Yuji Okuno

A.    Biography

I am an interventional radiologist, founder and Chief Director of Okuno Clinic in Tokyo, Japan. After my training in radiology, I was engaged in basic and clinical research for several years. My initial research focus at Keio University inTokyo was vascular biology and basic research in pathological angiogenesis¹. From early on in my career as an interventional radiologist, I had a strong interest in the question of whether embolization can provide a new approach to effectively reduce chronic inflammation and alleviate pain.

I later successfully introduced transarterial embolization for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disorders, such as knee osteoarthritis (OA)² and frozen shoulder³.

I have authored and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications related to embolization for musculoskeletal disorders, in particular knee OA with superselective genicular artery embolization (GAE). He reported the safety and efficacy of this innovative technique, resulting in significant and sustained pain relief in clinical studies, which have since been confirmed by other researchers internationally.

1. Okuno, Y., Nakamura-shizu, A., Otsu, K., Suda, T. & Kubota, Y. Pathological neoangiogenesisdepends on oxidative stress regulation by ATM. Nature Med 2012
2. Okuno Y, Korchi AM, Shinjo T, Kato S. Transcatheter arterial embolization as a treatment for medial knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2014 Jul 4.
3. Okuno Y, Oguro S, Iwamoto W, Miyamoto T, Ikegami H, Matsumura N. Short-term results of transcatheter arterial embolization for abnormal neovessels in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a pilot study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Mar 4

B.    Positions and Honors

1. Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Okuno, Y., Nakamura-Ishizu, A., Kishi, K., Suda, T. & Kubota, Y. Bone marrow-derived cells serve as proangiogenic macrophages but not endothelial cells in wound healing. Blood 2011
2. Okuno, Y., Nakamura-shizu, A., Otsu, K., Suda, T. & Kubota, Y. Pathological neoangiogenesisdepends on oxidative stress regulation by ATM. Nature Med 2012
3. Okuno Y, Matsumura N, Oguro S. Transcatheter arterial embolization using imipenem/cilastatin sodium for tendinopathy and enthesopathy refractory to non-surgical management. Journal Vascular Intervent Radiol 24 (2013) pp. 787-792
4. Okuno Y, Oguro S, Iwamoto W, Miyamoto T, Ikegami H, Matsumura N. Short-term results of transcatheter arterial embolization for abnormal neovessels in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a pilot study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Mar 4
5. Okuno Y, Korchi AM, Shinjo T, Kato S. Transcatheter arterial embolization as a treatment for medial knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2014 Jul 4.
6. Okuno Y, Iwamoto W, Matsumura N, Oguro S, Yasumoto T, Kaneko T, Ikegami H. Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Adhesive Capsulitis Resistant to Conservative Treatment. Journal Vascular Intervent Radiol. 2017
7. Okuno Y, Korchi AM, Shinjo T, Kato S, Kaneko T. Mid-term Clinical Outcomes and MRI Changes after Transcatheter Arterial Embolization as a Treatment for Mild to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis that is Resistant to Conservative Treatment. J Vasc Intervent Radiol. 2017
8. Iwamoto W, Okuno Y, Matsumura N, Kaneko T, Ikegami H. Transcatheter arterial embolization of abnormal vessels as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis refractory to conservative treatment: a pilot study with a 2- year follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017
9. Shibuya M, Yamamoto M, Okuno Y. Effect of Transcatheter Arterial Microembolization on Phantom Limb Pain Persisting for 17 Years. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2019
10. Korchi AM, Cengarle-Samak A, Okuno Y, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier JP, Boesen M, Doyon J, Bodson- Clermont P, Lussier B, Héon H, Sapoval M, Bureau NJ, Soulez G. Inflammation and Hypervascularization in a Large Animal Model of Knee Osteoarthritis: Imaging with Pathohistologic Correlation. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2019 Jul;30(7):1116-1127.
11. Shibuya M, Sugihara E, Miyazaki K, Yamamoto M, Fujiwara K, Okuno Y. Effects of Transcatheter Arterial Microembolization on Persistent Trapezius Myalgia Refractory to Conservative Treatment. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Jan;44(1):102-109.
12. van Zadelhoff TA, Okuno Y, Bos PK, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Krestin GP, Moelker A, Oei EHG. Association between Baseline Osteoarthritic Features on MR Imaging and Clinical Outcome after Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Osteoarthritis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021 Apr;32(4):497-503.
13. Inui S, Yoshizawa S, Shintaku T, Kaneko T, Ikegami H, Okuno Y. Intra-Arterial Infusion of Imipenem/Cilastatin Sodium through a Needle Inserted into the Radial Artery as a New Treatment for Refractory Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021 Sep;32(9):1341-1347.
14. Shibuya M, Sugihara E, Miyazaki K, Fujiwara K, Sakugawa T, Okuno Y. Intra-arterial Infusion of Temporary Embolic Material in a Patient with Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Report. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Nov;44(11):1823-1826.
15. Fujiwara K, Inui S, Shibuya M, Sugihara E, Miyazaki K, Sakugawa T, Okuno Y. Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Using Imipenem/Cilastatin Sodium for Chronic Low Back Pain Resistant to Conservative Treatment: A Pilot Study with 2-Year Follow-Up. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Dec;44(12):1964-1970
16. Okuno Y, Shibuya M. Possibility of Embolic Treatment for Medial Epicondylitis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2022 Feb;45(2):205-206. doi: 10.1007/s00270-021-03008-8. Epub 2022 Jan 10.
17. Okuno Y, Yasumoto T, Koganemaru M, Suyama Y, Nishiofuku H, Horikawa M, Komemushi A. Transarterial Embolization of Neovascularity for Refractory Nighttime Shoulder Pain: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Feasibility Trial. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2022 Dec;33(12):1468-1475.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2022.08.016. Epub 2022 Aug 19.
18. Shintaku T, Inui S, Ikegami H, Yoshizawa S, Ishii H, Sakamoto M, Musha Y, Okuno Y, Kuji I. Alteration of chronic inflammatory status by trans-arterial embolization in frozen shoulder evaluated by 18F-FDG- PET/CT. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2022 Nov 23:S1058-2746(22)00851-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2022.10.021.
19. Okuno Y. Transarterial Embolization for Refractory Overuse Sports Injury: Pictorial Case Reports. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Jul 11.
20. Kubo T, Miyazaki K, Shibuya M, Sugihara E, Nakata M, Okuno Y. Intra-Arterial Injection of Temporary Embolic Material Through a Needle Inserted into the Radial or Ulnar Artery for Distal and Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Study of 92 Patients. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Jul 31
21. Ahmed O, Epelboym Y, Haskal ZJ, Okuno Y, Taslakian B, Sapoval M, Nikolic B, Golzarian J, Gaba RC, Little M, Isaacson A, Padia SA, Sze DY. Society of Interventional Radiology Research Reporting Standards for Genicular Artery Embolization. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2024 Aug;35(8):1097-1103. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2024.04.018. Epub 2024 Apr 27.
22. Kubo T, Shibuya M, Miyazaki K, Tsuji Y, Nakata M, Kawabe A, Nakasone T, Sakai N, Okuno Y. Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Study of 44 Patients. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2024 Oct;47(10):1348-1355. doi: 10.1007/s00270-024- 03842-6. Epub 2024 Aug 27.
23. Sasaki T, Shibuya M, Miyazaki K, Nakata M, Kawabe A, Nakasone T, Sakai N, Okuno Clinical results of ultrasound-guided intra-arterial embolization targeting abnormal neovessels for plantar fasciitis: 66 cases with up to 4 years of follow-up. Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 31, Issue 2, 2025. Pages 105-110
24. van Zadelhoff T, Kubo T, Shibuya M, Miyazaki K, Nakata M, Sugihara E, Oei E, Okuno Y. Comparative Safety of 3 Temporary Embolic Agents in Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Degenerative, Inflammatory, and Overuse Joint Disorders. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2025 Mar. Online.