Premavathy Rassiah

Premavathy Rassiah, PhD, MSci

Languages spoken: Tamil, Malay, English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Radiation Oncology

Board Certification

  • American Board of Radiology

Prema Rassiah, PhD, is a Professor and chief of medical physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Utah and the Huntsman Cancer Hospital (HCH).

She obtained her degree of doctor of philosophy in medical physics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2005. Before commencing her PhD, she was a fellow of the World Health Organization at Stanford University Medical Center. She is an active member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Board of Radiology, American College of Radiology and the Children's Oncology Group.

Her clinical and research interests include Dosimetric algorithms and Total Body Irradiation.

Education History

Undergraduate University Science Malaysia
 BS
Graduate Training University Science Malaysia
 MS
Other Training Peter Mac Callum Cancer Institute
 Certificate
Other Training Prince of Wales Hospital
 Certificate
Other Training Stanford University
 Certificate
Doctoral Training University of Texas, Health Sciences Center
 PhD

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Rassiah P, Salter BJ, Fuller CD, Blough M, Papanikolaou N, Fuss (2006). Monte Carlo characterization of target doses in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 45 (7), 989-94.
  2. Salter BJ, Fuss M, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Papanikolaou N, Hollingshaus S, Shrieve D (2009). Optimization of isocenter location for intensity modulated stereotactic treatment of small intracranial targets. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 73(2), 546-55. (Read full article)
  3. Rassiah P, Esiashvili N, Olch AJ, Hua CH, Ulin K, Molineu A, Marcus K, Gopalakrishnan M, Pillai S, Kovalchuk N, Liu A, Niyazov G, Peñagarícano J, Cheung F, Olson AC, Wu CC, Malhotra HK, MacEwan IJ, Faught J, Breneman JC, Followill DS, FitzGerald TJ, Kalapurakal J (2021). Practice Patterns of Pediatric Total Body Irradiation Techniques: A Children's Oncology Group Survey. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, (Read full article)
  4. Zhao H, Williams N, Poppe M, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Huang YJ, Kokeny K, Gaffney D, Salter (2019). Comparison of surface guidance and target matching for image-guided accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Medical physics, 46(11), 4717-4724. (Read full article)
  5. Szegedi M, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Hinkle J, Wang B, Huang YH, Zhao H, Joshi S, Salter B (2012). Tissue characterization using a phantom to validate four-dimensional tissue deformation. Medical physics, 39(10), 6065-70. (Read full article)
  6. Sarkar V, Szegedi M, Paxton A, Nelson G, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Reddy CB, Tao R, Hitchcock YJ, Kokeny KE, Salter B (2020). Preliminary clinical experience with Calypso anchored beacons for tumor tracking in lung SBRT. Medical physics, 47(9), 4407-4415. (Read full article)
  7. Szegedi M, Boehm C, Paxton A, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Zhao H, Su F, Kokeny KE, Lloyd S, Tward J, Salter B (2020). Comparison of transperineal ultrasound image guidance technique to transabdominal technique for prostate radiation therapy. Medical physics, 47(12), 6113-6121. (Read full article)
  8. Salter BJ, Sarkar V, Wang B, Shukla H, Szegedi M, Rassiah-Szegedi (2011). Rotational IMRT delivery using a digital linear accelerator in very high dose rate 'burst mode'. Physics in medicine and biology, 56(7), 1931-46. (Read full article)
  9. Salter BJ, Wang B, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Shrieve DC, Cheng R, Fuss (2008). Evaluation of alignment error due to a speed artifact in stereotactic ultrasound image guidance. Physics in medicine and biology, 53(23), N437-45. (Read full article)
  10. Zhao H, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P (2016). Comparison of CT-on-rails and a 3D surface imaging system for image guided pelvic radiation therapy for both supine and prone patient positions. Journal of applied clinical medical physics,
  11. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Kunz J, Szegedi M, Nelson G, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Su F, Salter B (2019). A systematic evaluation of the error detection abilities of a new diode transmission detector. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 20(9), 122-132. (Read full article)
  12. Zhao H, Sarkar V, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Jessica Huang Y, Huang L, Tward J, Salter (2019). Calculation of delivered composite dose from Calypso tracking data for prostate cancer: And subsequent evaluation of reasonable treatment interruption tolerance limits. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 20(8), 105-113. (Read full article)
  13. Zhao H, Wang B, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Huang YJ, Szegedi M, Huang L, Gonzalez V, Salter (2016). Comparison of surface matching and target matching for image-guided pelvic radiation therapy for both supine and prone patient positions. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 17(3), 14-24. (Read full article)
  14. Sarkar V, Huang L, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang J, Szegedi M, Salter B (2015). Planning for mARC treatments with the Eclipse treatment planning system. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 16(2), 5351. (Read full article)
  15. Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Streitmatter S, Huang YJ, Zhao H, Salter (2014). Dosimetric impact of the 160 MLC on head and neck IMRT treatments. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 15(6), 4770. (Read full article)
  16. Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Huang YJ, Zhao H, Salter (2012). 4D CT image acquisition errors in SBRT of liver identified using correlation. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 13(1), 3564. (Read full article)
  17. Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Szegedi M, Tward J, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Sarkar V, Shrieve D, Salter (2011). Individualized margins for prostate patients using a wireless localization and tracking system. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 12(3), 3516. (Read full article)
  18. Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Sarkar V, Szegedi M, Kokeny KE, Anker CJ, Shrieve DC, Salter B (2011). Initial experience and clinical comparison of two image guidance methods for SBRT treatment: 4DCT versus respiratory-triggered imaging. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 12(3), 3429. (Read full article)
  19. Rassiah P, Su FF, Huang YJ, Spitznagel D, Sarkar V, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Paxton AB, Nelson G, Salter B (2020). Using failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to generate an initial plan check checklist for improved safety in radiation treatment. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 21(8), 83-91. (Read full article)
  20. Szegedi M, Hinkle J, Rassiah P, Sarkar V, Wang B, Joshi S, Salter (2013). Four-dimensional tissue deformation reconstruction (4D TDR) validation using a real tissue phantom. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 14(1), 4012. (Read full article)
  21. Szegedi M, Sarkar V, Paxton A, Rassiah P, Salter B (2021). Seismic reinforcement of a linac installation. Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 22(4), 166-171. (Read full article)
  22. Paxton AB, Sarkar V, Kunz JN, Szegedi M, Zhao H, Huang YJ, Nelson G, Rassiah P, Su FF, Salter B (2020). Evaluation of the effects of implementing a diode transmission device into the clinical workflow. Physica medica, 80, 335-341. (Read full article)
  23. Huang YJ, Su FF, Gaffney DK, Kokeny KE, Zhao H, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter BJ, Poppe M (2018). Skin dose estimation using virtual structures for Contura Multi-Lumen Balloon breast brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 17(6), 956-965. (Read full article)
  24. Su FF, Huang YJ, Rassiah P, Salter B (2020). FMEA-guided transition from microSelectron to Flexitron for HDR brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 19(2), 241-248. (Read full article)
  25. Harkenrider MM, Albuquerque K, Brown D, Kamrava M, King M, Mourtada F, Orio P, Patel R, Price M, Rassiah P, Solanki AA, Small W Jr, Schechter N (2021). ACR-ABS-ASTRO practice parameter for the performance of radionuclide-based high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 20(6), 1071-1082. (Read full article)
  26. Salter BJ, Szegedi M, Boehm C, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Wang B, Zhao H, Huang J, Huang L, Kokeny K, Tward J (2017). Comparison of 2 transabdominal ultrasound image guidance techniques for prostate and prostatic fossa radiation therapy. Practical radiation oncology, 7(2), e99-e107. (Read full article)
  27. Sarkar V, Wang B, Hinkle J, Gonzalez VJ, Hitchcock YJ, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Joshi S, Salter B (2012). Dosimetric evaluation of a "virtual" image-guidance alternative to explicit 6 degree of freedom robotic couch correction. Practical radiation oncology, 2(2), 122-37. (Read full article)
  28. Zhao H, Paxton A, Sarkar V, Huang YJ, Frances Su FC, Haacke C, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Szegedi M, Salter (2020). Prevention of Radiation Therapy Treatment Deviations by a Novel Combined Biometric, Radiofrequency Identification, and Surface Imaging System. Practical radiation oncology, 11(2), e229-e235. (Read full article)
  29. Vogel J, Hui S, Hua CH, Dusenbery K, Rassiah P, Kalapurakal J, Constine L, Esiashvili (2021). Pulmonary Toxicity After Total Body Irradiation - Critical Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Toxicity Reporting. Frontiers in oncology, 11, 708906. (Read full article)
  30. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Huang L, Nelson G, Huang YJ, Su F, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter BJ (2019). An evaluation of the consistency of shifts reported by three different systems for non-coplanar treatments. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT,
  31. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Szegedi MW, Zhao H, Huang L, Nelson G, Huang YJ, Su F, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Salter B (2018). An evaluation of the consistency of shifts reported by three different systems for non-coplanar treatments. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT, 5(4), 323-330. (Read full article)
  32. Sarkar V, Huang L, Huang YJ, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Salter B (2016). Head to head comparison of two commercial phantoms used for SRS QA. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT, 4(3), 213-223. (Read full article)
  33. Sarkar V, Huang L, Huang YJ, Szegedi MW, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Hitchcock YJ, Kokeny KE, Wang B, Salter B (2016). Dosimetric evaluation of abdominal compression as a method to reduce the incidence of radiation-induced pneumonitis in lung SBRT treatment. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT, 4(2), 125-132. (Read full article)
  34. Sarkar V, Paxton A, Rassiah P, Kokeny KE, Hitchcock YJ, Salter B (2020). Evaluation of dose distribution differences from five algorithms implemented in three commercial treatment planning systems for lung SBRT. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT, 7(1), 57-66. (Read full article)
  35. Sarkar V, Lloyd S, Paxton A, Dial C, Rassiah P, Szegedi MW, Hitchcock YJ, Salter B (2021). Evaluation of the dosimetric impact of changes in shoulder position on target coverage for spine SBRT to metastases in the lower cervical spine region. Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT, 7(4), 321-328. (Read full article)
  36. Gonzalez VJ, Hullett CR, Burt L, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Tward JD, Hazard LJ, Huang YJ, Salter BJ, Gaffney D (2017). Impact of prone versus supine positioning on small bowel dose with pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy. Advances in radiation oncology, 2(2), 235-243. (Read full article)
  37. Huang YJ, Harrison A, Sarkar V, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Szegedi M, Huang L, Wilson B, Gaffney DK, Salter B (2016). Detection of late radiation damage on left atrial fibrosis using cardiac late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging. Advances in radiation oncology, 1(2), 106-114. (Read full article)

Abstract

  1. Zhao H, Wang B, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Sarkar V, Huang Y, Szegedi M, Gonzalez V, Salter (2012). SU-E-J-60: Comparison of CT-On-Rails and a 3D Surface Imaging System for Image Guided Pelvic Radiation Therapy for Both Supine and Prone Patient Positions. Medical physics, 39(6Part6), 3666. (Read full article)
  2. Wang B, Sarkar V, Busselberg C, Rassiah-Szegedi P, Zhao H, Huang Y, Szegedi M, Salter (2012). SU-E-T-404: A Prototype Program for Analyzing 4D Image Guidance Shifts for Lung SBRT. Medical physics, 39(6Part16), 3797. (Read full article)
  3. H Zhao*, V Sarkar , A Paxton , P Rassiah-Szegedi , Y Huang , M Szegedi , L Huang , F Su , B Salte (2016). Feasibility of Supraclavicular Field Treatment by Investigating Variation of Junction Position Between Breast Tangential and Supraclavicular Fields for Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Left Breast Radiation.