Clinical Focus


  • Diagnostic Radiology

Academic Appointments


Professional Education


  • Residency: UCSF Dept of Radiology (1980) CA
  • Medical Education: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1972) NY
  • Fellowship: Boston Childrens Hospital Pediatric Radiology Fellowships (1995) MA
  • Fellowship: UCSF Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship (1978) CA
  • Fellowship: National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed GME Training Verifications (1976) MD
  • Residency: Boston Childrens Hospital Pediatric Residency (1974) MA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology (1981)

2023-24 Courses


All Publications


  • Transarterial chemoembolization in children to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Pediatric transplantation Weiss, K. E., Sze, D. Y., Rangaswami, A. A., Esquivel, C. O., Concepcion, W., Lebowitz, E. A., Kothary, N., Lungren, M. P. 2018: e13187

    Abstract

    Children with unresectable HCC have a dismal prognosis and few approved treatment options. TACE is an effective treatment option for adults with HCC, but experience in children is very limited. Retrospective analysis was performed of 8 patients aged 4-17years (4 male, mean 12.5years) who underwent TACE for unresectable HCC. Response to TACE was evaluated by change in AFP, RECIST and tumor volume, PRETEXT, and transplantation eligibility by UCSF and Milan criteria. Post-procedure mean follow-up was 8.2years. Mean overall change in tumor volume for the 8 patients was 51%. Percent change in AFP ranged from a decrease of 100% to an increase of 89.3%, with a mean change of -49.6%. Two patients did not undergo resection or transplantation and died of progressive disease. Six patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation with mean first TACE-to-transplant interval of 141days (range 11-514). Following transplantation, 5 patients were alive at the end of the follow-up period and one died of recurrent disease. Based on our initial experience, TACE for children with unresectable HCC appears to be a safe and effective method for managing hepatic tumor burden and for downstaging and bridging to liver transplantation.

    View details for PubMedID 29707868

  • High-risk Retrieval of Adherent and Chronically Implanted IVC Filters: Techniques for Removal and Management of Thrombotic Complications 34th Annual Conference of the Society-of-Interventional-Radiology Kuo, W. T., Tong, R. T., Hwang, G. L., Louie, J. D., Lebowitz, E. A., Sze, D. Y., Hofmann, L. V. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2009: 1548–56

    Abstract

    To evaluate the safety and efficacy of aggressive techniques for retrieving adherent and chronically implanted inferior vena cava (IVC) filters.A single-center retrospective review was performed on all patients who underwent attempted filter retrieval from October 2007 through October 2008. Patients were included in the study if they had an adherent filter, refractory to standard retrieval techniques, and underwent high-risk retrieval after procedural risks were deemed lower than risks of long-term filter implantation.Fourteen patients were diagnosed with an adherent filter, 13 (93%) of whom were candidates for high-risk retrieval. These patients included seven men and six women (mean age, 40 years; age range, 18-71 years). Nine of the 13 patients (69%) were referred from an outside hospital. Filter retrieval was performed for the following indications: to avoid the risk of long-term thrombotic complications in a young patient (n= 6), to treat symptomatic filter-related IVC stenosis (n= 5), to treat symptomatic filter penetration (n= 1), and to avoid the need for lifelong anticoagulation (n= 1). There were eight Günther-Tulip filters (mean dwell time, 356 days; range 53-1,181 days), two Optease filters (mean dwell time, 62 days; range, 52-72 days), one G2 filter (dwell time, 420 days), and two Recovery filters (mean dwell time, 1,630 days; range, 1,429-1,830 days). Three IVC occlusions necessitated recanalization to facilitate retrieval. High-risk retrieval with use of various techniques with aggressive force was successful in all 13 patients (100%). Partial caval thrombosis occurred in the first four patients (31%) but did not occur after procedural modifications were implemented. There were no complications at clinical follow-up (mean, 221 days; range, 84-452 days).Alternative techniques can be used to retrieve adherent IVC filters implanted for up to 3-5 years. Although caval thrombosis was an observed complication, protocol modifications appeared to reduce this risk.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2009.08.024

    View details for PubMedID 19864160

  • Endovascular repair of traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysm with associated celiacomesenteric trunk JOURNAL OF ENDOVASCULAR THERAPY Singh, T. M., Hung, R., Lebowitz, E., Wallbom, A., Shaver, D., Soria, J., Zarins, C. K. 2005; 12 (1): 138-141

    Abstract

    To report stent-graft repair of a traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysm in proximity to a celiacomesenteric trunk.An 18-year-old woman suffered a large gunshot wound to the right flank. At laparotomy, only a large, nonexpanding right retroperitoneal hematoma was found, which was thought to represent significant penetrating trauma to the kidney mass. The patient was monitored in the intensive care unit. One week later, computed tomography revealed a partially infarcted right kidney and a 2.3-cm supraceliac aortic pseudoaneurysm, with adjacent bullet fragments. An angiogram confirmed the pseudoaneurysm and showed it to be 7 mm from the celiacomesenteric trunk. Endovascular repair was undertaken with a 16 x 55-mm AneuRx stent-graft, which was successfully placed across the aortic pseudoaneurysm without covering the celiacomesenteric trunk. Imaging at 12 months revealed no endoleak and full pseudoaneurysm exclusion.This operative approach is appropriate for the individual patient who has suitable anatomy and a clinical course that requires immediate repair of an aortic injury to prevent further complications and delays in ancillary treatments.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000226954100023

    View details for PubMedID 15683266