Ashley Aiken MD
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences
Professor
- (404) 712-4583
- ashley.aiken@emoryhealthcare.org
-
Emory University Hospital
Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Suite BG 20
1364 Clifton Road NE
Overview
Dr. Aiken is Professor of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and, by courtesy, of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Aiken completed her residency in diagnostic radiology and her fellowship in diagnostic neuroradiology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). After completing her training in 2007, Dr. Aiken joined the faculty at UCSF until 2009, when she moved to Emory University, where she has practiced for over 15 years.
Clinical and Academic Leadership
Dr. Aiken currently serves as Director of Head and Neck Imaging in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, a role in which she promotes patient and family-centerd care and has pioneered embedded reading rooms in the ENT clinics, direct patient reporting, and daily multidisciplinary review of cancer patients.
Clinical Research Interests
Focus: Standardization of Imaging surveillance and NI-RADS template, Accuracy of Radiologic Staging, Clinical Implications of Staging, Significance of Current Prognostic Features on Imaging
Dr. Aiken's major research interests include accurate radiologic staging, the clinical implications of staging, surveillance and significance of current prognostic features on imaging. She has published on the accuracy of staging in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, impacting AJCC guidelines, and implications on prognosis and surgical management, including the imaging accuracy of lymph node extracapsular spread of tumor in HPV positive and negative tumors. She published the first standardized template for Head and Neck cancer imaging surveillance- the Neck Imaging and Reporting System (NI-RADS) with linked management recommendations developed with a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists. She ultimately chaired the ACR- NI-RADS committee to author the first white paper, then multiple subsequent studies to evaluate accuracy and interobserver agreement. Dr. Aiken has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as numerous book chapters and review articles.
Administrative Leadership
As Vice Chair for Faculty Advancement and Engagement, Dr. Aiken oversees several faculty committees in the department including Wellness, Appointments and Promotions, Clinical Distinctions, and Junior Faculty Mentoring. She and her team additionally are responsible for developing and delivering high-impact programs to support faculty career development and advancement, promote work/life balance, and garner awards and recognition for faculty. She previously served on Emory Radiology's Appointments and Promotions Committee, the School of Medicine (SOM) FCAP Committee from 2021-2014 and currently serves on the SOM Faculty Development Committee.
National Leadership
Dr. Aiken is a dedicated educator, a member and sought after lecturer for many national societies including American College of Radiology (ACR), Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA), American Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ASHNR) and the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR). She serves on many national committees, with leadership roles on the executive committee for the ASHNR and ASNR, past chair of the ACR NI-RADS committee and past chair of the APDR and ASNR fellowship committees. Dr. Aiken also serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR).
As treasurer of the ASNR and chair of the ASNR Financial Management Committee (FMC) for the past two years, Dr. Aiken was able to build upon sound financial decisions made by current and past ASNR leadership to put ASNR in a wonderful position to continue to use reserves to invest in members. The FMC and the executive board approved a plan for a balanced budget by 2026, which matches operational resources with operational spending, allowing excess funds to be used for strategic investment and growth
Awards and Honors
Academic Appointment
- Professor, Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- M.D. from Medical College of Georgia
- B.S. in Biology from University of Georgia
Research
Focus
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Accuracy of Radiologic Stagin, Clinical Implications of Staging, Significance of Current Prognostic Features on Imaging
Dr. Aiken is a neuroradiologist with expertise in Head and Neck Imaging. Major research interests include accurate radiologic staging, the clinical implications of staging and significance of current prognostic features on imaging. She is currently investigating the accuracy of staging oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer and implications on prognosis and surgical management, with a recent publication on lymph node extracapsular spread of tumor. She created a recently published template (NI-RADS) for head and neck cancer surveillance imaging. She is also very interested in radiologist direct patient reporting. Other head and neck research interests include CSF leak imaging, Diffusion restriction in the paranasal sinus, trauma face CT, the temporomandibular joint and orbital inflammatory disease. Over the last five years, Dr. Aiken has also investigated cerebellar tonsillar ectopia and specific imaging features that can be used to distinguish among the several etiologies that can present with cerebellar tonsillar ectopia, including intracranial hypertension, intracranial hypotension, and idiopathic Chiari I malformation. Another past research interest is acute stroke imaging and the role of upfront comprehensive imaging to triage acute stroke patients.
Publications
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Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound in Neck Node NIRADS Category 2.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol
02/24/2025 Authors: Dagher R; Khalaf A; Calle S; Dagher SA; Shah KB; Juliano A; Aiken AH; Learned KO -
The ptotic tongue-imaging appearance and pathology localization along the course of the hypoglossal nerve.
Neuroradiology Volume: 65 Page(s): 1425 - 1438
10/01/2023 Authors: Gorolay VV; Tran N-A; Tade R; Baugnon K; Aiken A; Wu X -
Active upper aerodigestive tract hemorrhage in patients with head and neck cancers: the "dot-in-sludge" sign.
Emerg Radiol Volume: 30 Page(s): 225 - 233
04/01/2023 Authors: Goswami A; Fisicaro RA; Howard BM; Patel M; Aiken AH; Baugnon KL; Wu X -
Virtual Radiology Fellowship Recruitment: Benefits, Limitations, and Future Directions.
Acad Radiol Volume: 30 Page(s): 548 - 551
03/01/2023 Authors: Lakhani DA; Deng F; Chung C; Agarwal M; Aiken A; Deitte LA; Middlebrooks EH -
Personalizing Surveillance in Head and Neck Cancer.
Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book Volume: 43 Page(s): e389718
01/01/2023 Authors: Hanna GJ; Patel N; Tedla SG; Baugnon KL; Aiken A; Agrawal N -
The impact of operability status on outcomes in patients with T4 larynx cancer undergoing larynx preservation.
Head Neck Volume: 44 Page(s): 2854 - 2864
12/01/2022 Authors: Schlafstein AJ; Goyal S; Amini A; Karam SD; Saba NF; Kaka AS; Aiken AH; Beitler JJ; Stokes WA -
Comparison of 3D constructive interference in steady state (CISS) and T2 sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolution MR imaging of the intracranial trigeminal nerve and central skull base neuroforamina.
Neuroradiol J Volume: 35 Page(s): 678 - 683
12/01/2022 Authors: Kinger NP; Chien L-C; Sharma PS; Gravolet RB; Aiken AH; Baugnon KL; Wu X -
Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System: More Than Just a Template.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Volume: 43 Page(s): 1400 - 1402
10/01/2022 Authors: Rhyner PA; Bhatt AA; Baugnon KL; Aiken AH -
Comparison of the Seventh and Eighth Edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging for Selected and Nonselected Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas.
Oncologist Volume: 27 Page(s): 48 - 56
02/03/2022 Authors: Vijayvargiya P; Trivedi S; Rupji M; Song H; Liu Y; Jiang R; Kaka AS; Chen GZ; Stokes W; Steuer C -
Posttreatment Magnetic Resonance Imaging Surveillance of Head and Neck Cancers.
Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am Volume: 30 Page(s): 109 - 120
02/01/2022 Authors: Zuchowski C; Kemme J; Aiken AH; Baugnon KL; Abdel Razek AAK; Wu X