Bruno D. Fornage MD

Bruno D. Fornage, MD, is a tenured Professor of Radiology and Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Fornage's early career was spent at the Regional Cancer Center in Reims, France, where he became the Director of the Department of Radiology. A visionary pioneer, Dr. Fornage developed numerous clinical applications of medical sonography at a time when there were no CT or MRI scanners. During his tenure, he invented the technique of real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy, which is now the standard of care for diagnostic tissue sampling of most solid tumors.

He also pioneered many other applications of ultrasound imaging, including transrectal sonography of the prostate (for which he holds a patent); sonography of the musculoskeletal system, breast, and thyroid; and even sonography of the skin. In the mid-1980s, he was one of the few researchers experimenting with stereotactically guided biopsy of the breast. In 1987, Dr. Fornage joined MD Anderson, assuming the role of Chief, Section of Ultrasound. At MD Anderson, he introduced the new applications of sonography he had pioneered in France. In addition, Dr. Fornage began to use sonography intraoperatively at MD Anderson.