Luca Pasquini, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingCards
About
Research
I use neuro-imaging, including advanced MRI techniques, to enhance the integration of cognitive neuroscience into clinical practice. My research interests include brain connectivity, artificial intelligence and molecular imaging.
Publications
2025
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Avoid Symptomatic Radionecrosis
Gui C, Jenabi M, Daly J, Gillick C, Bradley T, Sze E, Maldonado R, Tiwari A, Brennan C, Moss N, Tabar V, Yu K, Yamada Y, Yu Y, Mankuzhy N, Pike L, Stember J, Pasquini L, Peck K, Ballangrud Å, Holodny A, Imber B. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Avoid Symptomatic Radionecrosis. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2025, 124: 1186-1198. PMID: 41319722, PMCID: PMC13051351, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFunctional magnetic resonance imagingNear eloquent areasFocal neurological symptomsStereotactic radiosurgeryEloquent areasBrain metastasesNeurological symptomsTarget coverageFunctional magnetic resonance imaging studyMonths of SRSProgressive neurological symptomsMotor eloquent areasIrradiated BMMagnetic resonance imagingSymptomatic radionecrosisSymptomatic RNNeurological toxicityLanguage areasPrimary outcomeRadionecrosisNeuroanatomical relationshipPatientsResonance imagingNeurosurgical injuriesRadiosurgeryRisk Factors for Spinal Cord Compression on MRI in Oncology: Enhancing Diagnostic Yield.
Yildirim O, Ucpinar B, Pasquini L, Contreras E, Perez J, Shah A, Schefflein J, Stember J, White C, Zhang Z, Klotz A, Holodny A, Hatzoglou V. Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Compression on MRI in Oncology: Enhancing Diagnostic Yield. American Journal Of Neuroradiology 2025, 47: 837-842. PMID: 40962422, PMCID: PMC12964437, DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a9002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEpidural spinal cord compressionTotal spine MRISpinal cord compressionDiagnostic yieldTumor-node-metastasisSpine MRIBone metastasesCord compressionBody CTEpidural spinal cord compression gradeNon-contrast MRI protocolOncology patientsRisk factorsBody CT examsStage IV diseaseAdvanced-stage diseaseTertiary cancer centerSpine MRI examinationsFisher's exact testFrequency of positive findingsWilcoxon rank sum testPearson chi-square testSite of compressionRank sum testAdvanced TNM stagePatterns of relapse in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma after convection-enhanced delivery of 124I-omburtamab
Bander E, Garton A, Pasquini L, Reiner A, Yildirim O, Ilica A, Donzelli M, Haque S, Souweidane M. Patterns of relapse in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma after convection-enhanced delivery of 124I-omburtamab. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2025, 7: vdaf128. PMID: 40709014, PMCID: PMC12288026, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf128.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaPattern of relapseConvection-enhanced deliveryIntrinsic pontine gliomaConvection-enhanced delivery treatmentOverall survivalCumulative incidencePontine gliomaTherapeutic efficacyAnatomical sitesAnatomical patternsCumulative incidence of progressionMedian overall survivalIncidence of progressionPhase I trialEffective treatment optionLower cumulative incidenceDrug delivery strategiesLocoregional controlMedian OSI trialTherapy trialsNo significant differenceRadiographic progressionTreatment options
2024
Cognitive Control Network and Language Reorganization in Patients with Brain Tumors
Pasquini L, Napolitano A, Spitoni L, Schmid M, Dellepiane F, Jenabi M, Peck K, Holodny A. Cognitive Control Network and Language Reorganization in Patients with Brain Tumors. American Journal Of Neuroradiology 2024, 46: ajnr.a8638. PMID: 39730156, PMCID: PMC12152808, DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8638.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCognitive control networkLanguage reorganizationResting-state fMRIHealthy controlsFunctional magnetic resonance imagingControl networkTask-based fMRIResting state networksRight-handed patientsCognitive controlLanguage lateralizationReorganize languageEffect of lateralitySpeech deficitsLaterality indexFMRIAge-matched healthy controlsRight-handednessPatient's speechBrain tumorsTask-basedCognitive networksIndependent component analysisMagnetic resonance imagingBrainGut-brain axis and neuroplasticity in health and disease: a systematic review
Di Napoli A, Pasquini L, Visconti E, Vaccaro M, Rossi-Espagnet M, Napolitano A. Gut-brain axis and neuroplasticity in health and disease: a systematic review. La Radiologia Medica 2024, 130: 327-358. PMID: 39718685, DOI: 10.1007/s11547-024-01938-0.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsFunctional magnetic resonance imaging studyDiffusion tensor imagingHealthy subjectsArterial spin labelingGut-brain axisBrain connectivityStructural magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imaging studiesInflammatory bowel syndromeAssociated with connectivityMagnetic resonance imagingGut microbiotaBowel syndromeImaging studiesTranscranial magnetic stimulationTemporal cortexNon-human subjectsResonance imagingCurrent evidenceStructural MRISomatosensory cortexPatientsPsychiatric diseasesBrain functionTensor imagingEvolutionary Strategies Enable Systematic and Reliable Uncertainty Quantification: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study on Resting-State Functional MRI Language Lateralization
Stember J, Dishner K, Jenabi M, Pasquini L, K Peck K, Saha A, Shah A, O’Malley B, Ilica A, Kelly L, Arevalo-Perez J, Hatzoglou V, Holodny A, Shalu H. Evolutionary Strategies Enable Systematic and Reliable Uncertainty Quantification: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study on Resting-State Functional MRI Language Lateralization. Journal Of Imaging Informatics In Medicine 2024, 38: 576-586. PMID: 38980624, PMCID: PMC11810852, DOI: 10.1007/s10278-024-01188-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOut-of-distributionDeep neuroevolutionArtificial intelligenceOut-of-distribution imagesTrustworthy artificial intelligenceTest set accuracyUncertainty quantificationComputational complexityEffective uncertainty quantificationAleatoric uncertaintyDistribution entropyMedical diagnosisUQ methodsRadiology applicationsClinical workflowOptimal strategyEnablersNeuroevolutionExpert reviewUQ approachEnsembleExpert assessmentIntelligenceMapsModel ensembleTumor-induced modifications of resting-state networks in patients with glioma
Pasquini L, Napolitano A, Schmid M, Jenabi M, Peck K, Holodny A. Tumor-induced modifications of resting-state networks in patients with glioma. Proceedings Of The International Society For Magnetic Resonance In Medicine ... Scientific Meeting And Exhibition. 2024 DOI: 10.58530/2024/3149.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBrain networksHealthy controlsResting-state functional MRITumor locationResting-state networksFunctional MRIAssociated with tumor locationTumor boundariesCognitive disabilitiesTumor-induced alterationsCognitive networksBrainChi-square testTumor effectWHO-gradeFunctional alterationsEloquent areasTumor growthGlioma patientsWidespread effectsTumorPatient networksPatientsGliomaAlterationsTumors Affect the Metabolic Connectivity of the Human Brain Measured by 18F-FDG PET
Pasquini L, Jenabi M, Graham M, Peck K, Schöder H, Holodny A, Krebs S. Tumors Affect the Metabolic Connectivity of the Human Brain Measured by 18F-FDG PET. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 2024, 49: 822-829. PMID: 38693648, PMCID: PMC11300165, DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0000000000005227.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealthy controlsTemporal tumorF-FDGFrontal tumorF-FDG PET/MRIKarnofsky performance scoreF-FDG PETHigh-grade gliomasLow-grade gliomasLow KPSRadiation necrosisActive tumorMetabolic brain networkMetabolic connectivityHigher KPSBrain metabolic connectivityHemispheric tumorsLow-gradeSignificant hemispheric differencesSynaptic activityTumorPatientsBetweenness centralityLeft hemisphere tumorsGlucose metabolismCongenital Malformations of the Eye: A Pictorial Review and Clinico‐Radiological Correlations
Guarnera A, Valente P, Pasquini L, Moltoni G, Randisi F, Carducci C, Carboni A, Lucignani G, Napolitano A, Romanzo A, Longo D, Gandolfo C, Rossi-Espagnet M. Congenital Malformations of the Eye: A Pictorial Review and Clinico‐Radiological Correlations. Journal Of Ophthalmology 2024, 2024: 5993083. PMID: 38322500, PMCID: PMC10846927, DOI: 10.1155/2024/5993083.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsOcular malformationsCongenital malformationsPictorial reviewWeeks of gestationClinico-radiological correlationOphthalmologic evaluationOphthalmological findingsMalformation severityImaging findingsMalformationsComplex syndromeQuality of lifeImaging protocolVision impairmentHeterogeneous spectrumAbnormalitiesClinical radiologistsEye formationGenetic conditionsEyesCausative eventChild growthComplete absenceImage featuresGestation
2023
Case Study #8: Alpha-Therapy with Radium-223 Dichloride for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Pasquini L, Morris M. Case Study #8: Alpha-Therapy with Radium-223 Dichloride for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. 2023, 387-405. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-39005-0_19.ChaptersMetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancerCastration-resistant prostate cancerProstate cancerRadium-223Radiopharmaceutical therapyTreatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancerMinimal bone marrow toxicityRadium-223 dichlorideVisceral metastatic diseaseBone marrow toxicityNearby cancer cellsBone painMarrow toxicityMetastatic diseaseOverall survivalCombination therapyMetastatic spreadBone involvementAlpha therapyClinical developmentTreatment strategiesPalliative effectCancer cellsCancerBone