Chitra Viswanathan, M.D.
Department of Abdominal Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Viswanathan
Dr. Chitra Viswanathan earned her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from MIT in 1995 and went on to earn her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX in 2000. She completed her Fellowship in Body Imaging at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2006 and subsequently was offered and accepted a position as Assistant Professor in the Division of Diagnostic Imaging.
Dr. Viswanathan's main clinical interest is thoracic imaging working across imaging modalities. She is active in numerous professional organizations and contributes significantly to the education, training, and mentoring of medical students, residents, and fellows that rotate through the Department of Diagnostic Radiology.
In her career as an academic radiologist, Dr. Viswanathan has collaboratively authored and/or co-authored over 32 peer-reviewed articles, two invited articles, one case report, five published book chapters and several abstracts. Additionally, she has co-authored a book chapter on oncologic imaging which was published in 2011.
In September of 2012, s he was promoted to Associate Professor.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Abdominal Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Department of Abdominal Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
Board Certifications
| 2005 | American Board of Radiology |
Experience & Service
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Member, Peritoneal Conference Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Small Bowel Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Lymphoma/Leukemia Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Rectal Cancer Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Adrenal Cancer Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Appendiceal Cancer Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Member, Body Imaging Informatics Research Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - Present
Radiologist, Singleton Associates, Houston, TX, 2004 - 2005
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, 2012 - Present
Honors & Awards
| Introduction to Research, American Roentgen Ray Society | |
| Honorary Medical Physicist, Baylor College of Medicine | |
| Naresh Prasad Award for Academic Excellence in Physics, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Radiology | |
| Certificate of Merit, Radiological Society of North America | |
| I Am MD Anderson - Service Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Magna Cum Laude, Scientific Exhibit, Update in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodule: solid and subsolid lesions, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit Award, Anatomy of pericardial recesses on CT: implications for oncologic imaging, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Cum Laude, Education Exhibit, Thoracic tumor ablation: review of anatomic considerations and adjunctive techniques, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Cum Laude, Education Exhibit, Hemoptysis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT): A single symptom, many mechanisms, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit, Changes in pelvic anatomy following pelvic exenteration, imaging findings pelvic exenteration for pelvic malignancies: a systematic review, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit Award, Pitfalls in the interpretation of PET/CT findings in the chest, The 3rd World Congress of Thoracic Imaging | |
| Cum Laude, Poster Presentation, Pitfalls in the interpretation of PET/CT findings in the chest, Society of Thoracic Radiology | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit, Tumor markers: myths and facts unfolded, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit, Challenges in interpretation of staging PET / CT in thoracic malignancies, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Cum Laude, Poster Presentation, Tumor markers: myths and facts unfolded, Society of Abdominal Radiology | |
| Certificate of Merit, Education Exhibit, The many faces of leukemia in the thorax, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Digital Education Exhibit, Lessons from thoracic oncologic multidisciplinary conference: what the radiologist needs to know, Radiological Society of North America | |
| Certificate of Merit, Educational Exhibit, TNM 8th edition in the staging of lung adenocarcinoma spectrum: what the radiologist needs to know, Radiological Society of North America |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Viswanathan C. Case review teaching database on thymic malignancies. International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group (ITMIG).
Book Chapters
- Viswanathan C, Ganeshan D, Iyer RB. Complications in the oncologic patient: Abdomen and pelvis. In: Oncologic Imaging: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2nd. Elsevier, 352-369, 2022.
- Ganeshan D, Viswanathan C, Sagebiel T. Primary adrenal malignancy. In: Oncologic Imaging: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2nd. Elsevier, 352-369, 2022.
- Viswanathan C, Duran C. Principles of body imaging in cancer. In: Cancer rehabilitation: principles and practice. 2nd. Springer Publishing Company, 110-122, 2018.
- Ballester-Ortiz G, Marcal LP, Viswanathan C, Szklaruk J. Computer tomography. In: Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2nd. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 167-200, 2014.
- Viswanathan C, Iyer RB. Complications in the oncologic patient: Abdomen and pelvis. In: Oncologic Imaging: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 1st. Elsevier, 693-705, 2012.
- Sagebiel T, Viswanathan C. Primary adrenal malignancy. In: Oncologic Imaging: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 1st. Elsevier, 359-376, 2012.
- Viswanathan C, Truong MT. CT scans: Brain, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. In: Cardiothoracic Surgery Review. None. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 893-895, 2011.
- Marcal LP, Viswanathan C, Szklaruk J. Computed tomography. In: Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Cancer: Diagnosis & Therapy. None. Demos Medical Publishing, 141-168, 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified January 08, 2025