Luke N. Ledbetter, M.D.

(877) 460-4673
Luke N. Ledbetter, M.D.
Neuroradiologist
Clinical Expertise
  • Neuroradiology
Academic Appointments
  • Clinical Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology
  • Section Chief, Division of Neuroradiology

Neuroradiologist Luke Ledbetter, M.D., knows what it’s like for a close family member to face metastatic cancer, and his experience informs his commitment to considering each patient’s unique story and individual needs. As a head-and-neck imaging specialist, he leverages state-of-the-art techniques — traditional and emerging — to inform diagnosis and prognosis.

Dr. Ledbetter completed medical school and an internal medicine internship at St. Louis University of Medicine before pursuing a diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Kansas, where he was chief resident. He went on to complete an intensive two-year neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Utah, where he was named fellow of the year.

A physician-researcher, Dr. Ledbetter joined City of Hope® in 2024 having co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed biomedical publications, including contributions to American College of Radiology guidelines for eight conditions.

Dr. Ledbetter, former president of the Western Neuroradiology Society, joined City of Hope after serving as director of head and neck imaging at UCLA, where residents voted him associate professor of the year, and as neuroradiology section chief at University of Kansas, where he held an endowed professorship.

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • 2015, Neuroradiology, American Board of Radiology
  • 2013, Diagnostic Radiology, American Board of Radiology

Degree

  • 2008, Doctor of Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

Fellowship

  • 2015, Neuroradiology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Residency

  • 2013, Diagnostic Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Internship

  • 2009, Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University Hospital. St. Louis, Missouri

Professional Experience

  • 2024–present, Clinical Professor and Section Chief of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, City of Hope, Duarte, California
  • 2020–2024, Staff Radiologist, Martin Luther King Hospital
  • 2020–2024, Associate Professor, University of California Los Angeles
  • 2015–2020, Adjunct Professor, University of Utah Department of Radiology
  • 2015–2020, Associate Professor, University of Kansas Department of Radiology

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2023, ARRS Annual Meeting Gold Medal Award “A Primer on MR Imaging of Meniere’s Disease and Endolymphatic Hydrops” C Yu, L Ledbetter
  • 2022, ASNR Annual Meeting Educational Exhibit Cum Laude Award “Beyond the Image: Head and Neck Cancer Genetics and Microbiology for the Imager” T Kong, N Pham, L Ledbetter
  • 2022, UCLA Radiology Resident Associate Professor Teacher of the Year
  • 2022, ASNR Annual Meeting Educational Exhibit Summa Cum Laude Award “Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Current Applications and Future Directions” S Majumdar, L Ledbetter, N Salamon
  • 2015, American Society of Spine Radiology Louis Gilula Mentor Award “The Needle and the Damage Done — Does Approach Predispose to Inadvertent Penetration During Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection?”
  • 2015, University of Utah Department of Radiology Fellow of the Year
  • 2014, RSNA Cum Laude Award for Educational Presentation “Charcot Spine: What a Radiologist Needs to Know to Make a Difficult Diagnosis.”
  • 2010, University of Kansas Peter Ronai Award for Outstanding First Year Resident

Memberships

  • 2009–present, Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA)
  • 2009–present, American College of Radiology (ACR) California Chapter Member
  • 2012–present, American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)
  • 2013–present, American Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ASHNR)
  • 2015–2020, Midwest Head and Neck Society
  • 2015–present, Western Neuroradiology Society (WNRS) President
  • 2019–present, American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS)
  • 2020–2022, Society of Informatics in Medicine (SIIM)

Publications

  • Ledbetter LN, Salzman KL, Sanders RK, Shah LM. Spinal neuroarthropathy: pathophysiology, clinical and imaging features, and differential diagnosis. Radiographics. 2016. 36:783-799.
  • Ledbetter LN, Salzman KL, Shah LM. Imaging psoas sign in lumbar spinal infections: Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy and comparison with established imaging characteristics. American journal of neuroradiology. 2016 Apr; 37(4)736-41.
  • Pippin KJ, Mullerman TJ, Hill J, Leever J, Staeker H, Ledbetter LN. Prevalence of internal auditory canal diverticula and its association with hearing loss and otosclerosis. American journal of neuroradiology. November 2017, 38 (11) 2167-2171.
  • Shew M, Kavookjian H, Dahlstrom K, Muelleman T, Lin J, Ledbetter L, StaeckerH. Incidence and risk factors for sigmoid venous thrombosis following CPA tumor resection. Otology & neurotology. June 2018; 39(5):e376-e380.
  • Shew M, Wichova H, Lin J, Ledbetter L, StaeckerH. Magnetic resonance imaging with cochlear implants and auditory brainstem implants: Are we truly practicing MRI safety? Laryngoscope. 2019 Feb;129(2):482-489.
  • Ledbetter LN and Leever JD. Intraspinal Tumors. Radiology clinics of north America. 2019 Mar;57(2):341-357.
  • Mallery RM, Rehmani OF, Woo JH, Chen YJ, Reddi S, Salzman KL, Pinho MC, Ledbetter LN, Tamhankar MA, Shindler KS, Digre KB, Friedman DI, Liu GT. Utility of MRI features for improving the diagnosis of IIH without papilledema. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2019 Sep;39(3):299-307.
  • Muelleman T, Maxwell AK, Lopez I, Linthicum F, Ishiyama A, Ledbetter L, Lin J, Staecker H, Miller M. Histopathologic characteristics of internal auditory canal diverticula. Otol neurotol. 2019 Jul;40(6):e653-e656.
  • Wichova H, Alvi S, Boatright C, Ledbetter LN, Staecker H. High Resolution computed tomography of the inner ear: Effect of Otosclerosis on Cochlear Aqueduct dimensions. Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology. 2019 Aug; 128(8), 749-754.
  • Kempf KS. PT, Whitaker AA, Lu Y, Witte E, Perdomo SJ, Ward JL, Eickmeyer S, Ledbetter L, Abraham M, Billinger S. The effect of stroke on middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity dynamics during exercise. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2019 Oct;43(4):212-219.