Professor Zhang Hongqi: Cerebrovascular and Spinal Vascular Specialist
Professor Zhang Hongqi is a senior neurosurgeon, professor, doctoral supervisor, director of neurosurgery at Xuanwu Hospital, and deputy director of the National Center for Neurological Disorders. His clinical and academic work focuses on brain and spinal vascular disease, including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, dural fistulas, microsurgery, endovascular intervention, and hybrid treatment.
Clinical and Academic Focus
- ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms;
- brain arteriovenous malformations;
- spinal arteriovenous malformations and fistulas;
- cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas;
- microsurgical vascular reconstruction;
- endovascular embolization and stenting;
- hybrid open and catheter-based treatment;
- residual or recurrent disease after previous treatment; and
- second opinions before high-risk neurovascular procedures.
Brain Aneurysms
A brain aneurysm is a weakened area of an artery that can enlarge or rupture. Rupture can cause subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening emergency often presenting with a sudden severe headache, vomiting, collapse, neck stiffness, or neurological deficit.
Treatment may include microsurgical clipping, endovascular coiling, flow diversion, intrasaccular devices, or observation. The choice depends on rupture status, aneurysm anatomy, branch vessels, age, general health, and center expertise.
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
A brain arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins. It may cause hemorrhage, seizures, headache, or neurological symptoms, or be discovered incidentally.
Management can involve observation, microsurgery, embolization, stereotactic radiosurgery, or a staged combination. Treatment should balance lifetime hemorrhage risk against the neurological risks of intervention.
Spinal Vascular Malformations
Spinal arteriovenous fistulas and malformations can cause progressive leg weakness, numbness, imbalance, bladder or bowel dysfunction, pain, or sudden spinal-cord hemorrhage.
These disorders are frequently delayed in diagnosis because MRI findings can resemble inflammation, degeneration, or tumor. Catheter spinal angiography is often essential for identifying the exact feeding arteries and drainage pattern.
Microsurgery and Endovascular Treatment
Professor Zhang is trained in both open microsurgical and endovascular treatment. This allows planning based on lesion anatomy rather than a single technique.
Microsurgery may provide immediate disconnection or removal for accessible lesions. Endovascular therapy can treat aneurysms or embolize abnormal vessels through catheters. Some cases benefit from combined treatment.
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas
A dural arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection within the covering of the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms can include pulsatile tinnitus, eye redness, headache, neurological deficits, or hemorrhage.
Risk depends heavily on venous drainage. Fistulas with cortical or spinal venous reflux often require timely treatment.
Genetics and Vascular Malformation Research
Professor Zhang’s team contributed to research identifying frequent somatic KRAS and BRAF pathway mutations in sporadic brain and spinal arteriovenous malformations.
These findings improve understanding of disease biology, but molecular testing does not yet replace angiography or established treatment planning for most patients.
Long-Term Monitoring
Follow-up after clipping, embolization, radiosurgery, or fistula treatment may include MRI, MRA, CTA, or repeat catheter angiography. Imaging is important because residual or recurrent abnormal blood flow can persist without symptoms.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
- patients with a ruptured or complex unruptured brain aneurysm;
- patients with a brain AVM or dural fistula;
- patients with suspected spinal vascular malformation;
- patients comparing microsurgery, embolization, radiosurgery, and observation;
- patients with residual or recurrent disease after treatment;
- patients with unexplained progressive spinal-cord symptoms;
- patients advised to undergo a high-risk neurovascular procedure; or
- patients seeking a second opinion on combined treatment.
Medical Records to Prepare
- a precise symptom and treatment timeline;
- brain and spine MRI in original DICOM format;
- CT, CTA, MRA, and complete catheter angiography runs;
- spinal angiography with vertebral-level labeling when relevant;
- previous clipping, embolization, radiosurgery, and operative reports;
- implant, coil, stent, and flow-diverter information;
- seizure, neurological, bladder, bowel, and rehabilitation assessments;
- kidney function, blood count, and coagulation results;
- a complete medication list, especially antiplatelet and anticoagulant medicines; and
- a clear list of treatment and function-preservation goals.
Planning an International Consultation
A sudden severe headache, new weakness, seizure, loss of consciousness, or rapidly worsening spinal-cord symptoms requires immediate local emergency care.
Stable patients should confirm whether original angiography and imaging can be reviewed. Remote medical-record review requires physician authorization. Final procedure selection and eligibility usually require in-person neurological and neurovascular assessment.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients with organizing and translating neurovascular records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Zhang, remote review, surgery, embolization, radiosurgery, or a particular device is subject to doctor and hospital approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, procedure eligibility, complete lesion closure, function preservation, or clinical outcomes.
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Important Note
Doctor titles, clinical roles, devices, procedures, and appointment arrangements may change. This profile is based on the supplied verified research document and is for general information only. It does not replace assessment by a qualified neurovascular team.
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