen Rl. Multimodality treatment of melanoma brain metastases incorporating stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Cancer 109(9):1855-1862, 2007. PMID: 17351953.
15. Rao G, Klimo P Jr, Thompson CJ, Samlowski W, Wang M, Watson G, Shrieve D, Jensen RL. Stereotactic radiosurgery as therapy for melanoma, renal carcinoma, and sarcoma brain metastases: Impact of added surgical resection and whole-brain radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 66(4)Suppl.S20-S25, 11/2006.
16. Mody M, Rao G, Rhines LD. Surgical management of spinal mesenchymal tumors. Current Oncology Report 8(4):297-304, 7/2006. PMID: 17254530.
17. Rao G, L Klimo P, Jensen RL, MacDonald JD, Couldwell WT. Surgical stategies for recurrent craniofacial meningiomas. Neurosurgery 58(5):874-80, 5/2006. PMID: 16639321.
18. McCall T, Rao G, Jensen RL. Development of rapid growth of a desmoid tumor in the surgical corridor after suboccipital craniotomy for recurrent low-grade astrocytomas. J Neurooncol 80(2):167-170, 4/2006. PMID: 16645711.
19. Rao G, Bohinski R, Feiz-Erfan I, Rhines LD. Dynamic retraction of the psoas for exposure of the spine in the retroperitoneal approach: technical note. J Neurosurg Spine 5(5):468-470, 2006. PMID: 17120900.
20. Rao G, Ha C, Chakrabarti I, Feiz-Erfan I, Mendel E, Rhines LD. Multiple myeloma of the cervical spine: treatment strategies for pain and spinal instability. J Neurosurg Spine 5(2):140-45, 2006. PMID: 16925080.
21. Chakrabarti I, Burton A, Rao G, Feiz-Erfan I, Hlatky R, Rhines LD, Mendel E. Percutaneous vertebroplasty of myelomatous compression fracture in the presence of pervious posterior instrumentation: Case report. J Neurosurg Spine 5:168-71, 2006. PMID: 16925086.

Invited Articles
1. Klimo P Jr, Rao G, Brockmeyer D. Congenital anomalies of the cervical spine. J Spinal Res Found 4(1):32-42, 2009.
2. Liu JK, Rao G, Schmidt MH, Couldwell WT. Far lateral transcondylar transtubercular approach to lesions of the ventral foramen magnum and craniovertebral junction. Contemporary Neurosurgery 29(10), 5/2007.

Book Chapters
1. Chern JJ, Rao G, Lang FF. Medulloblastoma. In: Youmans Neurological Surgery, 6th. Ed(s) Winn HR. WB Saunders: Philadelphia, PA. In Press.
2. Rao G, Klimo P Jr, McCutcheon IE, Mendel E. Development and Maturation of the Axial Skeleton: Developmental Abnormalities of the Cervical Spine. In: Atlas of Spine Trauma: Adult & Pediatric. Ed(s) Kim DH, Ludwig SC, Vaccaro AR, Chang J-C. WB Saunders: Philadelphia, PA, 475-488, 2008.
3. Ragel B, Amirlak B, Rao G, Couldwell W. Apoptosis in Glioma Cells: Review of the Literature. In: Cell Cycle in the Central Nervous System. Humana Press, Janigro D (ed): New York, 2006.
4. Rao G, Kestle JRW. Calvarial Tumors in Children. In: Neuro-Oncology of CNS Tumors. Springer, Tonn JC, Westphal M, Tutka JT, Grossman SA (eds): Berlin, 2006.
5. House P, Rao G, Couldwell W, Freese A, Simeone FA. Contemporary Applications of Functional and Stereotactic Techniques for Molecular Neurosurgery. In: Principles of Molecular Neurosurgery. Leone P, Janson C (eds), 2005.
6. Rao G, Apfelbaum. Dens Fractures. In: The Cervical Spine. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, clark CR (ed): Philadelphia, 2005.
7. Klimo P, Rao G, Apfelbaum RI. Microsurgical treatment of odontoid fractures. In: Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery. Springer, H.M. Mayer (eds): Berlin, 2005.
8. Rao G, Kestle JRW. Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma. In: Textbook of Neuro-oncology. Saunders Berger MS, Prados MD (eds): Philadelphia, 2005.
9. Rao G, Apfelbaum R. Upper Cervical Screw Fixation Techniques. In: Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery. Zileli M, Ozer F (eds), 2004.

Last updated: 8/13/2009