Peng R. Chen, MD

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Dr. P. Roc Chen is a board-certi­fied neurosurgeon at UTHealth Neurosciences, subspecializing in open cerebrovascular, endovascular neurosurgery, and skull base neurosurgery, with expertise in brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformation, carotid and vertebral artery occlusive diseases, cerebral venous sinus disease, acoustic neuroma, and skull base tumors.

A professor in neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Chen received his medical degree from Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences in Guangzhou, China, followed by neurosurgery residency in Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. He has subsequently completed fellowships in neurointerventional radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School, in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute, and in neuroendovascular and cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Dr. Chen has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in cerebrovascular diseases, and other subjects in neurosurgery, particularly in brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) formation, surgical and endovascular techniques in treating brain aneurysms, brain AVMs, and arteriovenous ­fistula.

He is currently the principal investigator for two multi-center randomized clinical trials: One focuses on treatment of cerebral vasospasm (iVAST) following subarachnoid hemorrhage due to brain aneurysm rupture; and another one compares sedation vs. general anesthesia in intra-arterial thrombectomy for acute stroke treatment (SEGA). He is the principal investigator of NIH-funded research utilizing computer algorithms (machine learning) to detect recurrence of brain aneurysms after coil embolization. In addition to all these studies, Dr. Chen has a laboratory in brain AVM research.

Dr. Chen specializes in treatment of brain AVMs, aneurysms, carotid and vertebral artery stenosis, and cerebral venous sinus stenosis-related intracranial hypertension and pulsatile tinnitus with open or endovascular techniques. He is one of a few cerebrovascular neurosurgeons skillful in performing extracranial to intracranial bypass anastomosis revascularization surgery for treating giant intracranial aneurysms or stroke-related intracranial occlusive disease, i.e., Moyamoya disease and atherosclerotic disease. His expertise includes treating a large number of complex acoustic neuromas and skull base meningiomas.

As a mentor and educator, Dr. Chen has trained many cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgeons and neuroendovascular surgeons and neurologists in the past decade.

Dr. P. Roc Chen is a board-certi­fied neurosurgeon at UTHealth Neurosciences, subspecializing in open cerebrovascular, endovascular neurosurgery, and skull base neurosurgery, with expertise in brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformation, carotid and vertebral artery occlusive diseases, cerebral venous sinus disease, acoustic neuroma, and skull base tumors.

Collaboration with Referring Physicians

Physicians affiliated with UTHealth Neurosciences engage referring physicians in the care of their patients, keeping them informed about patient progress throughout the evaluation and treatment process. After your patient’s treatment, you will receive a summary and a plan for follow-up care. We encourage continued communication about each patient.

Languages Spoken:
English

In the News

Education/Training

Medical School
Sun Yat-Sen University Medical School, 1987

Residency
The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen , 1995

Residency
Harvard Medical School, 2003

Fellowship
Harvard Medical School, 2004

Fellowship
Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph Hospital, 2005

Fellowship
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 2006

Clinical Interests

Dr. Chen’s specialties and interests include:

• Carotid and vertebral occlusive diseases, carotid and vertebral stenosis, stroke
• Intracranial occlusive diseases (requiring endarterectomy, bypass or stenting)
• Moyamoya disease
• Intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhages
• Brain arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas
• Skull base brain tumors
• Acoustic neuroma
• Spinal arteriovenous malformation and fistula

How do I request an
appointment with Dr. Chen?