Profile & background

Dr. Miguel Cordeiro

A neuroradiologist with distinguished experience in Interventional Neuroradiology. His practice is dedicated to the minimally invasive treatment of spinal pain, trigeminal neuralgia and joint pain — percutaneous, image-guided techniques performed on an outpatient basis without general anesthesia.

Medical Licence No. 42194 — Ordem dos Médicos Medicine — Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (2002) Specialist in Neuroradiology — Coimbra University Hospitals (2009) Hospital da Cruz Vermelha, Lisbon · Centro Cirúrgico de Coimbra

Academic excellence

He was the top student of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra throughout the six years of the degree. In the first five years he received Merit Scholarships from the Ministry of Education and, at the end of the degree, he received the A. Robalo Cordeiro Prize/Fundação Bissaya Barreto, awarded to the top student of the 1996–2002 class. He concluded his medical degree in 2002 with a final grade of 18.3 out of 20 and, in 2003, received the Fundação Roche Research Grant, awarded to the top medical student in Portugal.

Training

Medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (2002), completed with a final grade of 18.3/20. Specialist in Neuroradiology, with residency at the Coimbra University Hospitals completed in 2009 with a final grade of 19.7/20. Advanced training in interventional neuroradiology and image-guided percutaneous spine therapies.

Distinguished experience in Interventional Neuroradiology

He introduced in Europe basivertebral plexus radiofrequency and the aspiration and sealing of Tarlov cysts using the CT-guided fine double-needle technique, and was among the first physicians in Portugal to perform percutaneous ozone nucleoplasty — three contributions detailed below.

Clinical practice

Clinical activity at Hospital da Cruz Vermelha (Lisbon) and Centro Cirúrgico de Coimbra, exclusively focused on minimally invasive pain treatments, in coordination with neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and pain medicine.

Science communication

Regular presence in the media — SIC Notícias, RTP1, TVI, Observador and Porto Canal — communicating credible information on chronic pain and spine treatments.

Interventional Neuroradiology in detail

Three contributions to minimally invasive pain treatment

Techniques Dr. Miguel Cordeiro introduced in Europe or helped bring into clinical practice in Portugal, explained simply.

Basivertebral plexus radiofrequency

Dr. Miguel Cordeiro introduced basivertebral nerve (plexus) radiofrequency in Europe, a percutaneous technique targeting a specific and frequently underdiagnosed cause of chronic low back pain: vertebrogenic pain, associated with Modic changes in the vertebral endplates. The basivertebral nerve, which enters the vertebral body through its posterior wall, is responsible for transmitting this pain. Through a transpedicular, image-guided approach (CT or fluoroscopy), a radiofrequency probe is positioned next to the nerve inside the vertebra, modulating pain transmission without open surgery and on an outpatient basis. The technique is supported by robust scientific evidence, including published randomized clinical trials demonstrating significant and lasting pain relief in selected patients who did not respond to conservative treatment.

Aspiration and sealing of Tarlov cysts — fine double-needle technique

He also introduced in Europe the aspiration and sealing of symptomatic Tarlov cysts using the fine double-needle technique, guided by computed tomography (CT). Tarlov cysts are dilations of the nerve root sheaths in the sacrum which, when symptomatic, can cause sciatic pain, sacral pain and neurological changes. In the double-needle technique, two fine needles are positioned with millimetric precision inside the cyst under continuous CT guidance: the deeper needle allows controlled aspiration of the cerebrospinal fluid and is subsequently used to inject the fibrin sealant, while the second, more superficial needle acts as a venting needle, preventing the cyst from repressurising. This minimally invasive approach offers a percutaneous alternative to open surgery in carefully selected cases, after confirming that the cyst is indeed the source of the symptoms.

Percutaneous ozone nucleoplasty (nucleolysis)

He was among the first physicians in Portugal to perform percutaneous ozone nucleoplasty — also called nucleolysis or intradiscal ozone therapy — maintaining since then a regular and extensive clinical practice with this technique. The procedure consists of introducing a fine needle into the intervertebral disc, under image guidance, through which an oxygen-ozone mixture is administered. Ozone exerts a controlled oxidative action on the nucleus pulposus, reducing disc volume and pressure on the nerve root, in addition to a local anti-inflammatory effect. It is a minimally invasive option for contained disc herniations and symptomatic disc disease, performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, with a very low complication rate described in the international literature.

Internships and international training

Internships completed throughout his training, in neurorradiology and interventional neuroradiology:

Hospital de São José, Lisbon — with Dr. João Reis
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore (USA) — with Kieran Murphy and David Yousem
Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna (Italy) — with Prof. Marco Leonardi
Cardarelli Hospital, Naples (Italy) — with Mario Muto
Inselspital, Bern (Switzerland)

His training also includes diagnostic neuroradiology (CT, MRI — including advanced techniques — and angiography).

Teaching and academic activity

Assistant of Histology and Embryology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra
Supervisor of master's degree students
PhD project started in 2009 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra — neuroimaging of blood-brain barrier changes in diabetes mellitus
Reviewer for the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) since 2008

Scientific societies

Member of the Portuguese Society of Neuroradiology, the Portuguese Society of Interventional Neuroradiology, the Portuguese Society of Neurology, the Portuguese Headache Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Study Group, the European Society of Radiology, the European Society of Neuroradiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Society of Neuroradiology and the American Society of Spine Radiology.

Publications and scientific activity

Author and co-author of scientific articles and other academic works in the areas of neuroradiology, neuroimaging and cerebrovascular disease, among others. The bibliography currently compiled includes 13 scientific articles, in addition to a conference paper and a book chapter, as well as oral communications and posters presented at national and international congresses.

View scientific publications

Awards and recognitions

Merit Scholarships — Ministry of Education
Top student of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra in every year of the degree (1996/97–2002)
Research Grant — Fundação Roche, 2003
Awarded to the top medical student in Portugal
Prémio A. Robalo Cordeiro — Fundação Bissaya Barreto
Top student of the Medicine degree at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra
Prémio Mesquita Rodrigues — Fundação Rotária Portuguesa
Best student of the Leiria district
Prémio Dr. Paulo Mendo — Portuguese Society of Neurorradiology
2007

Clinical activity areas

Spine Herniated disc Trigeminal neuralgia Tarlov cysts Vertebral fractures Large joints Minimally invasive techniques

View media presence

Chronic pain does not have to be your normal.

Book appointment