Kavitha Yaddanapudi

Interests

Research

Cardiac Sarcoidosis, PET CT and PET MRI imaging of Sarcoidosis and Interstitial lung disease

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Donovan, F. M., Thompson, G. R., Blair, J. E., Johnson, R. H., Malo, J., Albasha, W., Worrell, S. G., Beamer, S. E., Yaddanapudi, K., Galgiani, J. N., & Ampel, N. M. (2025). Managing Cavitary Coccidioidomycosis Expert Opinions for Improving Patient Outcomes. Chest, 167(5), 1311-1320.
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  Coccidioidomycosis, caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, is recognized as an increasing threat both nationally and worldwide. This is in large part secondary to the expanding range of Coccidioides species and increased international travel to endemic regions. Most individuals exposed to airborne Coccidioides organisms do not need medical attention, but approximately 30% will demonstrate primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with signs and symptoms that mimic community-acquired pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses. Further, 5% of those with a diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis will demonstrate serious and even life-threatening manifestations, including extrapulmonary or disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Of those who demonstrate pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, past evidence suggests that approximately 5% to 15% will experience long-term pulmonary sequelae in the form of nodules, abscesses, or cavitary lesions. These lesions may not be easily distinguished from malignancy or other infections, such as TB, and they add a substantial burden to both patients and the health care system. Despite the long-term consequences of cavitary coccidioidomycosis in some individuals, the current literature review and practice guidelines demonstrate a paucity of clear management strategies to treat these patients. In this report, we focus on cavitary lesions in coccidioidomycosis with the goal of presenting a description of the evaluation and management of their various forms, manifestations, and complications. These recommendations are derived from a multidisciplinary group of experts.
• Gudi, H., Baruah, D., Yaddanapudi, K., & Kabakus, I. M. (2025).

  Radiologic Approach to Cystic Lung Diseases: From Cyst Definition to Diagnosis.

  . Semin Roentgenol. doi:10.1053/j.ro.2025.08.005
• Gudi, H., Baruah, D., Yaddanapudi, K., & Kabakus, I. M. (2025). Radiologic Approach to Cystic Lung Diseases: From Cyst Definition to Diagnosis. Seminars in Roentgenology. doi:10.1053/j.ro.2025.08.005
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  Cystic lung diseases represent a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the presence of multiple pulmonary cysts. Accurate recognition and differentiation of true cysts from their mimics (such as cavities, emphysema, bullae, blebs, and honeycombing) are essential, as management strategies and prognoses vary significantly. This review provides a systematic approach to the radiologic evaluation of cystic lung diseases, beginning with the definition and pathogenesis of pulmonary cysts and progressing through a structured diagnostic algorithm. We detail the characteristic imaging findings and clinical associations for major cystic lung diseases, including lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD), light-chain deposition disease (LCDD), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH), and amyloidosis. Additionally, we discuss uncommon etiologies, such as cystic metastases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and cystic changes associated with genetic syndromes like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) and trisomy 21. The review emphasizes key imaging clues, such as cyst distribution, wall characteristics, associated nodules, and parenchymal abnormalities, that aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis. With the growing use of CT imaging, cystic lung diseases are increasingly identified in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Familiarity with their imaging patterns, clinical contexts, and distinguishing features is essential for radiologists and clinicians alike. By following a stepwise, pattern-based approach, early and accurate diagnosis can be achieved, potentially improving patient outcomes through timely surveillance and targeted management.
• Pipavath, S., Yaddanapudi, K., Datta, B., & Ahlawat, K. (2025).

  Composite Radiological Score (CRS)-A novel imaging biomarker: Correlation with clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

  . Indian J Tuberc, 72(4), 483-488. doi:10.1016/j.ijtb.2025.03.007
• Scott, A. M., Lim, J. R., Randhawa, R., Lee, J., Yaddanapudi, K., Rabe, B., & Malo, J. (2023). Examining Miliary Disease Etiology in a Coccidioides-Endemic Center: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Fungi, 10(1), 29. doi:10.3390/jof10010029
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  Background: A miliary pattern on chest imaging is often attributed to tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, a myriad of conditions can cause a miliary pattern, many of which are imminently life-threatening. Research Question: The primary aim of our study is to elucidate the potential causes of miliary chest imaging patterns to improve workup and empiric therapy selection. The secondary aims are to discern the predictors of miliary disease etiology and to determine whether appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapies were given. Study Design and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we searched a radiology database for patients with chest imaging studies described by the word "miliary". Subjects were excluded if they were under 18 years of age and if there were insufficient objective data to support a miliary disease etiology. A radiologist independently reviewed all imaging studies, and studies that did not appear to have a true miliary pattern were excluded. The collected data include patient demographics, immunocompromising risk factors, conditions associated with miliary disease, β-D-glucan levels, serum eosinophil count, and empiric therapies received. Results: From our 41-patient cohort, 22 patients (53.7%) were clinically diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis, 8 (19.5%) with TB, 7 (17.1%) with metastatic solid cancer, 1 (2.4%) with lymphoma, 1 (2.4%) with other (Mycobacterium simiae), and 3 (7.3%) with unknown diseases (the sum equals 42 patients because one individual was diagnosed with both coccidioidomycosis and TB). All six patients with greater than 500 eosinophils/μL were diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis. Of the 22 patients diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis, 20 (90.91%) were empirically treated with an antifungal regimen. Of the eight patients with TB, six were empirically treated for TB. Interpretation: Based on our data from a Coccidioides-endemic region with close proximity to tuberculosis-endemic areas, the leading cause of miliary disease is coccidioidomycosis, although TB and cancer are also common etiologies. Serum eosinophilia and elevated β-D-glucan levels were strongly predictive of coccidioidomycosis in our patient cohort with a miliary chest imaging pattern.
• Bhattacharji, P., Bilfinger, T. V., Ferretti, J., Gao, Y., Liang, Z., Moore, W., Schweitzer, M. E., Yaddanapudi, K., Yang, J., & Zhang, H. (2020). A Task-dependent Investigation on Dose and Texture in CT Image Reconstruction.. IEEE transactions on radiation and plasma medical sciences, 4(4), 441-449. doi:10.1109/trpms.2019.2957459
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  Localizing and characterizing clinically-significant lung nodules, a potential precursor to lung cancer, at the lowest achievable radiation dose is demanded to minimize the stochastic radiation effects from x-ray computed tomography (CT). A minimal dose level is heavily dependent on the image reconstruction algorithms and clinical task, in which the tissue texture always plays an important role. This study aims to investigate the dependence through a task-based evaluation at multiple dose levels and variable textures in reconstructions with prospective patient studies. 133 patients with a suspicious pulmonary nodule scheduled for biopsy were recruited and the data was acquired at120kVp with three different dose levels of 100, 40 and 20mAs. Three reconstruction algorithms were implemented: analytical filtered back-projection (FBP) with optimal noise filtering; statistical Markov random field (MRF) model with optimal Huber weighting (MRF-H) for piecewise smooth reconstruction; and tissue-specific texture model (MRF-T) for texture preserved statistical reconstruction. Experienced thoracic radiologists reviewed and scored all images at random, blind to the CT dose and reconstruction algorithms. The radiologists identified the nodules in each image including the 133 biopsy target nodules and 66 other non-target nodules. For target nodule characterization, only MRF-T at 40mAs showed no statistically significant difference from FBP at 100mAs. For localizing both the target nodules and the non-target nodules, some as small as 3mm, MRF-T at 40 and 20mAs levels showed no statistically significant difference from FBP at 100mAs, respectively. MRF-H and FBP at 40 and 20mAs levels performed statistically differently from FBP at 100mAs. This investigation concluded that (1) the textures in the MRF-T reconstructions improves both the tasks of localizing and characterizing nodules at low dose CT and (2) the task of characterizing nodules is more challenging than the task of localizing nodules and needs more dose or enhanced textures from reconstruction.
• Thompson, C. M., Yanof, J. H., Wiegert, J., Bullen, J., Obuchowski, N., Yaddanapudi, K., & Halliburton, S. S. (2020). A pilot study of patient-specific cardiovascular MDCT dose maps and their utility in estimating patient-specific organ and effective doses in obese patients. Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography, 10(3), 265-8.
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  Estimates of effective dose (E) for cardiovascular CT are obtained from a scanner-provided dose metric, the dose-length product (DLP), and a conversion factor. These estimates may not adequately represent the risk of a specific scan to obese adults.
• Lodhi, U., Sarmast, U., Khan, S., & Yaddanapudi, K. (2016). Multisystem Radiologic Manifestations of Erdheim-Chester Disease.. Case reports in radiology, 2016, 2670495. doi:10.1155/2016/2670495
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  Erdheim-Chester Disease is a rare form of multiorgan non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis that affects individuals between the ages of 50 and 70 with an equal distribution among males and females. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality that is mostly due to infiltration of critical organs. Some of the sites that Erdheim-Chester Disease affects include the skeletal system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys (retroperitoneum), and skin. The most common presenting symptom of Erdheim-Chester Disease is bone pain although a large majority of patients are diagnosed incidentally during a workup for a different disease process. Diagnosing Erdheim-Chester Disease is challenging due its rarity and mimicry to other infiltrative processes. Therefore, a multimodality diagnostic approach is employed with imaging being at the forefront. As of date, a comprehensive radiologic review of the manifestations of Erdheim-Chester Disease has rarely been reported. Here we present radiologic findings of an individual suffering from Erdheim-Chester Disease.
• Rogers, S. C., O'connor, O. A., Granati, G., & Yaddanapudi, K. (2016). The First Case of Primary Cardiac Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-Cell Type, Successfully Treated with EPOCH-R. Blood, 128(22), 5418-5418. doi:10.1182/blood.v128.22.5418.5418
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  Primary cardiac lymphomas are rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They account for less than 1% of intrinsic cardiac tumors and extranodal Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Currently, there are no formal established guidelines for the treatment of primary cardiac lymphomas. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is the most common subtype known to afflict the heart. This case documents the successful treatment of primary cardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in an elderly male with sarcoidosis. To our knowledge this is the first published case report illustrating the use of the EPOCH-R with a modest pre-phase cytoreduction consisting of steroids, cyclophosphamide and etoposide for this indication. This strategy prevented perforation of the tumor during therapy and decreased cardiotoxicity.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2016). Differential diagnosis in musculoskeletal MRI. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 43(5), 1258-1258. doi:10.1002/jmri.25069
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  Gary M. Hollenberg, Eric P. Weinberg, and Steven P. Meyers, Stuttgart, New York: Thieme Publications; 2015. $199.99. 676 pages. Differential Diagnosis in Musculoskeletal MRI is an image-rich book with over 2000 images. It is reasonably priced and is also available as an e-book. The book starts off with a short and crisp introduction to basic MRI, the various pulse sequences, use of contrast, and indications for MRI in musculoskeletal pathology. The rest of the book can be broadly divided into two portions; the first half describes musculoskeletal pathology based on anatomical location. Each major joint in the appendicular skeleton has a chapter. Each chapter has multiple subchapters dealing with osseous lesions, tendon and ligament pathology, arthritis, nerve abnormalities, trauma, and soft tissue pathology. There are specific subchapters on more complex conditions such as instability in the shoulder joint, acetabular labrum and athletic pubalgia in hip, synovial lesions in the knee, and nerve abnormalities in the elbow, to mention a few. The second half of the book has an overview of bone and soft tissue tumors with detailed chapters on each. There is some overlap between the author's earlier book on bone tumors and this half of the book. The bone tumors are divided into subchapters based on their location in the bone and radiological description. For example, lesions involving the outer cortex, intramedullary lesions with cortical destruction, etc. This pattern of description increases the utility of this book at the workstation and when preparing for an examination or conference to provide a good set of differential diagnoses. There is an additional chapter for tumors and tumor-like lesions centered in joints. The entire book is in tabular format making for a very easy read with multiple images emphasizing the “diagnostic features.” This style is very similar to the author's very popular earlier book on MRI of bone and soft tissue tumors and tumor-like lesions. In a tabular form for each condition, listed are MRI findings and comments. Under MRI findings listed are the best planes, sequences, diagnostic MRI findings, and associated findings. Under the comments section the clinical scenario, predisposing activities, normal anatomy, variants, and differential diagnoses are enumerated. Suggested reading at the end of each chapter provides a compilation of a few important articles on the topics discussed in the chapter. These references are up-to-date and more references are provided for complex topics like nerve abnormalities in elbow. The images in this book are of excellent quality. A few sequential images from a single study are also provided for certain conditions like sports hernia to enable better understanding. This book is image-centric, making it easy on the eye and mind compared to other similar books, which have extensive text with fewer images. The most attractive aspects of this book are the concise description, the myriad of images showing the pathology and variations, the differential diagnoses of tumor and tumor-like lesions based on appearance and location, which make it a very handy book to have at the workstation. Compared to other books in this genre, this is a smaller, more practical, and concise textbook. This will serve as a comprehensive text for radiology and orthopedic residents, sports medicine fellows, and practicing radiologists. Kavitha Yaddanapudi, MD Department of Radiology Stony Brook University Hospital Stony Brook, New York, USA
• Yaddanapudi, K., Tan, C. D., Rodriguez, E. R., Bolen, M. A., & Brunken, R. C. (2016). PET-MR Imaging in Evaluation of Cardiac and Paracardiac Masses With Histopathologic Correlation.. JACC. Cardiovascular imaging, 9(1), 82-5. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2015.04.028
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  Cardiac tumors are infrequent, and management strategy depends on whether the tumor is benign or malignant, as well as its location within the heart. Imaging characteristics aid in prognostication and direct management. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool providing multiplanar imaging
• Yaddanapudi, K., Matthews, R., Brunetti, V., Martin, B., & Franceschi, D. (2015). PET-MRI in diagnosing pedal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 56, 307-307.
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  307 Objectives Osteomyelitis of the foot is a serious complication that requires accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment in diabetic patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the foot has been shown to be the most accurate imaging modality with a high sensitivity and negative predictive value but slightly lower specificity. FDG-PETused in conjunction with CT has been shown to have a lower senstivity but higher specificity than MRI. Methods Retrospective review of imaging was performed in seven consecutive patients who underwent PET-MRI of the foot for a clinical suspicion of osteomyelitis. The MR imaging findings were graded as Grade 0 - normal signal, Grade I - hazy reticulated, T1 hypointense signal, Grade II - confluent T1 hypointense signal. Grade II, confluent hypointense marrow signal was considered diagnostic of osteomyelitis. Reticulated hazy signal was deemed to reflect edema on MRI. FDG uptake localizing to the bone on fused PET-MRI images was diagnosed as osteomyelitis. Five of the seven patients (71%) subsequently underwent surgery. Two patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis opted for conservative therapy. Results All seven patients were diagnosed as osteomyelitis on PET- MRI. Five patients had osteomyelitis on histopathology and 2 patients according to secondary clinical end points. Three cases with FDG uptake involving the bone on fused images had negative MRI patterns (Grade I reticulated T1 hypointense signal or no signal change). All the cases positive on MRI were positive on FDG-PET. MRI component increases the reader confidence and accurate anatomic localisation of abnormality. The sensitivity of PET-MRI to diagnose osteomyelitis was 100% in this small series of diabetic patients. Conclusions PET-MR is highly sensitive modality with high reader confidence for diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot.
• Lenge, V. V., Zurick, A. O., Yaddanapudi, K., Flamm, S. D., Tan, C. D., & Bolen, M. A. (2011). Cardiac and pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting as syncopal episode: Report of two cases.. Radiology case reports, 6(4), 536. doi:10.2484/rcr.v6i4.536
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  Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown etiology with a wide variety of clinical and radiologic manifestations, most commonly pulmonary. We describe two patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and an initial presentation of syncope. We present the results of multimodality imaging evaluation of these patients, with an emphasis on the spectrum of findings provided by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Proceedings Publications

• Liang, Z., Zhang, H., Gao, Y., Yang, J., Ferretti, J., Yaddanapudi, K., Bhattacharji, P., Moore, W., Bilfinger, T. V., & Schweitzer, M. E. (2018). Different Lung Nodule Detection Tasks at Different Dose Levels by Different Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction Strategies. In 2018 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Proceedings (NSS/MIC).
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  Detecting clinically-significant lung nodules, a potential precursor of lung cancer, at as low as achievable radiation dose is demanded to minimize the stochastic radiation effects. This study aims to fulfill these goals by exploring optimal image reconstruction strategies and evaluating these strategies at multiple dose levels with prospective patient studies. Total 133 patients with a suspicious pulmonary nodule scheduled for biopsy, were recruited and data were acquired at 120kVp with three different dose levels of 100, 40 and 20mAs. Three reconstruction algorithms were implemented: analytical filtered back-projection (FBP) with optimal noise filtering; statistical Markov random field (MRF) model with optimal Huber weighting (MRF-H) for piecewise smooth reconstruction; and tissue-specific texture model (MRF-T) for texture preserved statistical reconstruction. Experienced thoracic radiologists reviewed and scored all images in a random fashion, blinded to the algorithms used for the reconstructions. Each nodule identified in the image volume was marked, (including the 133 biopsy target nodules and 28 other non-target nodules). A 10-point likert scale was used for all scoring to characterize the target nodule images. The score for FBP drops from 100 to 20mAs faster than MRF-H, who drops faster than MRF-T, as expected. All the plots drop faster from 100 to 40 than from 40 to 20mAs. For detection of both the target nodules and the non-target nodules some as small as 3mm, MRF-T at 40 and 20mAs levels showed no statistically significant difference from FBP at 100mAs, respectively, while MRF-H and FBP at 40 and 20mAs levels performed statistically differently from FBP at 100mAs.

Presentations

• Yaddanapudi, K. (2025, August).

  Introduction to coronary CTA and CAD RADS 2.0

  . Grand Rounds. Tucson, AZ: Sarver Heart Institute.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2025, February).

  Coronary Artery Anatomy and Anomalies

  . American College of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology. Visiting Faculty American College Of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology: American College of Radiology.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2025, March).

  Coronary Artery Anatomy and Anomalies

  . American College of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology. Visiting Faculty American College Of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology: American College of Radiology.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2025, November).

  Coronary Artery Anatomy and Anomalies

  . American College of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology. Visiting Faculty American College Of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology: American College of Radiology.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2025, October).

  Coronary Artery Anatomy and Anomalies

  . American College of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology. Visiting Faculty American College Of Radiology Institute for Radiologic Pathology: American College of Radiology.
• Seckeler, M., Chatterjee, A., Meziab, O., Camarena, M., Chandra, S., Yaddanapudi, K., Hoyer, A., Caryl, N., Seckeler, M., Chatterjee, A., Meziab, O., Camarena, M., Chandra, S., Yaddanapudi, K., Hoyer, A., & Caryl, N. (2023, May). Not every TIA is a PFO – the importance of other shunts. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2023 Scientific Sessions. Phoenix, Arizona.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2019, Sept). Cardiac PET MRI Clinical applications. NASCI.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2021, March 2021). Imaging of left atrium. Society Thoracic Radiology. Online.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2021, September). Imaging Left Atrial Occlusion Devices. North American Society Cardiovascular Imaging Annual Meeting. online.
• Yaddanapudi, K. (2019, March). Cardiac PET MRI Protocols and how we do it. STR.