Biography

Dr. Rodrick C Zvavanjanja, MD, Msc, FRCR(UK), DABR(DR/VIR) is Associate Professor of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology. He is a key founding member of the UT Health/Memorial Hermann Hospital Vascular Anomalies Multi-Disciplinary Clinic and one of the founding members of the UT Health Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) team.

A board certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Zvavanjanja -“Dr. Z” completed his Diagnostic residency and Interventional Radiology fellowship at Royal Liverpool University Hospital, United Kingdom in 2010. He completed a clinical Interventional Radiology fellowship at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas before joining UT Health and McGovern Medical School as faculty in 2012. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists United Kingdom

Dr. Zvavanjanja’s areas of clinical expertise are in:
• Endovascular management of Vascular Malformations, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), mesenteric vascular disease, solid organ/visceral aneurysms, complex deep limb and pelvic venous disease, Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE), Uterine Fibroids, Trauma, dialysis access and Portal Hypertensive disease (TIPS, DIPS, BRTO/PARTO/CATO).
• Interventional Oncology – Minimally invasive image guided and endovascular cancer treatment – kidney/liver/bone/Parathyroid ablations, chemoembolization, Yttrium-90 internal radiation therapy, Complex biliary intervention, venous sampling
• Complex Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal
• Lymphatic Interventions

Dr. Zvavanjanja has published multiple peer reviewed articles and book chapter. He has presented abstracts and talks at multiple international and local scientific/academic meetings. He is a passionate teacher and recipient of multiple Dean’s Teaching excellence awards.

Dr. Zvavanjanja is involved in research efforts in Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) at McGovern Medical school, several multi-center, and local clinical trials.

Certifications

  • Board Certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist (CAQ).
    American Board of Radiology (DABR -VIR/DR), 10/2017
  • Board Certified Radiologist. American Board of Radiology (DABR), 10/2015
  • Board Certified in Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 09/2010
    Royal College of Radiologist United Kingdom and General Medical Council United Kingdom
  • Board Certified in Clinical Radiology (FRCR), 11/2008
    Royal College of Radiologist United Kingdom
  • ECFMG Certification, 2009

Education

Medical School
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1999
Internship
Internal Medicine, Urology, Orthopedics and trauma, Harare Central Teaching Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2000
Residency
Diagnostic Radiology Mersey Deanery, Mersey School of Radiology Liverpool, United Kingdom, 2005-2009
Clinical Fellowship
Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital Liverpool, United Kingdom, 2009-2010
Clinical Fellowship
Vascular and Interventional Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX, 2011-2012

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Vascular Anomalies interventions.
  • Interventional Oncology (ALL facets – embolotherapy, ablations, SIRT, complex biopsies and venous access)
  • Aortic diseases and peripheral arterial diseases (Complex CTO and limb salvage interventions).
  • Deep venous thromboembolic disease (acute and chronic) – Complex Venous reconstructions and Pulmonary Embolism.
  • Portal hypertension and endovascular porto-systemic shunts (conventional TIPS, DIPS and BRTO). Splanchnic circulation venous interventions.
  • Percutaneous Hepatobiliary interventions (Percutaneous stone retrieval and endoscopic interventions)
  • Women’s intervention (Uterine Fibroid Embolisation and Pelvic Congestion Syndrome)
  • Interventional Uroradiology, including Prostate artery embolisation (PAE)
  • Trauma – minimally invasive interventions (embolisations).

Research Interests

  • Novel techniques in lymphatic imaging – Focusing on Near Infrared fluorescence Lymphatic imaging.
  • Improving interventional training through simulator developments.
  • ​Clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness research in Interventional Radiology.

**Faculty profiles will only highlight current information (the last three years). Please see the faculty’s CV for more information.

Current Grant Support

  1. Predicting the Safety and Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters (PRESERVE) multi-center study
    Grant: New England Research Institutes, Inc
    Role: Local site Co-Principal Investigator
    Mar 2015 – On going

Past Grant Support

  1. Phase III, 2-part, Open-Label, Single arm Multi-centre Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of BTG-14-004 for the Treatment of Congenital Venous Malformations (VM).
    Protocol number: BTG-14-004-01.
    Grant Support: BTG INTERNATIONAL
    Role: Site Co -Principal Investigator
    July 2015 – July 2017
  2. Functional imaging of lymphatic malformations in the pediatric population. Pilot Research Grant awarded ($10 000)
    Sponsor/Agency: Plastic Surgery Foundation
    Role: Co- Principal Investigator
    June 2017 – Nov 2018

Non-Grant Funded Research

  1. Trans-jugular intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS), once center experience. IRB NUMBER: HSC-MS-19-1119
    Grant Support: None
    Role: Co- Investigator
    02/13/2020 – 01/13/2021
    July 06, 2020
    R. C Zvavanjanja, MD, MSc, FRCR (UK), DABR(VIR/DR)
  2. Renal ablative therapies for neoplasia: A single center experience. IRB NUMBER: HSC-MS-19-1124
    Grant Support: None
    Role: Co- Investigator
    01/22/2020 – 12/31/2020
  3. Immune Monitoring and Assay Development in Organ Transplant Recipients. IRB number: HSC-MS-12-0652
    Role: Co-Investigator
    July 2015 – on going

Publications

**Faculty profiles will only highlight current information (the last three years). Please see the faculty’s CV for more information.

 

Abstracts

  1. March 2017: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Washington DC, USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Current Status of Lung Transplantation and the Role of Interventional Radiology. A. Bosserman, M. Mathew, S. Jyothula, K. Batra, R.C Zvavanjanja, A.K. Pillai (Awarded best educational poster)
    July 06, 2020
    R. C Zvavanjanja, MD, MSc, FRCR (UK), DABR(VIR/DR)
  2. May 2017: Association of University Radiologists annual meeting (AUR) Hollywood, FL USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Percutaneous Ablation Technologies: Mechanisms of action, advantages and complications. Niekemp AS, Zvavanjanja RC, West DL, Pillai AK
  3. Sept 2017: Texas Society of Plastic Surgery (TSPS) Meeting, Fort Worth, TX.
    Abstract presentation (poster) Congenital aneurysm of the common digital artery: case report and literature review. Dean RA, Fleming SI, Zvavanjanja RC, Greives MR, Marques ES.
  4. Jan 2018: American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS) and American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) Phoenix, Arizona USA
    Abstract presentation (e-poster) entitled: Congenital Aneurysm of the Common Digital Artery: case report and literature review. Marques ES, Dean RA, Fleming SI, Zvavanjanja RC, Greives MR
  5. Feb 2018: International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET) Hollywood, FL USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Successful implementation of a new Interventional Radiology emergency response in a level 1 Trauma Hospital. Niekemp AS, McNutt M, Zvavanjanja RC, Pillai AK
  6. Feb 2018: International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET) Hollywood, FL USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: May-Thurner morphology as an atypical cause of pelvic congestion syndrome: A review of diagnosis and management options. Maneevese M, Zvavanjanja RC
  7. March 2018: American College of Cardiology 67th Annual Scientific Meeting. Orlando, Florida USA
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Concomitant Asymptomatic May-Thurner and Symptomatic Nutcracker Syndrome: Is Renal vein Stenting Essential? Herman A, Bhattacharjee M, Maneevese M, Zvavanjanja RC, Desai B, Pillai AK, Heredia D
  8. March 2018: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Los Angeles CA, USA.
    Abstract presentation (educational poster) Title: Understanding Retroperitoneal Anatomy Through Examples of Hydro dissection. Jones C, Pillai A, Zvavanjanja RC, Ahrar K, Sabir K.
  9. March 2018: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Los Angeles CA, USA.
    Original Scientific Research Abstract (ePoster presentation). Title: Renal tumor cryoablation with cauterization capable probes. Three-year patient safety experience at a single institution. Mai A, Mathew M, Niekamp A, Low J, Zvavanjanja RC
  10. Sep 2018: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe Annual Meeting (CIRSE), Lisbon, Portugal.
    Abstract presentation: Interventional radiology (IR) response times for emergent trauma cases, Reduction to less than 30 minutes at a level 1 trauma center in the United States. Niekamp A, Pillai AK, Mcnutt M, Zvavanjanja RC
    July 06, 2020
    R. C Zvavanjanja, MD, MSc, FRCR (UK), DABR(VIR/DR)
  11. Dec 2018: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Chicago, IL USA
    Presented Scientific Abstract presentation entitled: Contemporaneous placement of port catheter and percutaneous feeding gastrostomy tubes in Head and Neck cancer patients: Is a single session combined procedure safe? Braaten T, Low J, Zvavanjanja RC
  12. March 2019: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Austin Tx, USA.
    Presented Scientific Abstract (oral presentation). A feasibility study to demonstrate the use of Near Infrared Fluorescent Lymphatic Imaging (NIRFLI) to diagnose and direct treatment in pediatric patients with lymphatic anomalies. Zvavanjanja RC, Rasmussen J, Sevick M E, Hebert A, Greives MR (one of three meeting featured abstracts)
  13. February 2020: Pan Arab Interventional Radiology Society (PAIRS) Conference; Dubai, UAE. Scientific Abstract (oral presentation): Safety and Efficacy of Microwave Ablation of Stage T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma. Mahmoud K, Moawad S, Souid A, El Khudari H, Bhatti Z, Patel M, Tapnio R, Fung D, Zvavanjanja R, Gunn A, Abdel Aal A.
  14. February 2020: Pan Arab Interventional Radiology Society (PAIRS) Conference; Dubai, UAE. Scientific Abstract (oral presentation): Predictors of Outcomes of Percutaneous Cryoablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Mahmoud K, Moawad S, Souid A, El Khudari H, Bhatti Z, Patel M, Tapnio R, Fung D, Zvavanjanja R, Gunn A, Abdel Aal A.

 

Refereed Original Articles

  1. June 2018: International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA), Amsterdam, Netherlands. Oral presentation entitled: A feasibility study to demonstrate the use of Near Infrared Fluorescent Lymphatic Imaging (NIRFLI) to diagnose and direct treatment in pediatric patients with lymphatic anomalies. Zvavanjanja RC, Rasmussen J, Sevick M E, Hebert A, Greives MR
  2. February 2020: Pan Arab Interventional Radiology Society (PAIRS) Conference; Dubai, UAE. Oral presentation: Safety and Efficacy of Microwave Ablation of Stage T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma. Mahmoud K, Moawad S, Souid A, El Khudari H, Bhatti Z, Patel M, Tapnio R, Fung D, Zvavanjanja R, Gunn A, Abdel Aal A.
  3. February 2020: Pan Arab Interventional Radiology Society (PAIRS) Conference; Dubai, UAE. Oral presentation: Predictors of Outcomes of Percutaneous Cryoablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Mahmoud K, Moawad S, Souid A, El Khudari H, Bhatti Z, Patel M, Tapnio R, Fung D, Zvavanjanja R, Gunn A, Abdel Aal A.

 

Presentations at Symposia and Conferences – National

  1. Nov 2018: Vascular and Venous Interventional Advances (VIVA) Las Vegas, 2018
    Oral Presentation entitled: Delayed Endovascular reconstruction of Iatrogenic iliac vein injury. Niekemp A, Zvavanjanja RC
  2. Dec 2018: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Chicago, IL USA
    Presented Scientific Abstract Oral Presentation entitled: Contemporaneous placement of port catheter and percutaneous feeding gastrostomy tubes in Head and Neck cancer patients: Is a single session combined procedure safe? Braaten T, Low J, Zvavanjanja RC

 

Conference Educational Exhibits– International

  1. Sep 2018: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe Annual Meeting (CIRSE), Lisbon, Portugal.
    Educational Exhibit entitled: The Increasing Incidence of Porto-mesenteric Thrombosis and Interventional Radiology’s Role in Management. Mathew M, Mai A, Zvavanjanja RC, Bhatti Z, Pillai AK.

 

Conference Educational Exhibits– National

  1. March 2017: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Washington DC, USA. Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Current Status of Lung Transplantation and the Role of Interventional Radiology. A. Bosserman, M. Mathew, S. Jyothula, K. Batra, R.C Zvavanjanja, A.K. Pillai (Awarded best educational poster)
  2. May 2017: Association of University Radiologists annual meeting (AUR) Hollywood, FL USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Percutaneous Ablation Technologies: Mechanisms of action, advantages and complications. Niekemp AS, Zvavanjanja RC, West DL, Pillai AK
  3. Feb 2018: International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET) Hollywood, FL USA.
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: May-Thurner morphology as an atypical cause of pelvic congestion syndrome: A review of diagnosis and management options. Maneevese M, Zvavanjanja RC
  4. March 2018: American College of Cardiology 67th Annual Scientific Meeting. Orlando, Florida USA
    Abstract presentation (poster) entitled: Concomitant Asymptomatic May-Thurner and Symptomatic Nutcracker Syndrome: Is Renal vein Stenting Essential? Herman A, Bhattacharjee M, Maneevese M, Zvavanjanja RC, Desai B, Pillai AK, Heredia D
  5. March 2018: Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting (SIR) Los Angeles CA, USA.
    Abstract presentation (educational poster) Title: Understanding Retroperitoneal Anatomy Through Examples of Hydro dissection. Jones C, Pillai A, Zvavanjanja RC, Ahrar K, Sabir K.