Phillip Kuo, MD, PhD, FACR

Professor, Medical Imaging
Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Medicine

Phillip H. Kuo MD, PhD, received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Chemistry in 1994. He continued his pursuit of higher education at the University of Virginia where he earned a Masters of Science in Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics in 1998, PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics in 1999 and MD in 2000. Dr. Kuo completed an Internal Medicine Residency at UCLA Medical Center and then went on to Yale New Haven Hospital where he completed a Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Yale University School of Medicine through 2008. In this time he also completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Kuo has 4 board certifications in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Nuclear Cardiology. 

Research Interests: 

Contrast agents, Molecular Imaging, PET, Nuclear Medicine, MR Imaging, Cancer, Neurology, Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Degrees
  • MD: University of Virginia, 2000
  • PhD: University of Virginia, 1999
Honors and Awards
  • Fellow, American College of Radiology, 2022
Residency
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Internal Medicine, 2003
  • Yale New Haven Hospital, Diagnostic Radiology, 2008
Fellowship
  • Yale New Haven Hospital, Nuclear Medicine, 2004
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Radiology
  • American Board of Nuclear Medicine
  • American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology

Select Publications

In Press

Woodhead, GJ., RA. Avery, and PH. Kuo, Extraosseous Findings and Mechanisms of Uptake in NaF-18 PET/CT, In Press.

2023

Babiker, H. M., M. D. Kay, C. Stuehm, G. Woodhead, and P. H. Kuo, "A Pilot Study of F-18 Fluciclovine-PET/CT as a Diagnostic Tool for Bone Metastases in Patients With Castrate Resistant Prostate Adenocarcinoma and Correlative Analysis of Blood and Bone Molecular Testing (The FACT Study).", Oncologist, 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37616280

2022

Struycken, L., M. Patel, P. Kuo, C. Hennemeyer, G. Woodhead, and H. McGregor, "Clinical and Dosimetric Implications of Calculating Lung Shunt Fraction for Hepatic Y Radioembolization Using SPECT/CT Versus Planar Scintigraphy.", AJR Am J Roentgenol, vol. 218, issue 4, pp. 728-737, 2022 Apr.
Zukotynski, K. A., and P. H. Kuo, "F-DCFPyL PET/CT in Men with Prostate Cancer.", Radiology, vol. 305, issue 2, pp. 429-430, 2022 11.
Frazzitta, A. E., M. D. Kay, D. Warhadpande, and P. H. Kuo, "Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism on 99mTc-Labeled Macroaggregated Albumin Lung Imaging After Hepatic Arterial Injection for Planning of Radioembolization.", Clin Nucl Med, vol. 47, issue 3, pp. e246-e248, 2022 Mar 01.

2021

Struycken, L., H. McGregor, M. Patel, P. Kuo, C. Hennemeyer, and G. Woodhead, "Abstract No. 34 Planar scintigraphy overestimates hepatopulmonary shunt fractions compared with quantitative SPECT/C", JVIR, vol. 32, issue 5, 2021.
Zukotynski, K., S. E. Black, P. H. Kuo, A. Bhan, S. Adamo, C. J. M. Scott, B. Lam, M. Masellis, S. Kumar, C. E. Fischer, et al., "Exploratory Assessment of K-means Clustering to Classify 18F-Flutemetamol Brain PET as Positive or Negative.", Clin Nucl Med, 2021 Apr 20.
Neill, M., J. M. Fisher, C. Brand, H. Lei, S. J. Sherman, Y-H. Chou, and P. H. Kuo, "Practical Application of DaTQUANT with Optimal Threshold for Diagnostic Accuracy of Dopamine Transporter SPECT.", Tomography, vol. 7, issue 4, pp. 980-989, 2021 Dec 18. PMCID: PMC8706562  PMID: 34941653
Kuo, P. H., "Cleaning the brain through turbulent glymphatic flow: The washing machine hypothesis.", Lymphology, vol. 54, issue 3, pp. 133-139, 2021.
Cox, T., C. Vance, S. Daley, C. Papendieck, H. McGregor, P. H. Kuo, and M. H. Witte, "Imaging of lymphatic dysplasia in Noonan syndrome: Case studies and historical atlas.", Lymphology, vol. 54, issue 1, pp. 23-40, 2021.
Bega, D., P. Kuo, A. Chalkidou, M. Grzeda, T. Macmillan, C. Brand, Z. Sheikh, and A. Antonini, "Clinical utility of DaTscan in patients with suspected Parkinsonian syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis", NPJ Parkinson's Disease, vol. 7, issue 43, 05/2021.
Struycken, L., and et. al, "Planar scintigraphy overestimates hepatopulmonary shunt fractions compared with quantitative SPECT/CT", JVIR, 05/2021.

2020

Caskey, J. S., M. D. Kay, N. A. McMillan, P. H. Kuo, and G. J. Woodhead, "Miscalculated Lung Shunt Fraction for Planning of Hepatic Radioembolization.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 48, issue 2, pp. 184-186, 2020 Jun.
B, A., K. K, D. Beenhouwer J, Z. N, N. M, K. P, F. L, and K. M, Keel-Edge Height Selection for Improved Multi-Pinhole 123I Brain SPECT Imaging. J Nucl Med: Suppl 1, 61:573, 2020, 2020.
Auer, B., K. Kalluri, D. Beenhouwer J, D. K, Z. N, K. P, F. L, and K. M, Reconstruction using Depth of Interaction Information of Curved and Flat Detector Designs for Quantitative Multi-Pinhole Brain SPECT., 2020.
R, M., K. MD, S. L, W. D, and K. PH, Pearls and Pitfalls of Quantitative Software Analysis of Dopamine Transporter SPECT, 2020.
K, K., A. B, Z. N, D. K, M. N, K. P, L. Furenlid, and K. M, Comparison of System Designs for AdaptiSPECT-C using Curved Detectors: Initial Findings, 2020.
Schwartz, F. R., O. James, P. H. Kuo, M. H. Witte, L. M. Koweek, and W. M. Pabon-Ramos, "Lymphatic Imaging: Current Noninvasive and Invasive Techniques.", Semin Intervent Radiol, vol. 37, issue 3, pp. 237-249, 2020 Aug. PMCID: PMC7394578 
N, Z., K. K, A. B, F. L, P. Kuo, and M. King, Exploratory research on impact of different data multiplexing schemes on activity recovery in cerebral SPECT imaging with AdaptiSPECT-C multi-pinhole brain-dedicated scanner., 2020.
Kuo, P., X. Zhang, C. Stuehm, Y.-. hui Chou, and N.-. kuei Chen, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Taiji’s Real-time Effects on Neuronal Networks of the Brain, 2020.
Zeraatkar, N., K. S. Kalluri, B. Auer, A. Könik, T. J. Fromme, L. R. Furenlid, P. H. Kuo, and M. A. King, "Investigation of Axial and Angular Sampling in Multi-Detector Pinhole-SPECT Brain Imaging.", IEEE Trans Med Imaging, vol. 39, issue 12, pp. 4209-4224, 2020 Dec.
Neill, M., JM. Fisher, M. Kay, T. Zhang, S. Sherman, H. Lei, YH. Chou, and PH. Kuo, Multi-parametric optimization of dopamine transporter SPECT software quantification for diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes, 2020.
Kay, M. D., L. F. Morris-Wiseman, J. Caskey, B. A. Winegar, and P. H. Kuo, "99mTc-Sestamibi Scintigraphy Reveals Parathyroid Adenoma Masquerading as Esophageal Diverticulum.", Clin Nucl Med, 2020 Nov 16.
B, A., K. K, D. Beenhouwer J, D. K, Z. N, K. P, F. L, and K. M, Reconstruction using Depth of Interaction Information of Curved and Flat Detector Designs for Quantitative Multi-Pinhole Brain SPECT, 2020.

2018

Sawyer, D., and PH. Kuo, Top-Down Systematic Approach to Interpretation of FDG-PET for Dementia, 2018.
Kuo, PH., N. Eshghi, S. Tinaz, H. Blumenfeld, ED. Louis, and G. Zubal, Optimization of Parameters for Quantitative Analysis of 123l-ioflupane SPECT Images for Monitoring of Progression of Parkinson's Disease, 2018.
Eshghi, N., L. Garland, G. Choudhary, C. C. Hsu, A. Eshghi, J. Han, R. J. Hamilton, E. Krupinski, and P. Hsin Kuo, "Pilot Study: Regional Changes in Brain F-FDG Uptake After Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation and Chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer May Reflect Functional Changes.", J Nucl Med Technol, 2018 Aug 03.
Zukotynski, K., PH. Kuo, D. Mikulis, P. Rosa-Neto, AP. Strafella, RM. Subramanian, and SE. Black, PET/CT of Dementia, 2018.
Eshghi, A., R. Klein, N. Eshghi, and PH. Kuo, 18F FDG-PET/CT for the Evaluation of Primary Eosinophilic Granuloma of the Hypothalamus, 2018.
Manning, M., PH. Kuo, and A. Yeager, Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Masquerading as Recurrent Lymphoma, 2018.

2017

Woodhead, G. J., R. J. Avery, and P. H. Kuo, "Atlas of Extraosseous Findings Detected by 18F-NaF PET/CT Bone Scan.", Clin Nucl Med, vol. 42, issue 12, pp. 930-938, 2017 Dec.
Jones, K. M., E. A. Randtke, E. S. Yoshimaru, C. M. Howison, P. Chalasani, R. R. Klein, S. K. Chambers, P. H. Kuo, and M. D. Pagel, "Clinical Translation of Tumor Acidosis Measurements with AcidoCEST MRI.", Mol Imaging Biol, vol. 19, issue 4, pp. 617-625, 2017 Aug.
Nia, E. S., L. L. Garland, N. Eshghi, B. B. Nia, R. J. Avery, and P. H. Kuo, "Incidence of Brain Metastases on Follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT Scans of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Should We Include the Brain?", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 45, issue 3, pp. 193-197, 2017 Sep.
Nia, B. B., E. S. Nia, R. J. Avery, P. H. Kuo, and C. T. Hennemeyer, "Punctate Radiation Dermatitis of the Foot and Ankle Caused by Distal Embolization of 90Y Microspheres During Liver Directed Therapy.", Clin Nucl Med, vol. 42, issue 9, pp. e422-e423, 2017 Sep.

2015

Covington, M. F., S. Sherman, D. Lewis, H. Lei, E. Krupinski, and P. H. Kuo, "Patient Survey on Satisfaction and Impact of 123I-Ioflupane Dopamine Transporter Imaging.", PLoS One, vol. 10, issue 7, pp. e0134457, 2015. PMCID: PMC4520668 
Thai, J. N., A. Abidov, T. Jie, E. A. Krupinski, and P. H. Kuo, "Nuclear Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Versus Stress Echocardiography in the Preoperative Evaluation of Patients for Kidney Transplantation.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 43, issue 3, pp. 201-5, 2015 Sep.

2014

Covington, M. F., E. Krupinski, R. J. Avery, and P. H. Kuo, "Classification schema of symptomatic enterogastric reflux utilizing sincalide augmentation on hepatobiliary scintigraphy.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 42, issue 3, pp. 198-202, 2014 Sep.
S, H., H. B, K. E, and K. PH, Comparison of three protocols for gallbladder ejection fraction by hepatobiliary scintigraphy, 2014.
Kuo, P. H., H. H. Lei, R. Avery, E. A. Krupinski, A. Bauer, S. Sherman, N. McMillan, J. Seibyl, and G. I. Zubal, "Evaluation of an Objective Striatal Analysis Program for Determining Laterality in Uptake of ¹²³I-Ioflupane SPECT Images: Comparison to Clinical Symptoms and to Visual Reads.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 42, issue 2, pp. 105-8, 2014 Jun. PMID: 24627411
Janicek, A. K., R. J. Avery, and P. H. Kuo, "The pinwheel sign: artifact from head rotation during SPECT acquisition for dopamine transporter imaging.", J Nucl Med Technol, vol. 42, issue 1, pp. 75-6, 2014 Mar.

2013

S, H., B. A, K. E, and K. PH, Optimizing the VQ scan for image quality and radiation exposure, 2013.

2012

Nawas, M. T., W. S. Kubal, and P. H. Kuo, "Decreased cerebellar activity on FDG PET/CT secondary to diffuse idiopathic cerebellar calcification.", Clin Nucl Med, vol. 37, issue 9, pp. 906-7, 2012 Sep.

2007

Kuo, P. H., E. Kanal, A. K. Abu-Alfa, and S. E. Cowper, "Gadolinium-based MR contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.", Radiology, vol. 242, issue 3, pp. 647-9, 2007 Mar.

1995

Rye, RO., PH. Kuo, and HD. Holland, "Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations before 2.2 billion years ago", Nature, vol. 378, 12/1995.