Samantha Pisani Petrucci, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Radiology-Neuroradiology

FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine (2017)
Graduate School
  • PhD, University of Illinois At Urbana - Champaign (2015)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, University of San Diego (CA) (2007)
Internship
  • University of Minnesota Program (2018)
Residency
  • University of California (San Francisco) Program, Diagnostic (2022)
Fellowships
  • University of California (San Francisco) Program, Neuroradiology (2023)
Department
Radiology-Neuroradiology

Professional Titles

  • Assistant Professor

Recognitions

  • UCSF T32 Biomedical Imaging for Clinician Scientists Program, National Institutes of Health (2022)
    2022-2023
  • Summa Cum Laude Exhibit Award, American Society of Neuroradiology (2020)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2016)
  • Fellow, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014)
    2014-2016
  • List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013)
    2013-2014
  • College of Medicine Buetow Memorial Travel Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013)
    2010, 2013
  • Graduate College Travel Award,, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012)
  • Research Practicum Travel Award, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (2012)
  • College of Medicine Hazel I. Craig Summer Research Assistantship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2011)
  • University Fellowship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008)
    2008-2009
  • Neuroscience Program Fellowship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008)
    2008-2009
  • Trustees Academic Scholarship, University of San Diego (2003)
    2003-2007
  • Bishop Maher Leadership Scholarship, University of San Diego (2003)
    2003-2007
  • Carroll Leadership Scholarship, University of San Diego (2003)
    2003-2007

Publications

  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Andonov, N., Lennarson, P.J., Birlea, M., O’Brien, C., Wilhour, D., Anderson, A., Bennett, J.L., Callen, A.L. (2024). Assessing the Diagnostic value of brain white matter hyperintensities and clinical symptoms in predicting the detection of CSF venous fistula in patients with suspected spontaneous intracranial hypotension. American Journal of Neuroradiology
  • Callen, A.L., Pisani Petrucci, S.L. (2024). Beyond the AJR: Can evidence-based MRI signs improve the diagnostic accuracy of idiopathic intracranial hypertension? American Journal of Roentgenology
  • Callen, A.L., Han, L., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Andonov, N., Lennarson, P.J., Birlea, M., O’Brien, C., Wilhour, D., Anderson, A., Bennett, J.L., Carroll I.R. (2024). Patterns of clinical and imaging presentations in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension due to spinal cerebrospinal fluid venous fistula: A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study. Headache, 64 (8): 939-949.
  • Sechrist, E.M.Z., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Andonov, N., Lennarson, P.J., Callen, A.L. (2024). The spatial relationship between spinal osteoarthritis and CSF venous fistulas in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 45(7): 957-960.
  • Callen, A.L., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Lennarson, P.J., Birlea, M., MacKenzie, J., Buchanan, A., “Spinal CSF Leak: Bridging the Gap” study group. (2024). Perspectives from the inaugural Spinal CSF Leak Bridging the Gap Conference: A convergence of clinical and patient expertise. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 45(7): 841-849.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L. (2024). “Spinal CSF Leaks and Pregnancy”. 2nd Annual Spinal CSF Leak: Bridging the Gap conference, University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L. (2024). Update on advanced imaging techniques for CSF leaks. 17th Annual meeting of the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Callen, A.L. (2024) Association of white matter FLAIR hyperintensities and spontaneous intracranial hypotension in headache patients. 62nd Annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2020 EdConnect Online Portal.
  • Sechrist, E., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Andonov, N., Lennarson, P.J., Callen, A.L. (2024). The association of spinal degenerative changes with incidence of CSF venous fistula in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. 27th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Spine Radiology.
  • Khoshpouri, P., Dang, N., Serkova, N.J., Tanabe, J., Pisani Petrucci, S.L. (2024). A 360 degree review of the power of low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) in management of brain tumors. 110th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. RSNA 2024 Meeting Central.
  • Chebaane, M., Patel, H., Tanabe, J., Pisani Petrucci, S.L. (2024). Healing by sound but designing by sight: the critical role of advanced MR techniques in the planning and monitoring of focused ultrasound interventions in the brain. 17th Annual meeting of the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology.
  • Dang, N., Khoshpouri, P., Schacht, J., Sakai, J., Gowin, J., Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Tanabe, J. (2024). Breaking boundaries, not the skin: emerging applications of low intensity focused ultrasound in neuropsychiatric treatment. 17th Annual meeting of the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Callen, A.L., Birlea, M., Jenkins, J.K., Wilhour, D. (2024). Diagnosis and management of spontaneous intracranial hypotension in the pregnant patient: case presentation, special considerations for the intra- and post-partum periods, and summary of multi-disciplinary recommendations. American Headache Society 66th Annual Scientific Meeting.
  • Carlisle, T.C., Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Callen, A.L. (2024). A case of suspected dementia with Lewy bodies with Alzheimer’s disease co-pathology and frontal brain sagging syndrome – Hickam's dictum partially explained by Occam’s razor. 34th Annual meeting of the American Neuropsychiatric Association.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Callen, A.L. (2024). ASNR 2024 Spine Case of the Day: Sacral CSF Leak. 62nd Annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2024 EdConnect Online Portal.
  • Turner, R.A., Wilhour, D., Andonov, N., Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Lennarson, P.J., Callen, A.L. (2024). Congratulations, it’s a leak! Radiological diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic postdural puncture headaches in postpartum patients. 62nd Annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2024 EdConnect Online Portal.
  • Lee, S.N., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Callen, A.L. (2024). Benefits of a tailored MRI cerebrospinal fluid leak protocol over conventional MRI spine for evaluation of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. 27th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Spine Radiology.
  • Sechrist, E., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Andonov, N., Lennarson, P.J., Callen, A.L. The association of spinal degenerative changes with incidence of CSF venous fistula in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Accepted to the 27th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Spine Radiology.
  • Lee, S.N., Pisani Petrucci, S.L, Callen, A.L. Benefits of a tailored MRI cerebrospinal fluid leak protocol over conventional MRI spine for evaluation of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Accepted to the 27th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Spine Radiology.
  • Callen AL, Han L, Pisani Petrucci SL, Andonov N, Lennarson P, Birlea M, O'Brien C, Wilhour D, Anderson A, Bennett JL, Carroll IR. Patterns of clinical and imaging presentations in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension due to spinal cerebrospinal fluid venous fistula: A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study. Headache. 2024 Sep;64(8):939-949. PubMed PMID: 39129307
  • Sechrist EMZ, Pisani Petrucci SL, Andonov N, Lennarson P, Callen AL. The Spatial Relationship between Spinal Osteoarthritis and CSF Venous Fistulas in Patients with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2024 Jul 8;45(7):957-960. PubMed PMID: 38697794
  • Callen AL, Pisani Petrucci SL, Lennarson P, Birlea M, MacKenzie J, Buchanan AJ. Perspectives from the Inaugural "Spinal CSF Leak: Bridging the Gap" Conference: A Convergence of Clinical and Patient Expertise. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2024 Jul 8;45(7):841-849. PubMed PMID: 38697790
  • Pisani Petrucci SL, Andonov N, Lennarson P, Birlea M, O'Brien C, Wilhour D, Anderson A, Bennett JL, Callen AL. Assessing the Diagnostic Value of Brain White Matter Hyperintensities and Clinical Symptoms in Predicting the Detection of CSF Venous Fistula in Patients with Suspected Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2024 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39443147
  • McBurney-Lin, S., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Cha, S. (2023). Posterior fossa ependymomas: newly defined molecular and genetic subtypes with characteristic imaging features. 109th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. RSNA 2023 Meeting Central.
  • Callen, A.L., Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Lennarson, P.J., Birlea, M., MacKenzie, J., Buchanan, A., Spinal CSF Leak: Bridging the Gap” study group. Perspectives from the inaugural Spinal CSF Leak Bridging the Gap Conference: A convergence of clinical and patient expertise. American Journal of Neuroradiology, Accepted, December 2023.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Dillon, W.P., Shah, V.N. (2023). High-cervical puncture CT myelography for the enhanced characterization of CSF leaks in the cervical and upper thoracic spine: a single institution review. 26th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Spine Radiology.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Li, Y., Cha, S. (2022). MR diffusion characteristics of molecularly-defined posterior fossa ependymomas. 60th Annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology and Symposium Neuroradiologicum XXII. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2022 EdConnect Online Portal.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Li, Y., Cha, S. (2021). Imaging features of molecularly-defined ependymal tumors: Essential classification updates. 107th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. RSNA 2021 Meeting Central.
  • Pisani Petrucci, S.L., Li, Y., Solomon, D.A., Cha, S. (2020). Essential genomics of pediatric diffuse gliomas for neuroradiologists. 58th Annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2020 EdConnect Online Portal.
  • Pisani SL, Neese SL, Katzenellenbogen JA, Schantz SL, Korol DL. Estrogen Receptor-Selective Agonists Modulate Learning in Female Rats in a Dose- and Task-Specific Manner. Endocrinology. 2016 Jan;157(1):292-303. PubMed PMID: 26465198
  • Korol DL, Pisani SL. Estrogens and cognition: Friends or foes?: An evaluation of the opposing effects of estrogens on learning and memory. Horm Behav. 2015 Aug;74:105-15. PubMed PMID: 26149525
  • Pisani, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2014). The ERa agonist PPT enhances place learning but impairs response learning in ovariectomized young adult rats: Viewing the role of ERK activation through a multiple memory systems lens. 44th Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 40, 451.07.
  • Pisani, S.L., Neese, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2013). Activation of the membrane estrogen receptor GPER regulates place and response learning in ovariectomized young adult rats according to dose and timing. 8th Biennial Rapid Responses to Steroid Hormones meeting, Abstract Book, 27.
  • Pisani, S.L., Neese, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2013). Estradiol but not equol enhances place learning in middle-aged female rats: relationship to site-specific ERK activation. 17th Annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Program Book, P2.13.
  • Pisani, S.L., Jung, V.E., Korol, D.L. (2012). Site- and task-specific ERK activation following genistein treatment corresponds to temporal aspects of learning. 42nd Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 38, 916.19.
  • Pisani, S.L., Katzenellenbogen, J.A., Korol, D.L. (2012). Effects of acute administration of ER-selective agonists on place and response learning in ovariectomized young adult female rats. 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Program Book, P1.55.
  • Sepehr E, Lebl-Rinnova M, Mann MK, Pisani SL, Churchwell MI, Korol DL, Katzenellenbogen JA, Doerge DR. Pharmacokinetics of the estrogen receptor subtype-selective ligands, PPT and DPN: quantification using UPLC-ES/MS/MS. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2012 Dec;71:119-26. PubMed PMID: 22981216
  • Pisani SL, Neese SL, Doerge DR, Helferich WG, Schantz SL, Korol DL. Acute genistein treatment mimics the effects of estradiol by enhancing place learning and impairing response learning in young adult female rats. Horm Behav. 2012 Sep;62(4):491-9. PubMed PMID: 22944517
  • Pisani, S.L., Huffman, J.C., Katzenellenbogen, J.A., Nesse, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2011). Acute administration of ERa- and ERß-selective agonists impairs response learning in ovariectomized young adult rats. 41st Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 37, 282.06.
  • Pisani, S.L., Huffman, J.C., Katzenellenbogen, J.A., Nesse, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2011). Acute administration of ERa- and ERß-selective agonists impair response learning in ovariectomized young adult rats. Botanical Research Centers’ Annual Meeting, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
  • Pisani, S.L., Ginsberg, A.D., Zhang, J.W., Doerge, D.R., Helferich, W.G., Neese, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2010). Acute treatment with the phytoestrogen genistein enhances place and impairs response learning in female rats. 40th Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 36, 296.13.
  • Pisani, S.L., Doerge, D.R., Helferich, W.G., Neese, S.L., Schantz, S.L., Korol, D.L. (2010). Acute treatment with the phytoestrogen genistein mimics estradiol-induced shifts in place and response learning. 14th Annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Program Book, P1.44.
  • Pisani, S.L., Ginsberg, A.D, Helferich, W.G, Neese, S.L., Schantz, S.L., and Korol, D.L. (2009). Low doses of estradiol enhance place learning and impair response learning in Long-Evans rats in the absence of dietary phytoestrogens. 39th Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 35, 774.7.

Practice Locations

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Radiology, Board Certification (2023)
Clinical Interests
Samantha Pisani Petrucci is an Assistant Professor of Neuroradiology at CU Anschutz. She is a graduate of the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois, where she received a PhD in Neuroscience focused on cognitive neuroendocrinology and the cellular/molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. She then completed the MD curriculum with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction. Dr. Petrucci’s internship training was in General Surgery at the University of Minnesota, followed by Radiology Residency and Neuroradiology Fellowship at UC San Francisco. At UCSF, she received extensive training in neuro-oncologic radiology and image-guided spine interventions, as well as completed post-doctoral research through the NIH T32 Biomedical Imaging for Clinician Scientists Program. Her clinical and research interests include minimally invasive spine procedures, novel neuro-oncologic imaging techniques, molecular-genetic imaging correlates of brain tumors, and the neuro-oncologic and psychiatric applications of focused ultrasound.


School of Medicine

CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Aurora, CO 80045

303.724.5375

School
General
Students