Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y St., Suite 3100
Sacramento, CA 95817
Driving Directions
Primary Phone:
Additional Phone Numbers
Physician Referrals: 800-4-UCDAVIS (800-482-3284)
Philosophy of Care
My philosophy is to consider the best treatment options for patients to insure the best outcome for their disease or cancer. I have developed and am an innovator in a variety of newer and less invasive precision execution of cancer therapies for various focal areas. These techniques include placement of percutaneous electrodes under image guidance to destroy tumors (cancer). This is done using minimally invasive techniques to insure minimal or no damage to surrounding tissue. These techniques allow patient recovery time to be less than traditional surgical techniques.
Clinical Interests
Dr. McGahan is a leading interventional and diagnostic radiologist. He has pioneered the use of several innovative techniques, including the use of radio-frequency ablation to treat primary and metastatic tumors (with results comparable to traditional surgery, but with fewer risks). He also has used ablation techniques in the treatment of primary and metastatic liver and renal tumors. He has treated benign and metastatic bone tumors. In addition, Dr. McGahan has investigated new techniques of tissue ablation for other organs, such as the prostate and breast. He has pioneered several other interventional techniques, including the development of percutaneous cholecystostomy as well as new techniques for endoluminal drainage of pelvic abscesses. He has recently studied the efficacy of abdominal ultrasound contrast in patients who have different diseases, including the use of ultrasound contrast in patients with hepatic or splenic injuries from blunt abdominal trauma.
Dr. McGahan was appointed as the chairperson by the American College of Radiology for its national Accreditation Program of Ultrasound Practices in the United States and Canada. He serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals and has edited seven textbooks, including Diagnostic Ultrasound, A Logical Approach; Diagnostic Imaging of Fetal Anomalies; and most recently, an Atlas of Ultrasound Measurements and Fundamentals of Emergency Ultrasound.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. McGahan's research is devoted to new minimally invasive methods of improving patient care. Among his research has been the development of percutaneous techniques in minimal treatment of cancer using energies such as radio-frequency and microwave energy. For instance, he has recently published his results of treatment of renal cell carcinoma with an overall effective cure rate of 96% with minimal side effects.
He has also developed techniques for percutaneous insertion of catheters into the gallbladder for acute cholecystitis. He has patented a device for ultrasound guidance of treatment of pelvic abscesses.
Division
Abdominal Imaging
Body MRI
Radiofrequency Ablation
Diagnostic Radiology
Center/Program Affiliation
Education
M.D., Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Portland OR 1974
B.S., Gonzaga University, Spokane WA 1970
Internship: UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento CA 1974-1975
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery and Diagnostic Radiology, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento CA 1975-1979
Board Certifications
American Board of Radiology, 1979
American Board of Radiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 1995
National Board of Medical Examiners, 1974
Professional Memberships
American College of Radiology, Fellow
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Fellow
American Roentgen Ray Society
Association of University Radiologists
International Hepato-Biliary Pancreatic Association
International Society of Biliary Radiology
Radiological Society of North America
Society of Biliary Radiology
Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound, Fellow
Honors and Awards
Castle Connolly - America's Top Doctors for Cancer, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
US News & World Report � Top Physician USA, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
GI Lifetime Achievement Award at the SAR 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting and Educational Course in Hollywood, FL, 2017
Distinguished Professor � UC Davis Medical Center, 2013
Select Recent Publications
Grewal A, Khera SS, McGahan JP, Wilson M, Loehfelm TW, Dall'Era MA, Evans CP. Utility of Intraprocedural Contrast-Enhanced CT in Ablation of Renal Masses. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2019 Sep 18:1-7. doi: 10.2214/AJR.19.21584.
Kim NY, Lubner MG, Nystrom JT, Swietlik JF, Abel EJ, Havighurst TC, Silverman SG, McGahan JP, Pickhardt PJ. Utility of CT Texture Analysis in Differentiating Low-Attenuation Renal Cell Carcinoma From Cysts: A Bi-Institutional Retrospective Study. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2019 Aug 6:1-8. doi: 10.2214/AJR.19.21182.
Kipper B, McGahan JP, Loehfelm TW, Fananapazir G. Is Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsy as Safe as Fine-Needle Aspiration, and Does It Add Significantly to the Diagnosis of Suspected Peritoneal Malignancy? J Ultrasound Med. 2019 Jul 22. doi: 10.1002/jum.15095.
Elsayes KM, Kielar AZ, Elmohr MM, et al. White paper of the Society of Abdominal Radiology hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis disease-focused panel on LI-RADS v2018 for CT and MRI. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2018 Oct;43(10):2625-2642. doi: 10.1007/s00261-018-1744-4.
McGahan JP, Sidhar K, Fananapazir G, Early H, Corwin MT, Silverman SG, Seibert A. Renal cell carcinoma attenuation values on unenhanced CT: importance of multiple, small region-of-interest measurements. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2017 Sep;42(9):2325-2333. doi: 10.1007/s00261-017-1131-6.
Richards JR, McGahan JP. Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) in 2017: What Radiologists Can Learn. Radiology. 2017 Apr;283(1):30-48.
Early HM, McGahan JP, Scoutt LM, Revzin M, Lamba R, Corwin M, Fananapazir G, Sekhon S. Pitfalls of Sonographic Imaging of Uterine Leiomyoma. Ultrasound Q. 2016 Jun;32(2):164-74.
Sidhar K, McGahan JP, Early HM, Corwin M, Fananapazir G, Gerscovich EO. Renal Cell Carcinomas: Sonographic Appearance Depending on Size and Histologic Type. J Ultrasound Med. 2016 Feb;35(2):311-20.
McGahan JP. Challenges in abdominal/pelvic biopsy techniques. Abdom Imaging. 2013 Oct;38(5):1043-56.
McGahan JP, Bishop J, Webb J, Howell L, Torok N, Lamba R, Corwin MT. Role of FNA and Core Biopsy of Primary and Metastatic Liver Disease. Int J Hepatol. 2013;2013:174103.