Gregory J Woodhead
- Assistant Professor, Medical Imaging
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 626-7402
- AHSC, Rm. 1343
- Tucson, AZ 85724
- gregorywoodhead@arizona.edu
Biography
As an Interventional and Thoracic radiologist, I strive for: (1) Excellence in patient care via development of superior procedural skills and clinical imaging, (2) Excellence in teaching for medical student, resident, and fellow education, and (3) Excellence in translational research, in order to drive innovation and implement novel technologies/therapies into clinical practice. Prior to radiology residency and fellowship training, I completed the dual degree M.D., Ph.D. Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University School of Medicine. My Ph.D. research focused on the role of β-catenin signaling in the regulation of cell proliferation during development and tumorigenesis. In collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona, we are working on the development of novel nanoparticle based therapeutics to facilitate targeted tissue thermal ablation and intracellular delivery of chemotherapy. I endeavor to combine my interests in Interventional Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Molecular Imaging. In particular, I strive to play an active role in developing novel treatment strategies and potential therapeutics in the field of Interventional Oncology.
Degrees
- M.D. Sections of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Thoracic Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL IMAGING
- B.A. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Ph.D. Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) M.D., Ph.D.
- PhD Thesis: “β-Catenin-Mediated Signaling & Adhesion Regulate Cortical Progenitor Development.”Awarded NIH Pre-doctoral NRSA Fellowship: “β-Catenin/TCF Signaling in Neural Cell Production & Fate.”
Work Experience
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (2016 - Ongoing)
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (2016 - Ongoing)
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (2016 - Ongoing)
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (2016 - Ongoing)
Awards
- Best ‘Ethics in Society’ Undergraduate Honors Thesis,” Stanford University
- Summer 1998
- Resident Teaching Award”
- University of Arizona Medical Center, Department of Medical Imaging, Summer 2015
- University of Arizona College of Medicine GME “2014 Resident Excellence and Leadership Scholarship
- University of Arizona College of Medicine GME “2014 Resident Excellence and Leadership Scholarship, Spring 2015
- Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Introduction to Academic Radiology Program
- RSNA, Summer 2014
- Resident Teaching Award
- Summer 2014
- Morton Heller Award for Exemplary Research” by Northwestern University MSTP
- Summer 2009
- Student Research Highlight” nomination by The Graduate School of Northwestern University
- Spring 2007
- Best Poster Presentation” Northwestern University MSTP Annual Retreat
- Summer 2006
- The Katten Muchin Rosenman Travel Scholarship” Northwestern Center for Genetic Medicine
- Summer 2006
- Best Scientific Presentation” Northwestern University MSTP Annual Retreat
- Fall 2004
Licensure & Certification
- Arizona State Medical License (2016)
- Medical License Indiana (1998)
- Cross Discipline Therapy In- Service (2016)
- Controlled Substance Certificate (2016)
- ACLS Certification (2016)
- PLA (2016)
Interests
Teaching
Real-Time Optical Biopsy for Improved Lung Cancer Diagnosis; Development of a Novel Nano-particle Agents to achieve Micro-anatomical Ablation and Intracellular Delivery of Chemotherapy; Development of Novel High-Payload Tissue Biopsy Device; MRI Tissue Characterization following Percutaneous Ablation of Tumors
Research
Novel ablation techniques in Interventional Radiology; Interventions for Thoracic Malignancy; MRI Tissue Characterization following Percutaneous Ablation of Tumors
Courses
2024-25 Courses
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Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850G (Spring 2025) -
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850G (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850G (Spring 2024) -
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Spring 2023) -
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Spring 2022) -
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
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Diagnostic Radiology
RADI 850A (Spring 2021) -
Vascular Interventional Radi
RADI 850R (Spring 2021)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Woodhead, G. J. (2019). Tubes, Lines, & Drains” Pocketbook of Clinical IR. A Concise Guide to Interventional Radiology 1st Edition, Thieme
Journals/Publications
- Brunson, C. P., McGregor, H. J., Hennemeyer, C. T., Patel, M. V., Woodhead, G. J., & Young, S. J. (2024). Measurement of the Tumor-to-Normal Ratio for Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study Comparing 2-Dimensional Perfusion Angiography, Technetium-99m Macroaggregated Albumin, and Yttrium-90 SPECT/CT. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 35(1), 94-101.More infoTo calculate the preradioembolic tumor-to-normal (T:N) ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using 2-dimensional (2D) perfusion angiography and compare it with that calculated using technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (Tc MAA) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT).
- Gisch, D. L., Brennan, M., Lake, B. B., Basta, J., Keller, M. S., Melo Ferreira, R., Akilesh, S., Ghag, R., Lu, C., Cheng, Y. H., Collins, K. S., Parikh, S. V., Rovin, B. H., Robbins, L., Stout, L., Conklin, K. Y., Diep, D., Zhang, B., Knoten, A., , Barwinska, D., et al. (2024). The chromatin landscape of healthy and injured cell types in the human kidney. Nature communications, 15(1), 433.More infoThere is a need to define regions of gene activation or repression that control human kidney cells in states of health, injury, and repair to understand the molecular pathogenesis of kidney disease and design therapeutic strategies. Comprehensive integration of gene expression with epigenetic features that define regulatory elements remains a significant challenge. We measure dual single nucleus RNA expression and chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, and H3K27ac, H3K4me1, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3 histone modifications to decipher the chromatin landscape and gene regulation of the kidney in reference and adaptive injury states. We establish a spatially-anchored epigenomic atlas to define the kidney's active, silent, and regulatory accessible chromatin regions across the genome. Using this atlas, we note distinct control of adaptive injury in different epithelial cell types. A proximal tubule cell transcription factor network of ELF3, KLF6, and KLF10 regulates the transition between health and injury, while in thick ascending limb cells this transition is regulated by NR2F1. Further, combined perturbation of ELF3, KLF6, and KLF10 distinguishes two adaptive proximal tubular cell subtypes, one of which manifested a repair trajectory after knockout. This atlas will serve as a foundation to facilitate targeted cell-specific therapeutics by reprogramming gene regulatory networks.
- Babiker, H. M., Kay, M. D., Stuehm, C., Woodhead, G., & Kuo, P. H. (2023). A Pilot Study of F-18 Fluciclovine-PET/CT as a Diagnostic Tool for Bone Metastases in Patients With Castrate Resistant Prostate Adenocarcinoma and Correlative Analysis of Blood and Bone Molecular Testing (The FACT Study). The oncologist, 28(11), e1114-e1117.More infoSuspicious F-18 fluciclovine PET/CT findings for osseous metastases from prostate cancer (PC) were targeted for core needle biopsy. We correlated the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of biopsied lesions, with biopsy results, other diagnostic outcomes, and blood and tissue molecular analysis (TMA).
- El-Achkar, T. M., Eadon, M. T., Kretzler, M., Himmelfarb, J., & , K. P. (2023). Precision Medicine in Nephrology: An Integrative Framework of Multidimensional Data in the Kidney Precision Medicine Project. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.More infoChronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are heterogeneous syndromes defined clinically by serial measures of kidney function. Each condition possesses strong histopathologic associations, including glomerular obsolescence or acute tubular necrosis, respectively. Despite such characterization, there remains wide variation in patient outcomes and treatment responses. Precision medicine efforts, as exemplified by the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP), have begun to establish evolving, spatially anchored, cellular and molecular atlases of the cell types, states, and niches of the kidney in health and disease. The KPMP atlas provides molecular context for CKD and AKI disease drivers and will help define subtypes of disease that are not readily apparent from canonical functional or histopathologic characterization but instead are appreciable through advanced clinical phenotyping, pathomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic, and metabolomic interrogation of kidney biopsy samples. This perspective outlines the structure of the KPMP, its approach to the integration of these diverse datasets, and its major outputs relevant to future patient care.
- Goldberg, D., Woodhead, G., Hannallah, J., & Young, S. (2023). Role of the Interventional Radiologist in the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 13(3).More infoDesmoid tumors are locally aggressive soft tissue tumors with variable clinical presentation. As is the case with most relatively rare tumors, a multidisciplinary team approach is required to best manage these patients. Surgical resection, systemic therapy, and radiation therapy have classically been mainstays of treatment for desmoid tumors; however, a more conservative "wait-and-see" approach has been adopted given their high recurrence rates and significant morbidity associated with the aforementioned therapies. Given the challenges of classical treatment methods, interventional radiologists have begun to play a significant role in minimally invasive interventions for desmoid tumors. Herein, the authors review imaging characteristics of desmoid tumors, current management recommendations, and minimally invasive therapeutic intervention options.
- Patel, M. V., McNiel, D., Brunson, C., Kuo, P. H., Hennemeyer, C. T., Woodhead, G., & McGregor, H. (2023). Prior ablation and progression of disease correlate with higher tumor-to-normal liver Tc-MAA uptake ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdominal radiology (New York), 48(2), 752-757.More infoFactors affecting tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (T:N) have implications for patient selection, dosimetry, and outcomes when considering radioembolization for HCC. This study sought to evaluate patient, disease specific, and technical parameters that predict T:N as measured on planning pre-Y radioembolization Tc-MAA scintigraphy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Young, S., Abamyan, A., Goldberg, D., Hannallah, J., Schaub, D., Kalarn, S., Fitzgerald, Z., & Woodhead, G. (2023). Cryoablation in the liver: how accurately does the iceball predict the ablation zone?. Abdominal radiology (New York).More infoTo evaluate the accuracy with which the iceball predicts the realized ablation zone in patients undergoing cryoablation of the liver.
- Young, S., Hannallah, J., Goldberg, D., Sanghvi, T., Arshad, J., Scott, A., & Woodhead, G. (2023). Friend or Foe? Locoregional Therapies and Immunotherapies in the Current Hepatocellular Treatment Landscape. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(14).More infoOver the last several decades, a number of new treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been developed. While treatment decisions for some patients remain clear cut, a large numbers of patients have multiple treatment options, and it can be hard for multidisciplinary teams to come to unanimous decisions on which treatment strategy or sequence of treatments is best. This article reviews the available data with regard to two treatment strategies, immunotherapies and locoregional therapies, with a focus on the potential of locoregional therapies to be combined with checkpoint inhibitors to improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced HCC. In this review, the available data on the immunomodulatory effects of locoregional therapies is discussed along with available clinical data on outcomes when the two strategies are combined.
- Babiker, H., Borazanci, E., Subbiah, V., Agarwala, S., Algazi, A., Schachter, J., Lotem, M., Maurice-Dror, C., Hendler, D., Rahimian, S., Minderman, H., Haymaker, C., Mahadevan, D., Bernatchez, C., Murthy, R., Hultsch, R., Kaplan, N., Woodhead, G., Hennemeyer, C., , Chunduru, S., et al. (2022). Tilsotolimod Exploits the TLR9 Pathway to Promote Antigen Presentation and Type 1 IFN Signaling in Solid Tumors: A Multicenter International Phase I/II Trial (ILLUMINATE-101). Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 28(23), 5079-5087.More infoTilsotolimod is an investigational synthetic Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist that has demonstrated antitumor activity in preclinical models. The ILLUMINATE-101 phase I study explored the safety, dose, efficacy, and immune effects of intratumoral (it) tilsotolimod monotherapy in multiple solid tumors.
- Gmitro, A. F., Larson, M. C., Klein, R., Rouse, A. R., Woodhead, G. J., & Li, Z. (2023). Multispectral confocal endomicroscopy in lung biopsy guidance. Journal of Optical Microsystems, 3(1). doi:10.1117/1.JOM.3.1.011002
- McGregor, H., Weise, L., Brunson, C., Struycken, L., Woodhead, G., & Celdran, D. (2022). Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation to Occlude the Thoracic Duct: Preclinical Studies in Swine for a Potential Alternative to Embolization. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 33(10), 1192-1198.More infoTo investigate the feasibility of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation to occlude the thoracic duct (TD) in a swine model with imaging and histologic correlation.
- Woodhead, G., Struycken, L., Patel, M., Mcgregor, H., Kuo, P., & Hennemeyer, C. (2022). Clinical and Dosimetric Implications of Calculating Lung Shunt Fraction for Hepatic 90Y Radioembolization Using SPECT/CT Versus Planar Scintigraphy.. AJR. American journal of roentgenology, 218(4), 728-737. doi:10.2214/ajr.21.26663More infoBACKGROUND. Accurate assessment of hepatopulmonary shunting, typically performed by planar scintigraphy, is critical in planning 90Y radioembolization. High lung shunt fractions (LSFs) may alter treatment. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to compare LSFs calculated from planar scintigraphy versus SPECT/CT in patients with high planar LSFs (> 15%) and to describe the potential clinical and dosimetric implications of SPECT/CT LSF calculations. METHODS. This retrospective study included 36 patients (29 men and seven women; mean age, 62.4 ± 9.8 [SD] years) who underwent 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) planar scintigraphy for planning hepatic radioembolization, had a planar LSF greater than 15%, and underwent concurrent SPECT/CT. Clinically reported planar LSFs were recorded. SPECT/CT LSFs were retrospectively calculated using automatically generated volumetric ROIs around the lungs and liver with subsequent manual adjustments. Total lung and perfused liver doses were calculated using a medical internal radiation dose model. Values derived from planar and SPECT/CT data were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariable regression analysis was performed of factors associated with the discrepancy in LSF between the techniques. RESULTS. Mean planar LSF was 25.1% ± 11.6%, and mean SPECT/CT LSF was 16.0% ± 9.3% (p < .001). Mean lung dose was 18.8 ± 8.0 Gy for planar LSF versus 12.3 ± 7.2 Gy for SPECT/CT LSF (p < .001). Mean perfused liver dose was 92.9 ± 36.1 Gy using planar LSF versus 102.7 ± 39.1 Gy using SPECT/CT LSF (p < .001). In multivariable analysis, a larger discrepancy in LSF between planar scintigraphy and SPECT/CT was associated with a body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) of 26 or higher (p = .02), maximum tumor size of less than 9 cm (p = .05), and left hepatic intraarterial injection (p = .02). Fourteen of 36 patients did not undergo upfront radioembolization due to a planar LSF greater than 20% and instead underwent shunt-reducing embolization with subsequent radioembolization (n = 7), transarterial chemoembolization (n = 5), or no treatment (n = 2). Five of these 14 patients had a SPECT/CT LSF of less than 20% and would have been eligible for upfront radioembolization based on SPECT/CT LSF. Seven of 29 patients treated with radioembolization underwent prescribed dose reductions based on planar LSF; six of these patients would have qualified for standard radioembolization without dose reduction using SPECT/CT LSF. CONCLUSION. Planar scintigraphy yields greater LSFs compared with SPECT/CT, possibly leading to unnecessary shunt-reducing procedures and prescribed dose reductions. CLINICAL IMPACT. SPECT/CT should be considered for clinical LSF calculations before radioembolization in patients with high LSFs.
- Woodhead, G., Wang, J., Mody, K., Mahadevan, D., Karime, C., Hennemeyer, C. T., Chandana, S. R., Borad, M. J., & Babiker, H. (2022). Tilsotolimod: an investigational synthetic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist for the treatment of refractory solid tumors and melanoma.. Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 31(1), 1-13. doi:10.1080/13543784.2022.2019706More infoCancer immunotherapy has seen tremendous strides in the past 15 years, with the introduction of several novel immunotherapeutic agents. Nevertheless, as clinical practice has shown, significant challenges remain with a considerable number of patients responding sub-optimally to available therapeutic options. Research has demonstrated the important immunoregulatory role of the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the potential to either hinder or promote an effective anti-tumor immune response. As such, scientific efforts have focused on investigating novel candidate immunomodulatory agents with the potential to alter the TME toward a more immunopotentiating composition..Herein, we discuss the novel investigational toll-like receptor 9 agonist tilsotolimod currently undergoing phase II and III clinical trials for advanced refractory cancer, highlighting its mode of action, efficacy, tolerability, and potential future applications in the treatment of cancer. To this effect, we conducted an exhaustive Web of Science and PubMed search to evaluate available research on tilsotolimod as of August 2021..With encouraging early clinical results demonstrating extensive TME immunomodulation and abscopal effects on distant tumor lesions, tilsotolimod has emerged as a potential candidate immunomodulatory agent with the possibility to augment currently available immunotherapy and provide novel avenues of treatment for patients with advanced refectory cancer.
- Karime, C., Wang, J., Woodhead, G., Mody, K., Hennemeyer, C. T., Borad, M. J., Mahadevan, D., Chandana, S. R., & Babiker, H. (2021). Tilsotolimod: an investigational synthetic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist for the treatment of refractory solid tumors and melanoma. Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 1-13.More infoCancer immunotherapy has seen tremendous strides in the past 15 years, with the introduction of several novel immunotherapeutic agents. Nevertheless, as clinical practice has shown, significant challenges remain with a considerable number of patients responding sub-optimally to available therapeutic options. Research has demonstrated the important immunoregulatory role of the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the potential to either hinder or promote an effective anti-tumor immune response. As such, scientific efforts have focused on investigating novel candidate immunomodulatory agents with the potential to alter the TME toward a more immunopotentiating composition.
- Larson, M. C., Gmitro, A. F., Utzinger, U., Rouse, A. R., Woodhead, G. J., Carlson, Q., Hennemeyer, C. T., & Barton, J. K. (2021). Using FDA-approved drugs as off-label fluorescent dyes for optical biopsies: from in silico design toproof-of-concept. Methods and applications in fluorescence, 9(3).More infoOptical biopsies bring the microscope to the patient rather than the tissue to the microscope, and may complement or replace the tissue-harvesting component of the traditional biopsy process with its associated risks. In general, optical biopsies are limited by the lack of endogenous tissue contrast and the small number of clinically approveddyes. This study tests multiple FDA-approved drugs that have structural similarity to research dyes as off-labelfluorescent alternatives to standardhematoxylin & eosin tissue stain. Numerous drug-dye combinations shown here may facilitate relatively safe and fastor possiblystaining of tissue, enabling real-time optical biopsies and other advanced microscopy technologies, which have implications for the speed and performance of tissue- and cellular-level diagnostics.
- Larson, M., Gmitro, A. F., Utzinger, U., Rouse, A. R., Woodhead, G. J., Carlson, Q., Hennemeyer, C. T., & Barton, J. K. (2021). Using FDA-approved drugs as off-label fluorescent dyes for optical biopsies: from in silico design to ex vivo proof-of-concept. Methods and Applications in Fluorescence.More infoAbstractOptical biopsies bring the microscope to the patient rather than the tissue to the microscope, and may complement or replace the tissue-harvesting component of the traditional biopsy process with its associated risks. In general, optical biopsies are limited by the lack of endogenous tissue contrast and the small number of clinically approved in vivo dyes. This study tests multiple FDA-approved drugs that have structural similarity to research dyes as off-label in situ fluorescent alternatives to standard ex vivo hematoxylin & eosin tissue stain. Numerous drug-dye combinations shown here may facilitate relatively safe and fast in situ or possibly in vivo staining of tissue, enabling real-time optical biopsies and other advanced microscopy technologies, which have implications for the speed and performance of tissue- and cellular-level diagnostics.
- LeComte, M., Woodhead, G., Palacio, D., Khan, A., Avery, R., McGregor, H., & Hennemeyer, C. (2021). Cardiac MRI for Evaluation of Right Heart Function before and after Catheter-directed Therapy in Submassive Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Study of Feasibility and Potential Utility. Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging, 3(6), e210217.More infoCardiac MRI is clinically feasible in the setting of submassive pulmonary embolism and is able to demonstrate measurable differences of right heart function before and after catheter-directed therapy.
- McGregor, H., Brunson, C., Woodhead, G., Khan, A., Hennemeyer, C., & Patel, M. (2021). Quantitative Assessment of the Hemodynamic Effects of Intra-Arterial Nitroglycerin on Hepatocellular Carcinoma using Two-Dimensional Perfusion Angiography. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 32(2), 198-203.More infoTo determine the hemodynamic effects of intra-arterial nitroglycerin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using 2-dimensional (2D) perfusion angiography.
- McNiel, D., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., & McGregor, H. (2021). The Reply. The American journal of medicine, 134(11), e566.
- Rouse, A. R., Barton, J. K., Utzinger, U., Woodhead, G. J., Hennemeyer, C. T., Gmitro, A. F., Larson, M., & Carlson, Q. (2021). Using FDA-approved drugs as off-label fluorescent dyes for optical biopsies: from in silico design to ex vivo proof-of-concept. Methods and Applications in Fluorescence.
- Struycken, L., Patel, M., Kuo, P., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., & McGregor, H. (2021). Clinical and Dosimetric Implications of Calculating Lung Shunt Fraction for Hepatic Yttrium-90 Radioembolization Using SPECT/CT Versus Planar Scintigraphy. AJR. American journal of roentgenology.More infoAccurate assessment of hepatopulmonary shunting, typically performed by planar scintigraphy, is critical in planning yttrium-90 radioembolization. High lung shunt fractions (LSFs) may alter treatment. To compare LSFs calculated from planar scintigraphy versus SPECT/CT in patients with high planar LSFs (>15%) and to describe potential clinical and dosimetric implications of SPECT/CT LSF calculations. This retrospective study included 36 patients (29 male, 7 female; mean age 62.4±9.8 years) who underwent technetium-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin planar scintigraphy for planning hepatic radioembolization, with planar LSF >15% and concurrent SPECT/CT. Clinically reported planar LSFs were recorded. SPECT/CT LSFs were retrospectively calculated using automatically generated volumetric ROIs around the lungs and liver with subsequent manual adjustments. Total lung and perfused liver doses were calculated using a medical internal radiation dose model. Values derived from planar and SPECT/CT data were compared with Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariable regression analysis was performed of factors associated with LSF discrepancy between techniques. Mean planar LSF was 25.1%±11.6%; mean SPECT/CT LSF was 16.0%±9.3% (p
- Woodhead, G., Mcniel, D. B., Mcgregor, H., & Hennemeyer, C. (2021). Gallbladder Cryoablation: A Novel Option for High-Risk Patients with Gallbladder Disease.. The American journal of medicine, 134(3), 326-331. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.10.007More infoManagement of high-risk surgical patients with cholecystitis poses a significant clinical problem. These patients are often left with the options of permanent cholecystostomy tube drainage or high-risk surgery. Numerous attempts have been made over the past 4 decades to fulfill the need for a minimally invasive, definitive treatment option for such gallbladder disease. These attempts have largely focused on endoluminal ablation with a variety of sclerosants and have been unable to reliably achieve permanent gallbladder devitalization. The advent of modern percutaneous devices and techniques have provided further opportunity to develop minimally invasive treatment options for high-risk patients. Cryoablation, a thermal ablation modality that induces cell death through tissue freezing, has recently emerged as a promising potential option to treat gallbladder disease. Early studies have demonstrated good technical and clinical success, and a prospective trial is ongoing. This manuscript explains the clinical need for gallbladder cryoablation, briefly revisits historical minimally invasive treatments, describes cryoablation technology and why it is well suited for the gallbladder, and reviews the preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of gallbladder cryoablation.
- Woodhead, G., Patel, M., Mcniel, D. B., Mcgregor, H., Kuo, P. H., Hennemeyer, C., Brunson, C., & Boros, D. (2021). Abstract No. 3 ▪ FEATURED ABSTRACT Clinical predictors of Yttrium-90 uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma: toward personalized dosimetry to maximize response to therapy. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 32(5), S3. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2021.03.414
- Woodhead, G., Struycken, L., Patel, M., Mcgregor, H., Kuo, P. H., & Hennemeyer, C. (2021). Abstract No. 34 Planar scintigraphy overestimates hepatopulmonary shunt fractions compared with quantitative SPECT/CT. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 32(5), S16. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2021.03.450
- Yu, H., Sonntag, P. D., Bream, P. R., Lazarowicz, M. P., Nowakowski, F. S., Woodhead, G. J., Hennemeyer, C. T., Muller, R. D., Navuluri, R., Caoili, E. M., Eifler, A. C., Tominna, B. S., & Stavas, J. M. (2021). Safety and Feasibility of a Novel Percutaneous Locoregional Injection Technique of Renal Cellular Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease of Diabetes. Kidney international reports, 6(9), 2486-2490.
- McGregor, H., Brunson, C., Woodhead, G., Patel, M. V., & Hennemeyer, C. (2020). Caudal Migration and Endovascular Retrieval of Two VIATORR CX Stent Grafts during Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(3), 512-515.
- McGregor, H., Hennemeyer, C., Harms, C., Woodhead, G., & Patel, M. (2020). Stent Graft Reconstruction of the Lymphovenous Junction after Complete Transection of the Cervical Thoracic Duct. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(11), 1918-1921.e1.
- McGregor, H., Hill, M., Kuo, P., Woodhead, G., & Patel, M. (2020). Same-Day Repeat Hepatopulmonary Shunt Measurement during Planning Angiography for Hepatic Radioembolization. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(7), 1069-1073.More infoThis report describes a technique for measuring lung shunt fraction (LSF) twice in a single session during planning arteriography for radioembolization using low and standard dose technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (Tc-MAA). A patient with a 16.0 cm hepatocellular carcinoma and LSF of 70% was treated with lenvatinib for 4 weeks. Planning arteriography with administration of 0.5 millicuries of Tc-MAA was then performed. Arterial access was maintained while the LSF was calculated, which was persistently elevated at 54%. Embolization of arteriovenous shunts was performed during the same session and 5.0 millicuries of Tc-MAA were administered. The repeat LSF was 29%. Successful radioembolization was subsequently performed.
- McGregor, H., Woodhead, G., Hennemeyer, C., & Patel, M. (2020). Percutaneous Translumbar Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(4), 690-692.
- McGregor, H., Woodhead, G., Patel, M., & Hennemeyer, C. (2020). Thoracic duct stent-graft decompression with 3-month patency: Revisiting a historical treatment option for portal hypertension. Lymphology, 53(2), 81-87.More infoThis report introduces the rationale for thoracic duct stent-graft decompression in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and provides a case example with 3-month stentgraft patency. Thoracic duct flow and pressure are elevated in cirrhosis. Historically, complications of portal hypertension have been successfully treated with external drainage of the thoracic duct or surgical lymphovenous bypass. A 45-year-old woman with cirrhosis, chronic portosplenomesenteric thrombosis, and acute variceal hemorrhage underwent percutaneous thoracic duct stent-graft placement across the lymphovenous junction. The hemorrhage subsequently resolved and follow up endoscopy demonstrated decompression of the bleeding varices. Venography 40 days later demonstrated a partially patent stent-graft with fibrin sheath formation distally. The stent-graft was extended distally to the right atrium and was fully patent on venography 3 months later. The patient had no further episodes of hemorrhage.
- McGregor, H., Woodhead, G., Patel, M., Khan, A., Hannallah, J., Ruiz, D., Conrad, M., Tang, A., & Hennemeyer, C. (2020). Gallbladder Cryoablation for Chronic Cholecystitis in High-Risk Surgical Patients: 1-Year Clinical Experience with Imaging Follow-up. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(5), 801-807.More infoTo assess the short-term safety and efficacy of gallbladder cryoablation in high-risk patients.
- McNiel, D., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., & McGregor, H. (2020). Gallbladder Cryoablation: A Novel Option for High-Risk Patients with Gallbladder Disease. The American journal of medicine.More infoManagement of high-risk surgical patients with cholecystitis poses a significant clinical problem. These patients are often left with the options of permanent cholecystostomy tube drainage or high-risk surgery. Numerous attempts have been made over the past 4 decades to fulfill the need for a minimally invasive, definitive treatment option for such gallbladder disease. These attempts have largely focused on endoluminal ablation with a variety of sclerosants and have been unable to reliably achieve permanent gallbladder devitalization. The advent of modern percutaneous devices and techniques have provided further opportunity to develop minimally invasive treatment options for high-risk patients. Cryoablation, a thermal ablation modality that induces cell death through tissue freezing, has recently emerged as a promising potential option to treat gallbladder disease. Early studies have demonstrated good technical and clinical success, and a prospective trial is ongoing. This manuscript explains the clinical need for gallbladder cryoablation, briefly revisits historical minimally invasive treatments, describes cryoablation technology and why it is well suited for the gallbladder, and reviews the preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of gallbladder cryoablation.
- Mcgregor, H., Patel, M., Woodhead, G., Patel, M., Mcgregor, H., Lecomte, M., Khan, A., & Hennemeyer, C. (2020). 3:18 PM Abstract No. 257 Fast scan cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute pulmonary embolism undergoing catheter-directed therapy. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 31(3), S115. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2019.12.304
- Mcgregor, H., Patel, M., Woodhead, G., Patel, M., Oats, S., Mcgregor, H., Hennemeyer, C., & Abramyan, A. (2020). 3:45 PM Abstract No. 77 Necessity of common femoral arteriogram prior to deployment of an Angio-Seal closure device. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 31(3), S37. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2019.12.103
- Oats, S., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., & McGregor, H. (2020). Pulmonary Aspergilloma Removal Using a Large-Bore Suction Catheter System. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 31(12), 2156-2159.
- Woodhead, G. J., Mcmillan, N. A., Kuo, P. H., Kay, M. D., & Caskey, J. S. (2020). Miscalculated Lung Shunt Fraction for Planning of Hepatic Radioembolization.. Journal of nuclear medicine technology, 48(2), 184-186. doi:10.2967/jnmt.119.234385More info90Y radioembolization is a safe and efficacious treatment option for many patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Potential candidates for radioembolization, based on clinical criteria, undergo 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin imaging to determine the extent of hepatopulmonary shunting. Dose selection is based on results from shunt imaging and can exclude patients from radioembolization therapy. We present a case of miscalculated lung shunt fraction and the circumstances that led to the critical error.
- Woodhead, G., Weise, L. B., Lecomte, M., Khan, A., & Hennemeyer, C. (2020). 3:45 PM Abstract No. 260 Survival analysis outcomes of catheter-directed therapy of submassive pulmonary embolism. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 31(3), S116-S117. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2019.12.307
- Caskey, J. S., Kay, M. D., McMillan, N. A., Kuo, P. H., & Woodhead, G. J. (2019). Miscalculated Lung Shunt Fraction for Planning of Hepatic Radioembolization. Journal of nuclear medicine technology.More infoYttrium-90 radioembolization is a safe and efficacious treatment option for many patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Potential candidates for radioembolization, based on clinical criteria, undergo technetium-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin imaging to determine the extent of hepatopulmonary shunting. Dose selection is based on results from shunt imaging and can exclude patients from radioembolization therapy. We present a case of miscalculated lung shunt fraction and the circumstances that led to the critical error.
- Crowther, C. A., Ashwood, P., Andersen, C. C., Middleton, P. F., Tran, T., Doyle, L. W., Robinson, J. S., Harding, J. E., , A. S., Crowther, C. A., Ashwood, P., Andersen, C. C., Middleton, P. F., Tran, T., Doyle, L. W., Robinson, J. S., Harding, J. E., & , A. S. (2019). Maternal intramuscular dexamethasone versus betamethasone before preterm birth (ASTEROID): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health, 3(11), 769-780.More infoAntenatal corticosteroids given to women before preterm birth improve infant survival and health. However, whether dexamethasone or betamethasone have better maternal, neonatal, and childhood health outcomes remains unclear. We therefore aimed to assess whether administration of antenatal dexamethasone to women at risk of preterm birth reduced the risk of death or neurosensory disability in their children at age 2 years compared with betamethasone. We also aimed to assess whether dexamethasone reduced neonatal morbidity, had benefits for the mother, or affected childhood body size, blood pressure, behaviour, or general health compared with betamethasone.
- Hennemeyer, C., Khan, A., McGregor, H., Moffett, C., & Woodhead, G. (2019). Outcomes of Catheter-Directed Therapy Plus Anticoagulation Versus Anticoagulation Alone for Submassive and Massive Pulmonary Embolism. The American journal of medicine, 132(2), 240-246.More infoCatheter-directed therapy (CDT) offers an alternative treatment to systemic thrombolysis for patients with massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.
- McGregor, H., Woodhead, G., Conrad, M., Tang, A., Ruiz, D., Khan, A., & Hennemeyer, C. (2019). First in-Human Gallbladder Cryoablation in a Patient with Acute Calculous Cholecystitis Initially Treated with a Cholecystostomy Tube. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 30(8), 1229-1232.More infoA 71-year-old poor surgical candidate with acute calculous cholecystitis was initially managed with cholecystostomy tube drainage for 28 days. He subsequently underwent gallbladder cryoablation under moderate sedation with 3 cryoprobes and 2 separate 10-8-10 freeze-thaw cycles targeting the gallbladder neck/body and fundus followed by cholecystostomy tube removal. He was discharged 1 day after ablation. Magnetic resonance and hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan 1 month postablation demonstrated a thick-walled, distended gallbladder and no filling of the cystic duct. Magnetic resonance 3 months postablation demonstrated retraction of the gallbladder wall with luminal collapse. The patient denied any pain after discharge and is asymptomatic 3 months after ablation.
- Mcgregor, H., Mcgregor, H., Woodhead, G., Ruiz, D., Hennemeyer, C., Mcgregor, H., Woodhead, G., Tang, A., Ruiz, D., Khan, A., Hennemeyer, C., & Conrad, M. (2019). 04:03 PM Abstract No. 285 First in human gallbladder cryoablation to treat cholecystitis. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 30(3), S127. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2018.12.349
- Palmer, J., Hennemeyer, C. T., Woodhead, G. J., Patel, M. V., Ruiz, D., & McGregor, H. C. (2019). Intravascular Deployment of an Angio-Seal Device with Successful Endovascular Snare Retrieval. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR, 30(10), 1703-1706.
- Ruiz, D., Mcgregor, H., Patel, M., Woodhead, G., Ruiz, D., Patel, M., Mcgregor, H., Khan, A., Hennemeyer, C., & Hannallah, J. (2019). 03:09 PM Abstract No. 54 Hospital utilization outcomes of catheter-based intervention plus anticoagulation versus systemic anticoagulation alone for the treatment of submassive and massive pulmonary emboli. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 30(3), S27. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2018.12.095
- Woodhead, G., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., Shah, A. H., Miller, C., Hennemeyer, C., & Babiker, H. M. (2018). Right tumor, right time: Systematic methodology for fiducial marker placement to achieve reliable and reproducible image guided (IG) delivery of intratumoral immunotherapy into deep/visceral (D/V) lesions and target-lesion imaging follow-up.. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 36(15_suppl), e24137-e24137. doi:10.1200/jco.2018.36.15_suppl.e24137More infoe24137Background: Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the treatment of many malignancies. Trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of image guided (IG) intratumoral injection (ITI) of immunotherapy a...
- Woodhead, G., Hennemeyer, C., Woodhead, G., Swann, S., Subbiah, V., Shah, A. H., Rahimian, S., Murthy, R., Miller, C., Hultsch, R., Hennemeyer, C., Geib, J., Diab, A., Catlett, M., Borazanci, E. H., & Babiker, H. M. (2018). Preliminary safety of deep/visceral (D/V) image guided (IG) intratumoral injection (ITI) of IMO-2125.. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 36(15_suppl), e15150-e15150. doi:10.1200/jco.2018.36.15_suppl.e15150More infoe15150Background: Patients without palpable lesions who are candidates for intratumoral immunotherapy may need D/V IG agent delivery. Novel immuno-oncology (I-O) agents requiring ITI highlight the ...
- Woodhead, G. J., Avery, R. J., & Kuo, P. H. (2017). Atlas of Extraosseous Findings Detected by 18F-NaF PET/CT Bone Scan. Clinical nuclear medicine, 42(12), 930-938.More infoF-NaF PET/CT is an evolving technique that provides high sensitivity for detection of osseous metastases. In addition to detecting pathological osseous lesions, F uptake is occasionally detected in extraosseous lesions. However, reporting of extraosseous uptake in the literature is limited, and the increasing use of F-NaF PET/CT dictates that interpreting physicians learn to recognize extraosseous findings. An atlas of extraosseous findings detected by F-NaF PET/CT is presented, which includes cases under 2 broad categories: nonneoplastic and neoplastic.
- Woodhead, G., Devis, P., Jindal, R., Kalb, B., & Hennemeyer, C. (2014). Systematic MRI Characterization of Tissue Outcomes Following Irreversible Electroporation of Hepatic Tumors. Society of Interventional Radiology.
- Zhang, J., Woodhead, G. J., Swaminathan, S. K., Noles, S. R., McQuinn, E. R., Pisarek, A. J., Stocker, A. M., Mutch, C. A., Funatsu, N., & Chenn, A. (2010). Cortical neural precursors inhibit their own differentiation via N-cadherin maintenance of beta-catenin signaling. Developmental cell, 18(3), 472-9.More infoLittle is known about the architecture of cellular microenvironments that support stem and precursor cells during tissue development. Although adult stem cell niches are organized by specialized supporting cells, in the developing cerebral cortex, neural stem/precursor cells reside in a neurogenic niche lacking distinct supporting cells. Here, we find that neural precursors themselves comprise the niche and regulate their own development. Precursor-precursor contact regulates beta-catenin signaling and cell fate. In vivo knockdown of N-cadherin reduces beta-catenin signaling, migration from the niche, and neuronal differentiation in vivo. N-cadherin engagement activates beta-catenin signaling via Akt, suggesting a mechanism through which cells in tissues can regulate their development. These results suggest that neural precursor cell interactions can generate a self-supportive niche to regulate their own number.
- Woodhead, G. J., Mutch, C. A., Olson, E. C., & Chenn, A. (2006). Cell-autonomous beta-catenin signaling regulates cortical precursor proliferation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 26(48), 12620-30.More infoOverexpression of beta-catenin, a protein that functions in both cell adhesion and signaling, causes expansion of the cerebral cortical precursor population and cortical surface area enlargement. Here, we find that focal elimination of beta-catenin from cortical neural precursors in vivo causes premature neuronal differentiation. Precursors within the cerebral cortical ventricular zone exhibit robust beta-catenin-mediated transcriptional activation, which is downregulated as cells exit the ventricular zone. Targeted inhibition of beta-catenin signaling during embryonic development causes cortical precursor cells to prematurely exit the cell cycle, differentiate into neurons, and migrate to the cortical plate. These results show that beta-catenin-mediated transcriptional activation functions in the decision of cortical ventricular zone precursors to proliferate or differentiate during development, and suggest that the cell-autonomous signaling activity of beta-catenin can control the production of cortical neurons and thus regulate cerebral cortical size.
Presentations
- Woodhead, G. (2015, Summer). Systematic MRI Characterization of Outcomes Following IRE of Hepatic Tumors. Society of Interventional Radiology.
- Woodhead, G. (2014, Summer). How We Do It: MRI Analysis of Tissue Imaging Outcomes Following Percutaneous Ablation of Hepatic Tumors. Radiological Society of North America. Chicago, IL.
Poster Presentations
- Woodhead, G. (2014, Spring). Systematic MRI Characterization of Outcomes Following IRE of Hepatic Tumors. Society of Interventional Radiology. San Diego, CA.
- Woodhead, G. (2013, Spring). Extraosseous Findings and Mechanisms of Uptake in NaF-18 PET/CT. American Roentgen Ray Society. Washington, DC.
Others
- Woodhead, G., Costello, J., & Unger, E. (2016, Summer). Reversal of Tumor Hypoxia following Intravenous Delivery of Nano-Droplet DDFP, a Novel Oxygen-Transport Agent: Fiber-Optic Oxygen Probe Measurement and MRI Characterization.
- Costello, J., Sharma, P., Kalb, B., Arif Tiwari, H., Petkovska, I., Czeyda-Pommersheim, F., & Woodhead, G. (2015, Spring). Magnetic Resonance Angiography of the Lower Extremity Arterial Vasculature.”.
- Woodhead, G., Kalb, B., Devis, P., Jindal, R., & Hennemeyer, c. (2015, Summer). Systematic MRI Characterization of Tissue Outcomes Following Irreversible Electroporation of Hepatic Tumors.