Alda L. Tam, M.D., M.B.A., F.R.C.P.C., F.S.I.R.
Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Tam
Dr. Alda Tam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Tam earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Brown University, medical degree from the University of British Columbia, and masters in business administration from the University of California, Irvine. She completed her radiology residency at the University of Southern California, interventional radiology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and subsequently joined the faculty in 2006. She is certified by the American Board of Radiology, and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Interventional Radiology.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Dr. Alda Tam's current research endeavors in clinical research are related to determining strategies for optimizing image-guided biopsy in the age of genomic medicine. Her translational research efforts focus on evaluating the use of novel technologies such as irreversible electroporation and nanoparticles to treat liver and skeletal metastases, as well as developing computational tools to guide and personalize ablative therapy.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Tam maintains an active clinical practice with a special interest in using embolization and ablation therapy to provide locoregional therapy to hepatic, bone, and lung tumors. She is involved in clinical trials, both as a principal investigator for evaluating minimally invasive therapeutic techniques as well as being a key collaborator for tissue acquisition for several Moon Shot initiatives.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2004 | University of California, Irvine, CA, USA, MBA, Business Administration |
| 2000 | University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CAN, MD, Medicine |
| 1996 | Brown University, Providence, RI, USA, BS, Neuroscience |
Postgraduate Training
| 2005-2006 | Clinical Fellowship, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2004-2005 | Clinical Fellowship, Neuroradiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2001-2005 | Clinical Residency, Diagnostic Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2000-2001 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA |
Board Certifications
| 2007 | American Board of Radiology, Certificate of Added Qualification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology |
| 2005 | Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Diagnostic Radiology |
| 2005 | American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2013
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2006 - 2013
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Clinical Medical Director, Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2018
IR Research Seminar Series Chair, Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2015
Director of Clinical Research, Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2015
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Strategic Assessment of Clinical Programs Steering Committee, 2011 - 2012
Member, Clinical Revenues Cycle Committee, 2009 - 2011
Honors & Awards
| 2017 | Women Physicians Section Inspirational Physicians Recognition Program Honoree, American Medical Association |
| 2017 | Distinguished Faculty mentoring Award Nominee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2016 | Fellow, Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) |
| 2013 | Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Award Nominee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1999 | P. Gerald Marra Scholarship, University of British Columbia |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Tam AL, Melancon MP, Ensor J, Liu Y, Dixon K, McWatters A, Gupta S. Rabbit hepatic arterial anatomy variations: Implications on experimental design. Acta Radiol 55(10):1226-33, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24292899.
- Tam AL, Abdelsalam ME, Gagea M, Ensor JE, Moussa M, Ahmed M, Goldberg SN, Dixon K, McWatters A, Miller JJ, Srimathveeravalli G, Solomon SB, Avritscher R, Wallace MJ, Gupta S. Irreversible electroporation of the lumbar vertebrae in a porcine model: Is there clinical-pathologic evidence of neural toxicity?. Radiology 272(3):709-719, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24766034.
- Sabir SH, Armstrong R, Elting LS, Wallace MJ, Gupta S, Tam AL. Early initiation of enteral feeding in cancer patients after outpatient percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided gastrostomy catheter placement. J Vasc Interv Radiol 25(4):618-22, 2014. PMID: 24674218.
- Philip A, Gupta S, Ahrar K, Tam AL. A spectrum of nerve injury after thermal ablation: A report of four cases and review of the literature. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 36(5):1427-1435, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23070103.
- Shaw C, Bassett RL, Fox PS, Schmeler KM, Overman MJ, Wallace MJ, Gupta S, Tam A. Palliative venting gastrostomy in patients with malignant bowel obstruction and ascites. Ann Surg Oncol 20(2):497-505, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22965572.
- Overman MJ, Modak J, Kopetz S, Murthy R, Yao JC, Hicks ME, Abbruzzese JL, Tam AL. Use of research biopsies in clinical trials: are risks and benefits adequately discussed?. J Clin Oncol 31(1):17-22, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23129736.
- Kobayashi K, Ozkan E, Tam A, Ensor J, Wallace MJ, Gupta S. Preoperative embolization of spinal tumors: variables affecting intraoperative blood loss after embolization. Acta Radiol 53(8):935-42, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22927661.
- 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):1233-9, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22227794.
- Tam A, Singh P, Ensor JE, Carter K, Hicks ME, Wallace MJ, Gupta S. Air travel following biopsy related pneumothorax: Is it safe to fly?. J Vasc Interv Radiol 22(5):595-602, 2011.
- Ahrar J, Gupta S, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Madoff DC, Wallace MJ, Murthy R, Tam A, Hwu P, Bedikian AY. Response, survival and prognostic factors after hepatic arterial chemoembolization in patients with liver metastases from cutaneous melanoma. Cancer Invest 29(1):49-55, 2011. PMID: 21166498.
- Gupta S, Bedikian AY, Ahrar J, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Madoff DC, Wallace MJ, Murthy R, Tam A, Hwu P. Hepatic artery chemoembolization in patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver: response, survival, and prognostic factors. Am J Clin Oncol 33(5):474-80, 2010. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19935383.
- Tam AL, Mohamed A, Pfister M, Chinndurai P, Rohm E, Hall AF, Wallace MJ. C-Arm Cone Beam Computed Tomography Needle Path Overlay for Fluoroscopic Guided Vertebroplasty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 35(10):1095-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20139803.
- 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):1974-80, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20151422.
- Singal AK, Dekovich AA, Tam AL, Wallace MJ. Percutaneous transesophageal gastrostomy tube placement: An alternative to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with intra-abdominal metastasis. Gastrointest Endosc 71(2):402-406, 2010. PMID: 20152318.
- Tam A, Ensor JE, Snyder H, Gupta S, Durand JB, Wallace MJ. Image-guided drainage of pericardial effusions in oncology patients. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 32(6):1217-1226, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19472002.
- Tam A, Mohamed A, Pfister M, Rohm E, Wallace MJ. C-arm cone beam computed tomographic needle path overlay for fluoroscopic-guided placement of translumbar central venous catheters. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 32(4):820-824, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19123029.
- Wang GR, Ensor JE, Gupta S, Hicks ME, Tam AL. Bronchial artery embolization for the management of hemoptysis in oncology patients: Utility and prognostic factors. J Vasc Interv Radiol 20(6):722-729, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19406667.
- Tam A, Wagner-Bartak NA, Wallace MJ, Murthy R. Liver abscess after inadvertent transhepatic transgression during percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided gastrostomy. Clin Radiol 63(6):731-735, 2008. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18455567.
- Tam A, Krishnamurthy S, Pillsbury EP, Ensor JE, Gupta S, Murthy R, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, Hicks ME, Madoff DC. Percutaneous image-guided splenic biopsy in the oncology patient: an audit of 156 consecutive cases. J Vasc Interv Radiol 19(1):80-87, 2008. PMID: 18192471.
- Marx MV, Tam A, Teitelbaum G. SIR 2005 annual meeting film panel case: traumatic pericallosal pseudoaneurysm. J Vasc Interv Radiol 16(5):631-644, 2005. PMID: 15872316.
- Ziemann U, Tam A, Bütefisch C, Cohen LG. Dual modulating effects of amphetamine on neuronal excitability and stimulation-induced plasticity in human motor cortex. Clin Neurophysiol 113(8):1308-15, 2002. PMID: 12140012.
- Tam AL, Camberos A, Applebaum H. Surgical decision making in necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation: predictive value of radiologic findings. J Pediatr Surg 37(12):1688-1691, 2002. PMID: 12483631.
- Chen R, Tam A, Bütefisch C, Corwell B, Ziemann U, Rothwell JC, Cohen LG. Intracortical inhibition and facilitation in different representations of the human motor cortex. J Neurophysiol 80(6):2870-2881, 1998. PMID: 9862891.
Invited Articles
- Nazario J, Hernandez J, Tam AL. Thermal ablation of painful bone metastases. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 14(3):150-159, 2011. PMID: 21767782.
- Nazario J, Tam AL. Ablation of bone metastases. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 20(2):335-368, 2011. PMID: 21377588.
- Casal RF, Tam AL, Eapen GA. Radiofrequency ablation of lung tumors. Clin Chest Med 31(1):151-163, 2010. PMID: 20172441.
- Tam A, Ahrar K. Palliative interventions for pain in cancer patients. Semin Intervent Radiol 24(4):419-429, 2007. PMID: 21326594.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Tam AL. Society of Interventional Radiology 34th Annual Scientific Meeting Workshop Book: Portal Vein Embolization, 2009.
Other Articles
- Tam A Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths, Introduction. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 14(3):150-159, 2011. PMID: 21767776.
Abstracts
- Abdelsalam ME, Chetta JA, Harmoush S, Ensor J, Javadi S, Dixon K, McWatters A, Wallace MJ, Tam A, Avritscher R. CT findings after irreversible electroporation ablation in a porcine model: radiologic-pathologic correlation. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 24(4S):S161, 2013.
- Abdelsalam ME, Chetta JA, Harmoush S, Ensor J, Baugh A, Dixon K, McWatters A, Wallace MJ, Tam A, Avritscher R. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) in cirrhotic liver: preliminary experience in a large animal model. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 24(4S):S46, 2013.
- Abdelsalam ME, Mihai GI, Ensor J, Dixon K, McWatters A, Miller JJ, Avritscher R, Gupta S, Wallace MJ, Tam A. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation of the lumbar vertebrae in a porcine model: A correlation of clinical, radiologic and pathologic findings. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 24(4S):S32, 2013.
- Black B, Jones A, Bassett R, Wallace M, Tam A, Gupta S, Steele J. SU-E-J-37: Radiation dose during chemoembolization: A predictive model. Med Phys 39(6):3660, 2012.
- Kuban JD, Philip AS, Chen GJ, Joseph Jr E, Tam A, Wallace MJ, Avritscher R, Ahrar JU, Ahrar K, Murthy R, Mahvash A, McRae S, 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 Interv Vasc Radiol 23(3S):S27, 2012.
- 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 23(3S):S14, 2012.
- Odisio BC, Tam A, Avritscher R, Gupta S, Wallace MJ. CT-guided adrenal biopsy: Comparison of ipsilateral decubitus versus prone patient positioning for biopsy approach. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 22(3S):S13, 2011.
- Tam AL, Ensor J, Ninan EP, Kaseb A, George M, Ready A, Narvaez A, Gupta S, Wallace MJ. Quality improvement initiative for patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Radiological Society of North America 96th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, 2010.
- Bryant KW, Tam A, Kumar R, Fanning T. Utility of CT guided bone biopsy in lesions without structural abnormality. J Vasc Interv Radiol Supplement 21(2S):S89, 2010.
- Tam AL, Gupta S, Dekovich A, Wallace MJ. Percutaneous fluoroscopic-guided gastrostomy placement in patients with ascites. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Program Book:586, 2009.
- Tam AL, Kim ES, Stewart D, Herbst RS, Wistuba I, Hicks ME. Safety and adequacy of image-guided small caliber core needle transthoracic biopsies for evaluation of multiple molecular biomarkers in clinical trials. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Program Book:625, 2009.
- Tam A, Kim ES, Herbst R, Wistuba II, Lee JJ, Alden C, Tsao A, Blumenschein G, Erasmus J, Hicks ME, Hong WK, Gupta S. Personalized lung cancer therapy: safety and adequacy of image-guided small-caliber core needle biopsy for evaluation of multiple molecular biomarkers. J Thorac Oncol 4(9):S338-S339, 2009.
- Wallace MJ, Tammineedi S, Krishnamurthy, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Gupta S, Tam A, Hicks M.. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of pulmonary hilar lesions (Oral Presentation). Radiological Society of North America 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Book, 2008.
- Tam AL, Taboada J, Synder H, Gupta S, Durand J, Wallace MJ. Image-guided drainage of pericardial effusion in oncology patients. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Program Book, 2008.
- Tam AL, Gupta S, Singh P, Synder H, Carter K, Hicks ME. Assessing the safety of air travel following lung biopsy: Interim analysis. Radiological Society of North America 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Book, 2008.
- Murthy R, Oh Y, Tam AL, Gupta S, Madoff DC, Glisson B. Yttrium-90 microsphere treatment for liver dominant hepatic metastases from lung cancer. J Clin Oncology, 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings Part 1 (June 20 Supplement) 2006:17122 24(18S), 2006.
- Tam AL. Surgical decision making in necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation: Predictive value of radiologic findings (Oral Presentation). Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons, 2002.
Book Chapters
- Tam AL. Adrenal Gland Biopsy. In: Percutaneous Image-Guided Biopsy. Springer, 213-225, 2014.
- Tam AL. Spleen Biopsy. In: Percutaneous Image-Guided Biopsy. Springer: New York, 207-212, 2014.
- Tam AL. Mediastinal Biopsy. In: Gervais DA ed. Interventional Radiology Procedures in Biopsy and Drainage. Springer, 2010.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Developing an electroporation and nanoparticle-based therapeutic platform for bone metastases: evaluation of local delivery strategies to optimize intratumoral nanoparticle uptake |
| Funding Source: | Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Visual and functional characterization of nanopore formation after irreversible electroporation in the porcine vertebral body |
| Funding Source: | Society of Interventional Radiology |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A phase IV post approval clinical study of ExAblate treatment of metastatic bone tumors for the palliation of pain |
| Funding Source: | DICRC and Insightec |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Feasibility of using IRE in the treatment of osteomyelitis |
| Funding Source: | AngioDynamics |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Automated detection of arterial supply to enhance transarterial tumor therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Low Cost Nanoparticle Platform for Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases |
| Funding Source: | Canadian Radiological Foundation |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | IRE of spinal metastases in a large animal model |
| Funding Source: | AngioDynamics |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Transportal Irinotecan Chemoembolization using a Lipiodol Nano-emulsion (TICL) for the Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases in Rat |
| Funding Source: | Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) |
| Role: | Scientific Advisor |
| Title: | Transportal IRI chemoembolization (TICL) |
| Funding Source: | Guerbet LLC |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Support of Interventional Radiology (IR) in the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN), supplemental grant to Southwest Early Clinical Trials Consortium |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Southwest Early Clinical Trials Consortium |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Feasibility Study of Anatomical Modeling for Image Guided Thoracic Surgery |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Collaborator |