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Rony Avritscher, M.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Associate Professor, Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Section Editor, Interventional Oncology, Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Research Interests

Imaging and interventions with animal models of chronic liver disease

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1400 Pressler Street
Unit Number: 1471
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FCT14.5096
Phone: 713-792-2038
Fax: 713-563-7889
Email: rony.avritscher@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1995 University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil, MD, Medical

Postgraduate Training

2011-2012 Heart of Leadership Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
2003-2004 Clinical Fellowship, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Marshall Hicks, M.D.
1999-2003 Clinical Residency, Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
1998-1999 Clinical Internship, General Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
1996-1998 Clinical Residency, Diagnostic Radiology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Board Certifications

2007 American Board of Radiology, Certificate of Added Qualification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology
2003 Diagnostic Radiology, The American Board of Radiology

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2006-8/2012
Assistant Professor, Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, 9/2006-8/2012

Institutional Committee Activities

Member, Clinical Research Committee, 2010-2012

Honors and Awards

2013 Distinguished Abstract, Society of Interventional Radiology
2012 1st Place for Scientific Exhibit, Global Embolization Symposium and Technologies (G.E.S.T.)
2008 Distinguished Reviewer Award, Journal of Vascular Interventional Radiology
2003 Cum Laude Award for Scientific Presentation, Radiological Society of North America
2002 Roentgen Resident Research Award
2001 Introduction to Research Training Program, Radiological Society of North America

Professional Memberships

American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, PA
Member, 2012-present
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), Alexandria, VA
Member, 2012-present
American College of Radiology, Reston, VA
Member, 2002-present
American Heart Association, Dallas, TX
Member, 2007-present
American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
Member, 2007-present
Harris County Medical Society, Houston, TX
Member, 2007-present
Houston Radiological Society, Houston, TX
Secretary, 2009-present
Member, 2007-present
Radiological Society of North America, Oak Brook, IL
Member, 1999-present
Society of Interventional Radiology, Fairfax, VA
Communications Committee, 2011-present
Professional Education Committee, 2011-present
Research Policy Committee, 2011-present
SIR Foundation's Grant Review Sub-Committee, 2011-present
Member, 2002-present
Texas Medical Association, Austin, TX
Member, 2007-present
Texas Radiological Society, Austin, TX
Member, 2007-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Smith J, Murthy R, Lahoti A, Odisio BC, Avritscher R, Chasen B, Mahvash A. Temporary balloon occlusion of the common hepatic artery for Yttrium-90 glass microspheres administration in a patient with hepatocellular cancer and renal insufficiency. Case Reports in Radiology. Volume 2013(Article ID 560758), 4/2013.
2. Enriquez J, Javadi S, Murthy R, Ensor J, Mahvash A, Abdelsalam ME, Madoff DC, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R. Gastroduodenal artery recanalization after transcatheter fibered coil embolization for prevention of hepaticoenteric flow: Incidence and predisposing technical factors in 142 patients. Acta Radiol. e-Pub 3/2013. PMID: 23535183.
3. Tsimberidou AM, Leick MB, Lim J, Fu S, Wheler J, Piha-Paul SA, Hong D, Falchook GS, Naing A, Subbiah IM, Fortier A, Avritscher R, Kurzrock R. Dose-finding study of hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin-based treatment in patients with advanced solid tumors metastatic to the liver. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 71(2):389-97, 2/2013. e-Pub 11/2012. PMID: 23143207.
4. Odisio BC, Tam AL, Avritscher R, Gupta S, Wallace MJ. CT-guided adrenal biopsy: Comparison of ipsilateral decubitus versus prone patient positioning for biopsy approach. Eur Radiol 22(6):1233-1239, 6/2012. e-Pub 1/2012. PMID: 22227794.
5. Mahvash A, Zaer N, Shaw C, Chasen B, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Temporary balloon occlusion of the common hepatic artery for administration of Yttrium-90 resin microspheres in a patient with patent hepatoenteric collaterals. J Vasc Interv Radiol 23(2):277-280, 2/2012. PMID: 22264555.
6. Avritscher R, Wright KC, Javadi S, Uthamanthil R, Gupta S, Gagea M, Bassett RL, Murthy R, Wallace MJ, Madoff DC. Development of a large animal model of cirrhosis and portal hypertension using hepatic transarterial embolization: a study in swine. J Vasc Interv Radiol 22(9):1329-1334, 9/2011. e-Pub 7/2011. PMID: 21802316.
7. Avritscher R, Javadi S. Transcatheter intra-arterial limb infusion for extremity osteosarcoma: technical considerations and outcomes. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 14(3):124-128, 9/2011. PMID: 21767779.
8. Avritscher R, Duke E, Madoff DC. Portal vein embolization: rationale, outcomes, controversies and future directions. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 4(4):489-501, 8/2010. PMID: 20678021.
9. Avritscher R, Krishnamurthy S, Ensor J, Gupta S, Tam A, Madoff DC, Murthy R, Hicks ME, Wallace MJ. Accuracy and sensitivity of computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of pulmonary hilar lymph nodes. Cancer 116(8):1974-1980, 4/2010. e-Pub 2/2010. PMID: 20151422.
10. Kumar K,Avritscher R, Wang Y, Lane N, Madoff DC, Yu TK, Uhr JW, Zhang X. Handheld histology-equivalent sectioning laser-scanning confocal optical microscope for interventional imaging. Biomed Microdevices 12(2):223-233, 4/2010. PMID: 20012209.
11. Vyas A, Avritscher R, Ensor J, Ross M, Wallace MJ. Isolated limb infusion with cytotoxic agents: a simplified approach for venous access. Cancer 116(2):459-464, 1/2010. e-Pub 11/2009. PMID: 19924798.
12. Buchholz TA, Avritscher R, Yu TK. Identifying the "sentinel lymph nodes" for arm drainage as a strategy for minimizing the lymphedema risk after breast cancer therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 116(3):539-541, 8/2009. e-Pub 1/2009. PMID: 19184413.
13. Avritscher R, Gupta S. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: role of interventional radiology in diagnosis and treatment. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 23(1):129-137, 2/2009. PMID: 19248976.
14. Avritscher R, Madoff DC, Ramirez PT, Wallace MJ, Ahrar K, Morello FA, Gupta S, Murthy R, Wright KC, Hicks ME. Fistulas of the lower urinary tract: percutaneous approaches for the management of a difficult clinical entity. Radiographics 24(1):S217-S236, 10/2004. PMID: 15486242.
15. Avritscher R, Iyer RB, Ro J, Whitman G. Lipoleiomyoma of the uterus. AJR Am J Roentgenol 177(4):856, 10/2001. PMID: 11566688.
16. Huang SY, Abdelsalam ME, Harmoush S, Ensor J, Chetta J, Hwang K, Stafford J, Madoff D, Avritscher R. Evaluation of liver fibrosis and hepatic venous pressure gradient with magnetic resonance elastography in a novel swine model of cirrhosis. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Submitted.
17. Zhao J, Vykoukal J, Abdelsalam ME, Recio-Boiles A, Huang Q, Singhana B, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Melancon MP. Stem cell-mediated delivery of SPIO-loaded gold nanoparticles for the theranosis of liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma. Submitted.

Invited Articles
1. Avritscher R, de Baere T, Murthy R, Deschamps F, Madoff DC. Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization: rationale, technique and outcomes. Semin Intervent Radiol 25(2):132-145, 6/2008. PMCID: PMC3036475.
2. Avritscher R, Sneider GA. Percutaneous gastrostomy. How I do it. Jornal da sobrice 20:7-8, 2008.

Abstracts
1. Huang SY, Abdelsalam ME, Harmoush S, Ensor J, Chetta J, Hwang K, Stafford J, Madoff D, Avritscher R. Evaluation of liver fibrosis and hepatic venous pressure gradient with magnetic resonance elastography in a novel swine model of cirrhosis. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) 21st Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2013. In Press.
2. Zhao J, Vykoukal J, Abdelsalam ME, Recio-Boiles A, Javadi S, Bankson J, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Melancon MP. Adipose-derived stem cells labeled with SPIO-coated hollow gold nanoshells as theranostic approach for liver injury. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S89 - S90 (#189), 4/2013.
3. Gadani S, Huang SY, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Odicio BC. Calcium arterial stimulation venous sampling for preoperative localization of occult insulinomas. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S164 - S165 (#386), 4/2013.
4. Abdelsalam ME, Chetta JA, Harmoush S, Ensor J, Javadi S, Dixon K, McWatters A, Wallace MJ, Tam AL, Avritscher R. CT findings after irreversible electroporation ablation in porcine model : radiologic-pathologic correlation. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S161 (#377), 4/2013.
5. Odisio BC, Galastri FL, Avritscher R, Affonso BB, Salvalaggio PR, Joseph E, Wallace MJ, Nasser F. Factors affecting transarterial chemoembolization response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Imaging-pathology assessment. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S68 (#138), 4/2013.
6. Abdelsalam ME, Gagea-Lurascu M, Joseph E, Dixon K, McWatters A, Miller JM, Avritscher R, Gupta S, Wallace MJ, Tam AL. Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Ablation of the Lumbar Vertebrae in a Porcine Model: A correlation of clinical, radiologic and pathologic findings. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S32 (#55), 4/2013.
7. Abdelsalam ME, Chetta J, Harmoush S, Joseph E, Baugh A, Dixon K, McWatters A, Wallace MJ, Tam AL, Avritscher R. Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) in Cirrhotic Liver: Preliminary Experience in a Large Animal Model. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S46 (#88), 4/2013.
8. Shreyaah S, Odisio BC, Garrett C, Avritscher R, Murthy R. KRAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer; is there a role for Yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolotherapy?. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S112 - S113 (#254), 4/2013.
9. Avritscher R, Abdelsalam ME, Javadi S, Ensor J, Dixon K, Wallace MJ, Alt E, Vykoukal J. Percutaneous catheter-based portal application of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in a large animal model of liver cirrhosis. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S6 - S7 (#231), 4/2013.
10. Gadani S, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, Chasen B, Kaseb A, Murthy R. Yttirum 90 resin microspheres as an adjunct to sorafenib in patients with unresectable HCC: A retrospective study for evaluation of survival benefit and adverse events. JVIR (Supplement) 24(4):S35 (#62), 4/2013.
11. Enriquez J, Javadi S, Murthy R, Ensor J, Mahvash A, Abdelsalam M, Madoff D, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R. Gastroduodenal artery recanalization after transcatheter fibered coil embolization for prevention of hepaticoenteric flow: Incidence and predisposing technical factors in 142 patients. GEST 2012 U.S. Abstracts - JVIR:577.e4, http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1051-0443/PIIS1051044312002059.pdf, 4/2012.
12. Mahvash A, Moayyad J, Shreyaah S, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Y90 radioembolization in patients with compromise of the ampulla of vater. GEST 2012 U.S. Abstracts - JVIR:577.e12, http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1051-0443/PIIS1051044312002059.pdf, 4/2012.
13. Mahvash A, Shreyaah S, Chasen B, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Balloon-catheter occlusion technique for administration of Y90 microspheres in patients with patent hepatoenteric arteries. J Vasc Inter Radiol Supplement 23(3S):S67 - S68 (#161), 3/2012.
14. Kuban JD, Philip AS, Chen GJ, Joseph Jr E, Tam AL, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Ahrar JU, Ahrar K, Murthy R, Mahvash A, McRae SE, Gupta S. Effect of needle size on pneumothorax and chest tube placement rates in CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsies performed using a coaxial method: a large single-center study. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 23(3S):S27-S28 (#60), 3/2012.
15. Abdelsalam ME, Joseph E, Tam A, Avritscher R, Gupta S, Wallace MJ. Impact of C-arm cone beam CT on subselective catheterization in patients undergoing chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 23(3S):S14 (#26), http://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(11)01681-2/fulltext, 3/2012.
16. Speer ME, Abdelsalam ME, Chasen B, Murthy R, Mahvash A, Avritscher R. The retroportal artery and other less well-known hepatoenteric pathways: moving beyond GDA and right gastric embolization. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 23(3S):S151 (#378), 3/2012.
17. Melancon M, Vykoukai J, Abdelsalam M, Zhao J, Hazle J, Wallace MJ, Li C, Bankson J, Stafford J, Avritscher R. MR imaging for SPIO-labeled adipose-derived stem cells as a theranostic approach to management of liver injury. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, 1/2012.
18. Pusztai L, Yelensky R, Wang B, Avritscher R, Symmans WF, Lipson D, Palmer GA, Moulder SL, Stephens P, Wu Y, Cronin MT. Use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect high frequency of targetable alterations in primary and metastatic breast cancer (MBC). J Clin Oncol 30(Supplement) (#10559), 2012.
19. Mahvash A, Murthy R, Avritscher R, Madoff D, Kaseb A. Yttrium-90 resin hepatic arterial radioembolotherapy as a therapeutic adjunct to sorafenib for advanced non-transplantable, non-resectable hepatocellular cancer. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 22(3):S90-S91 (#210), 3/2011.
20. Avritscher R, Wright KC, Gagea-lurascu M, Murthy R, Madoff D. Development of a large animal model for liver cirrhosis. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 21(2):S76 (#197), 2/2010.
21. Mutha P, Murthy R, Mahvash A, Madoff D, Avritscher R. Embolization for hepatic perfusion via a single arterial afferent in the presence of variant hepatic arterial anatomy. Proceeding of the World Conference on Interventional Oncology, 2010.
22. Murthy R, Wallace M, Madoff DC, Avritscher R, Mahvash A. Quantification of hepatopulmonary shunting using C-Arm CT: potential implications for Y90 microsphere radioembolotherapy program. World Conference on Interventional Oncology 2010 Annual Meeting, 2010.
23. Mutha P, Madoff D, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Extrahepatic progression of hepatic-only colorectal cancer: impact on combinatorial (systemic + local therapy) clinical trial design. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 20(2):6 (#162), 2/2009.
24. Mutha PR, Madoff DC, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Extrahepatic progression of hepatic-only metastatic colorectal cancer: impact on combinatorial (systemic + local) therapy clinical trial design. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 20(2):S63 (#162), 2/2009.
25. Vyas A, Avritscher R, Ross M, Wallace MJ. Isolated limb infusion with cytotoxic agents: a simplified approach for venous access. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 20(2):S64-S65 (#166), 2/2009.
26. Kumar K, Avritscher R, Madoff DC, Zhang X. Handheld single-cell layer optical sectioning reflectance confocal microscope for interventional imaging. Proceeding of the 29th Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics, 2009.
27. Mutha P, Madoff D, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Patterns of disease progression of colorectal cancer: a systematic review of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Tumor Registry. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Regional Cancer Therapies Conferences, 2009.
28. Mutha PR, Madoff DC, Gupta S, Avritscher R, Murthy R. Hepatic metastatic colorectal cancer patients progressing after antineoplastic therapy as an indicator for advanced disease exhibit poor response rates to Y90 hepatic radioembolotherapy. Proceeding of the 4th Annual Symposium on Liver-Directed Microsphere Therapy, 2008.
29. Avritscher R, Madoff D, Ramirez P, Hicks M. Urinary fistulae: percutaneous approaches in the management of a difficult clinical entity. Radiology 229:764, 2003.
30. Kramer LA, Avritscher R. Single shot fast spin-echo MR Imaging of focal hepatic lesions. Proc Intl Soc Mag Reson Med, 2002.

Book Chapters
1. Shaw C, Odisio BC, Avritscher R, Madoff DC. 19. Nodes and Soft Tissue Masses Involving the Retroperitoneum, Mesentery, Omentum Peritoneal Ligaments. In: Percutaneous Image-Guided Biopsy. Springer Science+Business Media: New York, NY. In Press.
2. Wallace MJ, Avritscher R. Principles liver embolization. In: Interventional Oncology: A Practical Guide for the Interventional Radiologist. Ed(s) PR Mueller, A Adam. Springer Science+Business Medica, LLC: New York, 95-106, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-4419-1468-2.
3. Avritscher R, Wallace MJ,. Principles of embolization. In: Interventional Oncology: A Practical Guide for the Interventional Radiologist. Ed(s) PR Mueller, A Adam. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC: New York, 81-86, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-4419-1468-2.
4. Nishin A, Milind B, Javle M, Avritscher R, Krishnan S, Kaseb AO. Hepatobiliary malignancies. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, 2nd. Ed(s) H Kantarjian, RA Wolff, CA Koller, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The McGraw Hill: New York, Chapter 19, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-07-170106-8.
5. Avritscher R, Wallace M. Interventional radiology for the cancer patient. In: Cancer Medicine, 8th. Ed(s) Bast R, Kufe D, Weichselbaum R, Holland J, Hong W, Hait W, Pollock R, Gansler T, Frei III D, B.C. Decker. B.C. Decker: Ontario, Canada, 490-497, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60795-014-1.
6. Madoff DC, Avritscher R. Portal vein embolization. In: Handbook of Interventional Radiology, 4th, 2010.
7. Madoff, DC; Avritscher R. Portal vein embolization prior to resection. In: Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010, e-Book 2010.
8. Brown D, Waybill P, Avritscher R. Periprocedural management of fluids, electrolytes and acid-base disturbances. In: Patient Care in Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 2nd. Society of Interventional Radiology: Fairfax, VA, 2009. ISBN: 9781928625124.

Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
1. Avritscher R, Brown D, Madoff DC. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Self Assessment Module - Portal Venous Embolization: Society of Interventional Radiology, http://www.sirweb.org/meetings/MOCintroPage.shtml, 2006.
 

Other
1. Poster. Gadani S, Huang SY, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Odisio BC. Calcium arterial stimulation venous sampling for preoperative localization of occult insulinomas. 38th Annual Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, 04/2013.
2. Poster. Odisio BC, Shreyaah S, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, Chasen B, Murthy R, Garrett C. KRAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer;is there a role for Yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolotherapy? 38th Annual Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, 04/2013.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Adjunctive Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Enhance Tumor Destruction After Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funding Source: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2012 - present
 
Title: Investigation of correlation between the lymphatic systems of upper extremity and breast using 3D CT in cadaver models.
Funding Source: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Sister Institution Network Fund (SINF)
Role: Collaborator
Principal Investigator: David Chang
Duration: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Pilot program for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in underserved communities: development and validation of prognostic markers
Funding Source: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Sister Institution Network Fund (SINF)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Marshall Hicks
Duration: 7/2011 - 7/2013
 
Title: Performance evaluation of irreversible electroporation for resection of soft tissue
Funding Source: Angiodynamics
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 10/1/2010 - 9/30/2012
 
Title: Clinically relevant large animal model for early and effective translation of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular cariconoma
Funding Source: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center G. S. Hogan Gastrointestinal Research Fund
Role: Collaborator
Principal Investigator: Rajesh Uthamanthil
Duration: 9/2010 - 8/2011
 
Title: Portal vein application of mesenchymal stem cells in a large animal model of hepatic cirrhosis: analysis of distribution, differentiation, and effect on liver function
Funding Source: SIR Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 6/1/2010 - 1/31/2012
 
Title: Transcatheter arterial ambolization for the development of a large animal hepatic fibrosis model
Funding Source: Prevent Cancer Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2009 - 6/30/2011
 
Title: Portal vein embolization: maximizing hypertrophy in a large animal model
Funding Source: Mike Hogg Fund
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009

Last updated: 5/24/2013