Salmaan Ahmed, M.D.
Department of Neuroradiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. Ahmed
Salmaan Ahmed MD joined the MD Anderson faculty in 2007 after completing residency at the Baylor College of Medicine and Neuroradiology Fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute.
Since that time, Dr. Ahmed has over 30 presentations at national meetings, and has published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology and other peer reviewed journals. He is actively involved in several clinical research protocols for the treatment of head and neck cancers and brain tumors.
Dr. Ahmed’s clinical interests include thyroid nodule evaluation and thyroid cancer, with a focus on minimally invasive image-guided procedures. He has instructed workshops in Neck Ultrasound and Biopsy at the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology Meeting and at other conferences.
Dr. Ahmed is actively involved in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, and routinely lectures within and outside of MD Anderson. He is also a reviewer for several national journals.
Research Interests
Thyroid Cancer Head and Neck imaging
Clinical Interests
Thyroid nodule evaluation Thyroid cancer Ultrasound-guided biopsy Post-treatment imaging in Head and Neck cancer
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
2001 | University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA, MD, Medicine |
1996 | University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, BS, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics |
Postgraduate Training
2006-2007 | Clinical Fellowship, Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ |
2002-2006 | Clinical Residency, Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
2001-2002 | Clinical Internship, Transitional Internship Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
Board Certifications
2009 | Certificate of Added Qualification in Neuroradiology (American Board of Radiology) |
2006 | American Board of Radiology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Neuroradiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2022
Associate Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2019
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Division of Diagnostic Imaging Strategic Plan Functional Committee, 2014 - 2017
Co-Champion for Patient Access, Diagnostic Imaging Strategic Plan Committee, 2014 - 2017
Neuroradiology Representative, Maintenance of Certification Diagnostic Imaging Faculty Functional Committee, 2013 - 2016
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Narang S, Kim D, Aithala S, Heimberger AB, Ahmed S, Rao D, Rao G, Rao A. Tumor image-derived texture features are associated with CD3 T-cell infiltration status in glioblastoma. Oncotarget 8(60):101244-101254, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29254160.
- Kumar VA, Esmaeli B, Ahmed S, Gogia B, Debnam JM, Ginsberg LE. Imaging features of malignant lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct tumors. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27418476.
- Garden AS, Gunn GB, Hessel A, Beadle BM, Ahmed S, El-Naggar AK, Fuller CD, Byers LA, Phan J, Frank SJ, Morrison WH, Kies MS, Rosenthal DI, Sturgis EM. Management of the lymph node-positive neck in the patient with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer 120(19):3082-8, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24898672.
- Ahmed S, Gupta N, Hamilton JD, Garden AS, Gidley PW, Ginsberg LE. CT findings in temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 38(5):662-6, 2014. PMID: 24834883.
- Ahmed S, Hamilton J, Colen R, Schellingerhout D, Vu T, Rao G, McAleer MF, Mahajan A. Change in postsurgical cavity size within the first 30 days correlates with extent of surrounding edema: consequences for postoperative radiosurgery. J Comput Assist Tomogr 38(3):457-60, 2014. PMID: 24681852.
- Pickering CR, Shah K, Ahmed S, Rao A, Frederick MJ, Zhang J, Unruh AK, Wang J, Ginsberg LE, Kumar AJ, Myers JN, Hamilton JD. CT imaging correlates of genomic expression for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 34(9):1818-1822, 2013. PMID: 23764725.
- Hamilton JD, Ahmed S, Sandulache VC, Daram SP, Ow TJ, Skinner HD, Rao A, Ginsberg LE, Kumar AJ, Myers JN. Improving imaging diagnosis of persistent nodal metastases after definitive therapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma: specific signs for CT and best performance of combined criteria. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 34(8):1637-42, 2013. PMID: 23471023.
- Lee S, Skelton TS, Zheng F, Schwartz KA, Perrier ND, Lee JE, Bassett RL, Ahmed S, Krishnamurthy S, Busaidy NL, Grubbs EG. The biopsy proven benign thyroid nodule: is long-term follow-up necessary?. J Am Coll Surg 217(1):81-8; discussion 88-9, 2013. PMID: 23659946.
- Walker GV, Ahmed S, Allen P, Gidley PW, Woo SY, DeMonte F, Chang EL, Mahajan A. Radiation-induced middle ear and mastoid opacification in skull base tumors treated with radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 81(5):e819-823, 2011. PMID: 21277110.
- Vu TH, Guha-Thakurta N, Harrell RK, Ahmed S, Kumar AJ, Johnson VE, Perrier ND, Hamberg LM, Hunter GJ, Schellingerhout D. Imaging characteristics of hyperfunctioning parathyroid adenomas using multiphase multidetector computed tomography: a quantitative and qualitative approach. J Comput Assist Tomogr 35(5):560-567, 2011. PMID: 21926850.
- Ahmed S, Shellock FG. Magnetic resonance imaging safety: implications for cardiovascular patients. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 3(3):171-182, 2001. PMID: 11816614.
Abstracts
- Rao G, Li J, McAleer MF, McGovern S, Ghia AJ, Sulman EP, Brown P, Ferguson SD, Heimberger AB, Lang FF, McCutcheon IE, Prabhu S, Sawaya R, Weinberg J, Ahmed S, Luo D. Pattern of failure after resection followed by gamma knife radiosurgery to the surgical cavity. ISRS Congress 2017, 2017.
- R Khan, J Chokr, G Choudhary, B Winegar, Ahmed S. The other sinus cancers: a tour of the tumors not named squamous cell. American Society of Neuroradiology, 2017.
- Mahajan A, Ahmed S, Li J, McAleer MF, Weinberg J, Brown PD, Prabhu S, Lang FF, McGovern SL, McCutcheon IE, Heimberger A, Sulman EP, Ghia AJ, Ferguson S, Hess K, Rao G. Post-operative stereotactic radiosurgery vs. observation for completely resected brain metastases: results of a prospective randomized study. Society for NeuroOncology 21st Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2016.
- Johnson J, Gule-Monroe MK, Kwon M, Ahmed S, Masood AZ, Weber RS, Edeiken BS. Accuracy of ultrasound-guided 18-gauge fine-needle aspiration in the detection of persistent lymph node metastasis after chemoradiation. Western Neuroradiological Society 48th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2016.
- Mahajan A, Ahmed S, Li J, McAleer MF, Weinberg J, Brown PD, Prabhu S, Lang FF, McGovern SL, McCutcheon IE, Heimberger A, Sulman EP, Ghia AJ, Ferguson S, Hess K, Rao G. Post-operative stereotactic radiosurgery vs. observation for completely resected brain metastases: results of a prospective randomized study. 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Proceedings, 2016.
- Rao G, Ahmed S, Hess K, Mahajan A. Post-operative stereotactic radiosurgery vs. observation for completely resected brain metastases: results of a prospective randomized study. Neurosurgery 96(2):S2, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Ahmed S Ghazarian M, Vu T, Cabanillas M, Debnam M, Chasen N. Imaging of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. American Society of Neuroradiology 54th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2016.
- Ahmed S, Ghazarian M, Vu T, Cabanillas M, Debnam M. Imaging of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. The American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting (#1521), 2016.
- Vu T, Chasen N, Bezerra R, Chavali L, Kwon M, Ahmed S, Kumar A, Perrier N. Atlas-guided 4DCT detection and classification of parathyroid adenomas. American Society of Neuroradiology 53rd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2015.
- Shah K, Ahmed S, Cabanillas M, Dadu R, Pitteloud M, Waguespack S. Imaging findings of cancer immunotherapy induced hypophysitis. American Society of Neuroradiology 53rd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2015.
- Debnam M, Edeiken-Monroe B, Garg N, Ahmed S. Is vascular flow a valid ultrasound characteristic to distinguish thyroid nodules as benign or malignant?. American Society of Neuroradiology 53rd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2015.
- Ahmed S, Ghazarian M, Debnam M, Vu T, Clayman G. Imaging of differentiated thyroid cancer: pre-surgical planning, evaluation of locally aggressive disease, and intra-operative ultrasound. American Society of Neuroradiology 53rd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2015.
- Ahmed S, Elamir H, Williams M, Edeiken-Monroe B, Debnam M. Needle in a haystack: diagnosing metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with concurrent cervical nodal involvement by lymphoma. American Society of Head & Neck Radiology 48th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2014.
- Alsarraf L, Kumar VA, Zafereo M, Ahmed S, Ginsberg L. Laryngeal amyloidosis: unique imaging features. American Society of Head & Neck Radiology 48th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2014.
- Dunaway D, Gidley P, Brown P, Ginsberg L, Ahmed S. Perineural spread of adenoid cystic carcinoma mimicking a cavernous sinus meningioma. American Society of Neuroradiology 52nd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2014.
- Ahmed S, Parrada Orego S, Elamir H, Williams M. Coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma and primary thyroid large cell lymphoma. American Society of Neuroradiology 52nd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2014.
- Ahmed S, Elamir H, Williams M, Edeiken-Monroe B, Debnam M. Needle in a haystack: diagnosing metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with concurrent cervical nodal involvement by lymphoma. American Society of Neuroradiology 52nd Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2014.
- Debnam JM, Kumar S, Ahmed S, Edeiken-Monroe BS, Fornage BD. US appearances of nodal recurrences from papillary thyroid cancer in the lateral compartments of the neck. French Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SFAUMB) 2013 Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Ahmed S, Parada-Orrego S, Grubbs E, Williams M. Unusual case of coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma and primary thyroid large cell lymphoma. 2nd World Congress on Thyroid Cancer International Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Debnam M; Ahmed S; Edeiken B; Fornage B. Ultrasound appearances of nodal recurrences from papillary thyroid cancer in the lateral compartments of the neck. American Society of Head & Neck Radiology 47th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Ahmed S; Parrada S; Grubbs EG; Williams M. Coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and primary thyroid large cell lymphoma. American Society of Head & Neck Radiology 47th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Ahmed S, Gupta N, Hamilton J, Garden A, Gidley P, Ginsberg LE. CT findings for diagnosis and complications of temporal bone osteoradionecrosis. American Society of Neuroradiology 51st Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Ahmed S, Jones J, Steele J, Sandulache VC, Ow TJ, Skinner HD, Rao A, Ginsberg LE, Kumar AJ, Myers JN, Hamilton JD. Estimates of clinical cost savings for new, better performing criteria for diagnosis of persistent nodal metastases after treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma. American Society of Neuroradiology 51st Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2013.
- Hamilton JD, Sandulache VC, Ahmed S, Daram SP, Ow TJ, Skinner H, Ginsberg LE, Myers JN. What are the most specific CT markers for residual nodal disease after non-surgical treatment for oropharyngeal cancer?. American Society of Neuroradiology 50th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2012.
- Ahmed S, Hamilton JD, Schellingerhout D, Vu T, Rao G, McAleer MF, Mahajan A. Post-operative surgical cavity size change is predicted by surrounding vasogenic edema. American Society of Neuroradiology 50th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2012.
- Lee S, Skelton T, Zheng F, Schwartz K, Perrier N, Lee JE, Bassett R, Ahmed S, Krishnamurthy S, Busaidy N, Grubbs E. The biopsy proven benign thyroid nodule: is long-term follow up necessary?. Western Surgical Association Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2012.
- Guha-Thakurta N, Brightmon T, George A, Ahmed S, Iyer RK, Steele J. Increasing scheduling efficiency of ultrasound guided biopsies in neurointerventional radiology. University of Texas System Clinical Safety and Effectiveness Conference Proceedings, 2012.
- Kumar VA, Esmaeli B, Ahmed S, Ginsberg LE. Imaging features of lacrimal apparatus tumors. American Society of Head and Neck Radiology 45th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2011.
- Ahmed S, Holsinger F, Kumar VA, Hutcheson K, Lewin J, Moore M, Ginsberg LE. CT findings following transoral laser microsurgery for recurrent glottic squamous cell carcinoma. American Society of Head and Neck Radiology 45th Annual Meeting Proceedings:289, 2011.
- Kumar VA, Esmaeli B, Ahmed S, Ginsberg LE. Imaging features of lacrimal apparatus tumors. American Society of Neuroradiology 49th Annual Meeting Proceedings:568, 2011.
- Ahmed S, Ginsberg LE, Kumar VA, Moore MW, Hutcheson K, Lewin JS, Holsinger FC. CT findings following transoral laser microsurgery for recurrent glottic squamous cell carcinoma. American Society of Neuroradiology 49th Annual Meeting Proceedings:294, 2011.
- Ahmed S, Khawja S, Vu T, Shah K, Sturgis E, Stewart J, Ginsberg LE. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is useful in the evaluation of post-radiated lymph nodes in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. American Roentgen Ray Society 111th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2011.
- Ahmed S, Rao G, Cahill DP, Reasonda LG, McAleer MF, Mahajan A. Changes in post-operative surgical cavity size: the effect of surrounding edema. American Radium Society Meeting Proceedings, 2011.
- Vu T, Busaidy N, Guha-Thakurta N, Ahmed S, Grubbs E, Urbauer D, Landry C, Kim E, Schellingerhout D, Perrier ND. Primary hyperparathyroidism: comparison of 4D CT versus sestmibi-SPECT/CT for parathyroid adenoma localization. American Society of Head and Neck Radiology 44th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2010.
- Ahmed S, Khawja S, Vu T, Shah K, Liu P, Sturgis E, Stewart J, Ginsberg LE. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is useful in the evaluation of post-radiated lymph nodes in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. American Society of Head and Neck Radiology 43rd Annual Meeting Program, 2009.
- Walker GV, Ahmed S, Gidley P, Woo SY, DeMonte F, Chang E, Mahajan A. Radiation-induced middle ear and mastoid opacification in skull base tumors. North American Skull Base Society Program Proceedings, 2009.
- Vu TH, Ahmed S, Perrier ND, Guha-Thakurta N, Kumar AJ, Hamberg LM, Hunter GJ. Assessment of hyperfunctioning parathyroid adenomas using multiphase multidetector CT. American Society of Neuroradiology 47th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2009.
Book Chapters
- Johnson JM, Gule-Monroe MK, Kwon M, Ahmed S, Schellingerhout D, Kumar V, Edeiken-Monroe BS, Debnam JM. Pattern recognition of benign and malignant thyroid nodules: ultrasound characteristics and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules. In: Advanced Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound. Springer International Publishing, 179-194, 2017.