About

Ghaneh Fananapazir, M.D., F.S.A.R., F.S.R.U., F.S.A.B.I., is a professor in the Department of Radiology at UC Davis Health. He specializes as an abdominal radiologist practicing MRI, CT, and ultrasound, as well as nonvascular interventional procedures. His research focus is on advancing the radiologic assessment of transplanted kidneys and vascular structures. Dr. Fananapazir has received recognition for his teaching, including the Educator of the Year Award from the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic Arizona in 2022 and the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education Teacher of the Year in 2022. His educational background includes a B.S. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, an M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and postgraduate training at Georgetown University Hospital and Duke University Medical Center. He is actively involved in research related to abdominal imaging, with numerous publications in the field.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Radiology
• Internal medicine
• Pathology
• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Medical physics
• Surgery
• Medical emergency

Selected publications

• Update on Management of Incidental Findings Seen on Imaging Studies of the Abdomen and Pelvis

  Radiographics · 2026-03-05

  article

  Since the publication of the American College of Radiology white papers on incidental findings in the abdomen and pelvis, numerous studies have been published that either support or contradict existing guidelines or address common incidental findings for which no white paper exists.

  PublisherDOI

• Important Role of Ultrasound in Assessing Tubulocystic Renal Cell Carcinoma

  Ultrasound Quarterly · 2026-04-27

  articleSenior author

  Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is a rare renal neoplasm with imaging characteristics that may make it challenging to differentiate from benign cystic lesions. This retrospective single-institution study characterized the multimodality imaging features of pathologically confirmed tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma with emphasis on ultrasound (US) findings. Cases identified between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed for demographic, clinical, and imaging features on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and US. Seven patients (6 male, 1 female; mean age 61 ± 8 y) were included, with presentations of abdominal pain (n=2), hematuria (n=1), and incidental detection (n=4). The mean maximal tumor diameter was 2.4 cm (range: 1.4-4.8 cm); 6 lesions were round and 1 was bilobed. On CT, masses demonstrated low attenuation (mean 15 HU) with variable enhancement (mean 23 HU). MRI in 5 cases demonstrated predominantly T1 hypointense and T2 hyperintense lesions, with 1 lesion showing mixed T2 signal intensity; 3 cases showed enhancement, including septa or a mural nodule. Two hyperechoic lesions demonstrated enhancement on MRI, with enhancement corresponding to the hyperechoic portions of the mixed echogenic mass. US in 5 cases showed 3 uniformly hyperechoic, 1 mixed echogenic, and 1 septated hypoechoic mass, all demonstrating posterior acoustic enhancement. CEUS in 1 case revealed septal enhancement. Although CT and MRI features may mimic cysts, US most commonly demonstrates a hyperechoic lesion with posterior acoustic enhancement and may provide important additional diagnostic information when other imaging findings are equivocal.

  PublisherDOI

• CPI Editor's Choice 2026: Musculoskeletal Imaging

  2026-02-18

  dataset
  PublisherDOI

• Core Needle Biopsy of the Abdominal Fat Pad for Diagnosis of Amyloidosis

  Ultrasound Quarterly · 2026-01-29

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  Amyloidosis is a rare systemic disorder that is underdiagnosed and whose incidence is increasing as the population ages. The reference standard for diagnosis is endomyocardial biopsy, though its utility as a screening tool is limited. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and surgical excisional biopsy (SEB) of the abdominal fat pad have emerged as alternatives to endomyocardial biopsy as screening tools for amyloidosis. Given concerns about the variable sensitivity of FNA and the more invasive nature of SEB, our referring providers asked our group to perform core needle biopsies (CNB) of the abdominal fat pad. While limited prior work has reviewed the performance of fat pad CNB, the technical details of this procedure have not been described in the literature. With this technical note, we hope to encourage more radiologists to offer ultrasound-guided CNB of the abdominal fat pad as an additional procedure in the toolkit of interventional radiologists.

  PublisherDOI

• The use of ferumoxytol for high-resolution vascular imaging and troubleshooting for abdominal allografts

  Abdominal Radiology · 2024-04-01 · 1 citations

  reviewSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Renovascular hypertension – a primer for the radiologist

  Abdominal Radiology · 2024-11-15 · 1 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Reducing the Energy Consumption of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Scanners: Integrating Ecodesign and Sustainable Operations

  Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography · 2024-12-05 · 7 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding

  ABSTRACT: This review aims to provide valuable insights into how energy consumption in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners can be effectively monitored, managed, and reduced, thereby contributing to more sustainable medical imaging practices. Demand for advanced imaging technologies such as MRI and CT scanners continues to increase, and understanding the resultant impact on greenhouse gas emissions requires a thorough evaluation of their energy consumption. This review examines the energy monitoring and consumption characteristics of MRI and CT scanners, highlighting potential approaches for energy savings. An overview of MRI and CT principles, hardware components, and their associated energy consumption is provided. After addressing the technical aspects, the hardware and software requirements essential for accurate energy metering are detailed. Baseline measurements of energy consumption data are then provided as a foundation to understand current usage patterns and identify areas for improvement. Ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption are categorized into 3 main strategies: operations, scanner design enhancements, and active scanning techniques, including accelerated MRI protocols. Ultimately, we emphasize that achieving sustainability in medical imaging requires collaboration across disciplines. By incorporating eco-friendly design in new imaging equipment, we can reduce the environmental impact, promote sustainability, and set a health care industry standard for a healthier planet.

  PublisherDOI

• Synthetic dual-energy CT reconstruction from single-energy CT Using artificial intelligence

  Abdominal Radiology · 2023-09-04 · 8 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Renal Transplantation

  Radiologic Clinics of North America · 2023-05-16 · 19 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Contemporary and Emerging MRI Strategies for Assessing Kidney Allograft Complications: Arterial Stenosis and Parenchymal Injury, From the <i>AJR</i> Special Series on Imaging of Fibrosis

  American Journal of Roentgenology · 2023-06-20 · 4 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  MRI plays an important role in the evaluation of kidney allografts for vascular complications as well as parenchymal insults. Transplant renal artery stenosis, the most common vascular complication of kidney transplant, can be evaluated by MRA using gadolinium and nongadolinium contrast agents as well as by unenhanced MRA techniques. Parenchymal injury occurs through a variety of pathways, including graft rejection, acute tubular injury, BK polyomavirus infection, drug-induced interstitial nephritis, and pyelonephritis. Investigational MRI techniques have sought to differentiate among these causes of dysfunction as well as to assess the degree of interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy (IFTA)-the common end pathway for all of these processes-which is currently evaluated by invasively obtained core biopsies. Some of these MRI sequences have shown promise in not only assessing the cause of parenchymal injury but also assessing IFTA noninvasively. This review describes current clinically used MRI techniques and previews promising investigational MRI techniques for assessing complications of kidney grafts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Michael T. Corwin

  University of California, Davis

  49 shared

• Ramit Lamba

  University of California, Davis

  24 shared

• Thomas W. Loehfelm

  University of California, San Diego

  23 shared

• Christoph Troppmann

  23 shared

• John P. McGahan

  University of California, Davis

  13 shared

• Bhavik N. Patel

  10 shared

• Chandrasekar Santhanakrishnan

  Swedish Medical Center

  9 shared

• Richard V. Perez

  University of California, Davis

  8 shared

Labs

• Abdominal ImagingPI

Education

• M.D.

  University of California, Davis

Awards & honors

• Educator of the Year Award, Department of Radiology, Mayo Cl…
• Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education Teacher of…
• Educator of the Year Award, Department of Radiology, Mayo Cl…
• Sacramento Magazine Top Doctors Award, 2020