PIONEERING IN NEURORADIOLOGY

Prof.Makhan SinghKhangure, Forsignificantservice to medicine in the field ofneuroradiology, to education, and to a range ofprofessional medical associations ow do surgeons treat a rupntred brain aneurysm?\'{Tell, in the 'old' days, they would saw through the skull to get to the artery. Today,most likely,they would employ what is called endovascular coiling: they would go in throughan artery in the groin, insert a catheter that would travel up co the brain,andthen through it, push upsome platinum coils or acrylic glue to fill up the aneurysm,so thatblood flow to it is sropped. ln this year'sAustralia Day honours, Prof Mark (i\fakhan Singh) Khangure has been felicitated for his work in neuroradiology, among other things ln a career chat spansalmosthalf a cennu-y, Prof. Khangurebas not only been practisingnenroradiology (a subspecialcy of radiology focusing on the diagnosis and characterization of abnormalities of thebrain,head,neck and spine),buthas also beeninvolvedin counselling, teaching, research and advocacy. i\,femoring other trainees and advocating for radiologists have been particular passions that continue to this day.

The newer technique is much less invasive.

The'old' days, you might besurprised to learn, was not that longago. The coil technique was introduced in 1995, and went through sevenyearsof trials before it came into widespread use. InAustralia,Perd1based radiologist Prof Mark Khangure was oneof the earlypractitioners involved in thetrials.

"I was delighted whenI heard d1e news," he tells Tndia11U11kin histrademark gencle manner.

Hebasalso served on theboards of a number of medical organisations including AustralianandNew ZealandSociety of Neuroradiology, RoyalAustralianandNew Zealand Collegeof Radiologistsandthe AustralianMedicalAssociation.

"I like co tell youngerpractitioners to be involved withtheir careers in a broader sense,over and above merelyearninga living," he reveals."I want them co think about consumer concerns,government funding,equipment update, advocatefor private treatment, andgenerall)' to be honest and provide what patients expect."

Prof.Khangure was born in Indiabut grew upin theUK where bisfamily moved when he was nine. Hefinished university d1ere and worked briefly before moving to Perch in 1976. He worked with theRoyal Perch Hospital until2006 but for a brief stint in theUS for further training.It was atRoyalPerd1 that me clinical trials for endovascular coilingwere undertaken.

The professor's links wicl1me land of hisbirth continues in a professional sense."I've been teachingin Jvhunbai aboutprocedures for ruptured aneurysms wid1omsurgery, inbothpublicand private hospitals.Traineeshavecome here too, to learn from us: ayoung Indian doctor worked with usfora year before setting upin India. Od1er thanIndia, we have been training radiologists in UK, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia."

Toda)' he continues to work actively,but for aprivate radiology group, and ismosrl)' involved in diagnosis.

"I'm like a high-end sportsperson who hasclimbed thepeak before falling back into theprecipice!"he laughs.

\X'hen not seeing patients,Prof. Khangureis into long distance walking, classical music,theatre, travelling,and spending time wid1 hisgrandchildren.

RajniAnand Luthra