Dr Tony Lopez

Dr Tony Lopez was educated in London, England and trained medically at St. Thomas's Hospital (University of London) graduating with a BSc in Biochemistry in 1985 and qualifying with MB BS in 1988. His Postgraduate Medical Education at Northwick Park, Hammersmith, Royal Brompton National Heart & Lung and Royal Marsden Hospitals led to the MRCP qualification in 1991.He was appointed Radiology Registrar at Hammersmith Hospital in 1991 before joining the St. George's Hospital Rotation as a Senior Registrar in 1993 gaining FRCR in 1994. Experience was gained at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Royal Marsden & Great Ormond Street Hospitals as well as St. George's Hospital.Dr Lopez is a past recipient of British Institute of Radiologist's and Nuclear Electric travel bursaries, three consecutive Merck Bursaries, a Nycomed Interventional Scholarship (1995) and a Cook Interventional Fellowship (1996) all used to develop his interventional radiology experience. He was also awarded the Reginald G Reid/Graham-Hodgson Scholarship to develop his interest in Endoscopic Ultrasound. He subsequently won the Stanley Melville Memorial Award in 1996 at The British Institute of Radiology to study at The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm where he consolidated his specialist interests in Gastrointestinal Endoscopic & Cancer Imaging. He was appointed Consultant at Royal Surrey County Hospital and St. Luke's Cancer Centre in 1996 with a major interest in Interventional Radiology and subspecialty interests in invasive coronary angiography & gastrointestinal endoscopic intervention.He has written many scientific papers and presented work nationally and internationally personally, as well as supervising junior colleagues to do the same. Much of this work represents pioneering research into new minimally invasive techniques in diagnosing and managing patients with malignancy. In addition to his National Health Service post at The Royal Surrey County Hospital & St. Luke's Cancer Centre, he is the founder and Director of The Imaging Clinic. He is a medical entrepreneur having co-founded one of the first medical internet companies specialising in medical domain names Medical Pages Limited in 1999. He is also a co-owner of Independent Practitioner today (formerly Private Practitioner magazine) and is currently supporting radiology groups to commercially engage with the NHS and independent sector under the banner of "Any Qualified Provider". Dr Lopez currently leads a private pinhole surgical practice at BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital Guildford), where he operates a specialist venous access service for cancer chemotherapy patients and patients requiring prolonged venous access support for antibiotic therapy and nutritional support.

Nuclear Medicine This technique uses a very low dose of a radioactive agent which is taken up and used by the bodies metabolism to reveal bodily function with the agent broken down naturally by the body usually within minutes to hours before it is excreted. Bone Densitometry This is a very low dose x-ray technique used to quantitatively measure bone density. The same equipment can also be used to measure the amount and distribution of body fat. CT Scanning A technique using a low dose of x-rays to image the entire body in slices as thin as a few millimetres demonstrating anatomy and pathology in exquisite detail. MRI Scanning This technique employs a magnetic field in which naturally occurring particles in the body called 'protons' are first 'excited' prior to measuring their tendency to 'relax'. The measurements are then converted into a detailed image showing anatomy (and pathology where present). PET CT Scanning An infrequently available imaging modality most commonly used to assess tumour activity. A low dose rapidly decaying' radioactive substance simulating a body metabolite (eg 19F-deoxyglucose acting like glucose) is taken up by metabolising cells. Cancer cells typically take up such agents 'avidly' and the cancer activity including spread and treatment response can be assessed. Pinhole Surgery An established 'minimally invasive' technique typically using a 'pinhole' puncture of the skin at varying sites in the body to allow detailed internal imaging of the body, often used to guided minimally invasive treatments. Ultrasound A technique not using sound waves rather than x-rays to provide imaging of the body. It is particularly useful in areas of the body where bone or air does not block the penetration of sound waves. Thus it is useful in most areas of the body but limited in the skull, chest and gas-containing bowel. X-Ray Imaging (CR/DR) The original imaging technique using 'x-rays' following the discovery in 1896 of previously unidentified rays (hence "X") by Roentgen.