Avanka Lowe, MD

Assistant Professor
Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics

Avanka W. Lowe, MD, is a Nuclear Medicine Physician and an Assistant Professor of Medical Imaging at The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson and Banner University Medical Center, Tucson. 

Dr. Lowe is originally from Sri Lanka, where he completed his college level education. He received his medical degree from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, having earned a SAARC scholarship for academic excellence. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California, affiliated to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Lowe completed his Nuclear Medicine residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) in Dallas, Texas.  Following residency, Dr. Lowe completed a fellowship in Clinical PET/CT at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Throughout his training, Dr. Lowe has earned several certificates and honors. Most recently, Dr. Lowe completed a certificate course in Artificial Intelligence in Health Care at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dr. Lowe’s clinical and research interests include the use of Artificial Intelligence in medical imaging, targeted radionuclide therapies for neoplastic conditions with focus on neuroendocrine and prostate malignancies, and nuclear cardiac imaging. As an active member of many professional societies, Dr. Lowe has presented abstracts at local and national meetings conducted by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM).

When he is not working, Dr. Lowe enjoys hiking in the mountains, exploring nature, and spending time with his family. Dr. Lowe has a deep appreciation for music, and he plays the piano, guitar, and harmonica.

Research Interests: 
  • the use of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging
  • targeted radionuclide therapies for neoplastic conditions with focus on neuroendocrine and prostate malignancies
  • nuclear cardiac imaging
Degrees
  • MD: University of Dhaka, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Bangladesh
Internship
  • Internal Medicine, Kern Medical, Bakersfield, California (affiliated with University of California, Los Angeles)
Residency
  • Nuclear Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Fellowship
  • Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland

Select Publications

2022

Lowe, A. W., K. J. Macura, M. Kates, T. Lotan, M. C. Haffner, and S. P. Rowe, "Prostate multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging appearance of diffuse adenosis of the peripheral zone (DAPZ).", Urol Case Rep, vol. 45, pp. 102178, 2022 Nov. PMCID: PMC9363943 

2020

A.W, L., P. D.F, and P. F., That is not pulmonary embolism! Correlation of Non-PE Perfusion Abnormalities on lung Scintigraphy with Cardiovascular Radiological Findings, 2020.
A.W., L., K. A., and B. L.E., Diffuse FDG uptake in bone marrow in patients with Lymphoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT, 2020.
L.E., D. Blanche, L. A.W., H. M., and O. O.K., Clinically relevant radiation safety analysis of lutetium Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors, 2020.

2014

J.Z., Y., C. Z., K. S.,, S. J., C. K.J., and S. J.B., Dysphagia in a post-surgical patient without a stricture: Treatment with a novel large caliber fully covered selfexpanding metal stent, 2014.
J.Z, Y., L. A.W, K. S., C. Z., S. J., L. J.G., C. K.J., and S. J.B., Relief of duodenal obstruction due to necrotizing pancreatitis: A novel use of a fully covered stent anchored using full thickness endoscopic suturing, 2014.