Stephen E. McRae, M.D.
Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
About Dr. McRae
Dr. Stephen McRae joined MD Anderson in 2003 as an Assistant Professor in the Section of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging. He was appointed Fellowship Program Director in 2007 and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. Dr. McRae came to MD Anderson Cancer Center after completing his Clinical Fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, IL. Dr. McRae’s research interests are in percutaneous nonvascular interventions and patient education/outcomes respectively.
After being appointed Director of the Interventional Radiology Fellowship Program, Dr. McRae has devoted most of his time and effort to building a prestigious program which seeks to provide a unique focus on oncologic applications, while insuring a comprehensive interventional training experience through rotation partnerships with local academic and private hospitals.
Dr. McRae continues to work closely with the interventional department house staff to promote employee and patient education through such endeavors as publication of patient education videos, leading staff education efforts, and acting as the department liaison for faculty maintenance of certification.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Interventional Radiology, 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, Interventional Radiology, 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
Research Interests
Percutaneous non-vascular interventions and patient education/outcomes
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1997 | University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, US, MD |
| 1992 | Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, US, Biology, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2002-2003 | Clinical Fellowship, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1998-2002 | Clinical Residency, Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas-Houston Medical School; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 1997-1998 | Clinical Internship, Transitional Medicine, Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2007 | Texas Medical Licensure |
| 2005 | American Board of Radiology, Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology |
| 2002 | American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology |
| 2002 | Illinois Medical Licensure |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2019
Associate Professor, Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2013
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2011
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Associate Program Director, Interventional Radiology Independent & Integrated Residency & Fellowship Programs, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2024
Education Director (Department level), Diagnostic Radiology, MD Anderson Cancer Center- Interventional Radiology, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2020
Fellowship Program Director, Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2020
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Voting Member, Credentials Committees for the Medical Staff (MD Anderson), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - Present
Member, Graduate Medical Education Finance Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - Present
Member, Graduate Medical Education Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2006 - Present
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2018. Difficult Biopsy. Conference. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2013. Breakthroughs in Imaging Tests to Better Diagnose Cancer. Conference. Panel, Prostate Health Conference. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2017. Saves and Disasters. Conference. Western Angiographic and Interventional Society. Santa Barbara, CA, US.
National Presentations
- 2018. Difficult Biopsies. Invited. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Trans-gluteal MRI-Guided Prostate Biopsy. Conference. Society of Interventional Radiology. Washingon, DC, US.
- 2017. Clinical Training in IR. Invited. Society of Interventional Radiology. Washington, DC, US.
- 2017. Saves and Disasters. Invited. Western Angiographic and Interventional Society. Santa Barbara, CA, US.
- 2012. How we do it - Get to know the work from each site. Invited. 11th Siemens Interventional MR Workshop. Boston, MA, US.
- 2012. Image-guided therapy of the prostate. Invited. National Medical Association Interventional Radiology Symposium. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2009. Real-time interventional ultrasound (Hands-on workshop). Invited. 95th Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2008. Real-time interventional ultrasound (Hands-on workshop). Invited. 94th Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
International Presentations
- 2016. Treatment Options in Lung Cancer - Moderator. Conference. Society of Interventional Radiology. Vacouver, CA.
- 2016. Case based Workshop: Difficult Biopsies. Invited. Society of Interventional Radiology. Vancouver, CA.
- 2015. Prostate Intervention. Invited. Sinethesis Italy. Roma, IT.
Formal Peers
- 2015. Prostate Intervention. Invited. Roma, Europe, IT.
- 2014. Prostate Intervention: Past, Present & Future. Invited. Scottsdale, AZ, US.
- 2014. MD Anderson Approach to the New DR/IR Combined Training Program. Invited. Phoenix, AZ, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2009 - 2011 |
| Title: | Utilization of a multimedia tool to improve communication, patient education and quality: A pilot study |
| Funding Source: | Mike Hogg Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 2010-0397 |
| Date: | 1991 - 1991 |
| Title: | Cellular and molecular biology |
| Funding Source: | NIH Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Chang JY, Mehran RJ, Feng L, Verma V, Liao Z, Welsh JW, Lin SH, O'Reilly MS, Jeter MD, Balter PA, McRae SE, Berry D, Heymach JV, Roth JA, Trials Group SLC. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for operable stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (revised STARS): long-term results of a single-arm, prospective trial with prespecified comparison to surgery. Lancet Oncol 22(10):1448-1457, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34529930.
- Gregg JR, Borregales LD, Choi H, Lozano M, McRae SE, Venkatesan AM, Davis JW, Nogueras-Gonzalez GM, Pisters LL, Ward JF. Prospective trial of regional (hockey-stick) prostate cryoablation: oncologic and quality of life outcomes. World J Urol 39(9):3259–3264, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33454813.
- Westphalen AC, McCulloch CE, Anaokar JM, Arora S, Barashi NS, Barentsz JO, Bathala TK, Bittencourt LK, Booker MT, Braxton VG, Carroll PR, Casalino DD, Chang SD, Coakley FV, Dhatt R, Eberhardt SC, Foster BR, Froemming AT, Fütterer JJ, Ganeshan DM, Gertner MR, Mankowski Gettle L, Ghai S, Gupta RT, Hahn ME, Houshyar R, Kim C, Kim CK, Lall C, Margolis DJA, McRae SE, Oto A, Parsons RB, Patel NU, Pinto PA, Polascik TJ, Spilseth B, Starcevich JB, Tammisetti VS, Taneja SS, Turkbey B, Verma S, Ward JF, Warlick CA, Weinberger AR, Yu J, Zagoria RJ, Rosenkrantz AB. Variability of the Positive Predictive Value of PI-RADS for Prostate MRI across 26 Centers: Experience of the Society of Abdominal Radiology Prostate Cancer Disease-focused Panel. Radiology 296(1):76-84, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32315265.
- Altok M, Kim B, Patel BB, Shih YT, Ward JF, McRae SE, Chapin BF, Pisters LL, Pettaway CA, Kim J, Demirel HC, Davis JW. Cost and efficacy comparison of five prostate biopsy modalities: a platform for integrating cost into novel-platform comparative research. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 21(4):524-532, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29988098.
- Gupta N, Patel A, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Ahrar J, Tam A, Odisio B, Huang S, Murthy R, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, McRae S, Sabir S, Wallace M, Matin S, Gupta S. Multiple Renal Artery Pseudoaneurysms in Patients Undergoing Renal Artery Embolization Following Partial Nephrectomy: Correlation with RENAL Nephrometry Scores. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 40(2):202-209, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27681271.
- Ahrar JU, Gupta S, Ensor JE, Mahvash A, Sabir SH, Steele JR, McRae SE, Avritscher R, Huang SY, Odisio BC, Murthy R, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, Tam AL. Efficacy of a Self-expanding Tract Sealant Device in the Reduction of Pneumothorax and Chest Tube Placement Rates After Percutaneous Lung Biopsy: A Matched Controlled Study Using Propensity Score Analysis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 40(2):270-276, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27826786.
- Abdelsalam ME, Mahvash A, Avritscher R, McRae SE, Odisio BC. Balloon-Assisted Flow Diversion and Selective Catheterization of Target Vessels for Hepatic Transarterial Embolization. J Vasc Interv Radiol 27(2):283-5, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26830942.
- Weksberg DC, Yang JN, Tam AL, Li J, Wang XA, Zhao Z, McRae SE, Settle SH, Rhines LD, Chang EL, Brown PD, Ghia AJ. Prospective validation of treatment accuracy using implanted fiducial markers for spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy. J Radiosurg SBRT 4(1):7-14, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 29296421.
- Chang JY, Senan S, Paul MA, Mehran RJ, Louie AV, Balter P, Groen HJ, McRae SE, Widder J, Feng L, van den Borne BE, Munsell MF, Hurkmans C, Berry DA, van Werkhoven E, Kresl JJ, Dingemans AM, Dawood O, Haasbeek CJ, Carpenter LS, De Jaeger K, Komaki R, Slotman BJ, Smit EF, Roth JA. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy versus lobectomy for operable stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of two randomised trials. Lancet Oncol 16(6):630-7, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25981812.
- Tsimberidou AM, Letourneau K, Fu S, Hong D, Naing A, Wheler J, Uehara C, McRae SE, Wen S, Kurzrock R. Phase I clinical trial of hepatic arterial infusion of paclitaxel in patients with advanced cancer and dominant liver involvement. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 68(1):247-53, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 20941597.
- Wallace MJ, Murthy R, Kamat PP, Moore T, Rao SH, Ensor J, Gupta S, Ahrar K, Madoff DC, McRae SE, Hicks ME. Impact of C-arm CT on hepatic arterial interventions for hepatic malignancies. J Vasc Interv Radiol 18(12):1500-7, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18057284.
- Kobayashi K, Gupta S, Trent JC, Vauthey JN, Krishnamurthy S, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, Madoff DC, Murthy R, McRae SE, Hicks ME. Hepatic artery chemoembolization for 110 gastrointestinal stromal tumors: response, survival, and prognostic factors. Cancer 107(12):2833-41, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17096432.
- Wallace MJ, Choi E, McRae S, Madoff DC, Ahrar K, Pisters P. Superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Management by endovascular stent-graft placement and transluminal thrombin injection. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 30(3):518-22, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17031732.
- Gupta S, Johnson MM, Murthy R, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, Madoff DC, McRae SE, Hicks ME, Rao S, Vauthey JN, Ajani JA, Yao JC. Hepatic arterial embolization and chemoembolization for the treatment of patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors: variables affecting response rates and survival. Cancer 104(8):1590-602, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16134179.
- Ahrar K, Himmerich JU, Herzog CE, Raymond AK, Wallace MJ, Gupta S, Madoff DC, Morello FA, Murthy R, McRae SE, Hicks ME. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy in the definitive diagnosis of osteosarcoma. J Vasc Interv Radiol 15(11):1329-33, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15525755.
- Kirk MM, Ransick A, McRae SE, Kirk DL. The relationship between cell size and cell fate in Volvox carteri. J Cell Biol 123(1):191-208, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8408198.
Abstracts
- Sabir S, Choi H, Ward J, Ahrar K, McRae SE. Transgluteal MR-guided prostate biopsy: Results of a freehand technique in a closed 1.5T MRI. J Vasc Interv Radiol 24(4S):S176, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Kuban JD, Philip AS, Chen GJ, Joseph Jr E, Tam A, 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, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Ahrar J, Gupta S, Ensor J, Ahrar K, Kumar M, Madoff DC, Wallace MJ, Murthy R, McRae S, Hicks ME. Response and survival after hepatic artery chemoembolization in patients with melanomas metastatic to the liver. J Vasc Interv Radiol 18(1):S57, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Kobayashi K, Gupta S, Wallace MJ, Ahrar K, Madoff DC, Hicks ME, Murthy R, McRae S. Preoperative transarterial embolization of hypervascular spinal tumors vascular anatomy, techniques and clinical outcomes {Abstract LL-NR4781}.In: Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting. 92nd Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Wallace MJ, Murthy R, Kamat P, Gupta S, Hicks ME, Ahrar K, Madoff DC, McRae S. C-arm CT: Oncologic experience with hepatic arterial interventions. Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Program 2006 (#SSC02-02). 92nd Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Kobayashi K, Gupta S, Trent J, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, Madoff DC, Murthy R, McRae S, Hicks ME. Hepatic artery chemoembolization in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors refractory to imatinib. J Vasc Interv Radiol(17):S77-78, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Murthy R, Gupta S, Madoff DC, Nunez RF, Yao J, Szklaruk J, Ahrar K, Wallace MJ, McRae SE, Hicks ME. Feasibility of hepatic arterial therapy with yttrium-90 microspheres, SIR-spheres, in metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasia with hepatic dominant progression after failure of multiple systemic and hepatic artery therapies. 91st Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
Book Chapters
- McRae, SE. Percutaneous Image-Guide Biopsy of the Pancreas. In: Digestive Disease Invertventions, 2018.
- Stafford RJ, McRae SE, Ahrar K. MRI-Guided Prostate Biopsy. In: Percutaneous Image Guided Biopsy. Springer Science+Business Media, 2013.
- Wallace MJ, McRae SE. Interventional radiology in the management of postoperative complications. In: Pancreatic Cancer. Jones and Bartlett, 345-355, 2005.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026