Range of Services

• conventional X-ray
• x-ray with contrast media
• sonography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Computed Tomography (multislice CT)
• intervention (minimally invasive surgery)
• PTA and implantation of Stents

Lungs, bones and joints are diagnosed at all-digital recording sites.  All images are immediately available in all medical areas of the hospital through PACS - our digital image archiving system.

Screening with contrast media is possible at several of our x-ray stations. To this end, we have two modern digital scanning devices available (Sireskop SX, manufactured by Polystar Fluorospot Philips and Siemens).

Here, following diagnosis with the use of contrast agents, is performed

• gastrointestinal investigations (esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine) incl. defacography
• urography
• special urological diagnosis for children (MCU) in cooperation with the German Paediatric Urology Center Berlin (DKUZB)
• phlebography (leg vein images)
• myelography

Using several devices in this department, we perform the following tests:
sonography of

•  thyroid gland
• saliva gland
• soft tissue / muscle of the mammary gland
• abdomen

and vascular diagnosis by means of color duplex ultrasound (FKDS) of the following vessels

• arteries of the legs
• arteries of the arms
• neck arteries (carotid artery)
• renal arteries (e.g, for evaluation of hypertension)
• mesenteric (visceral arteries)
• venous system (e.g, thrombosis or post-thrombotic syndrome)

Furthermore, we are carrying out ultrasound-based interventions, without the use of X-rays (punctures, drainages, biopsies.

We use a 1.5 Tesla MRI unit of Philips (Gyroscan Intera Achieva). For ambulatory and hospitalized patients, we offer the following tests

• MR diagnosis of all joints (eg, shoulder, knee, wrist)
• MR diagnosis of the spine
• MRI of the abdomen including MRCP
• MR Sellingk (small bowel examination in MRI)
• MR defecography (bowel function diagnostics)
• MR urography
• MRI of the brain (including special investigations)
• MR-mammography
• Cardio-MRI (for vitality diagnostics, stress-MRI) in cooperation with the Department of Cardiology
• MR diagnosis in children (under sedation / anesthesia)

On the day of the examination (more precisely 24 hours before) no coffee, no tea, no chocolate or cola may be consumed. Possibly, some medications must be discontinued.

For CT examinations of our patients an advanced 64-slice CT (Somatom Sensation 64, Siemens), a workstation for multiplanar reconstructions and three-dimensional and video creation are available. The device is used for CT-standard tests, specialist diagnosis and treatment. The examination time (and breath holds) are extremely short, and within about 30 seconds a whole-body CT can be performed.

We offer the following examinations

• CT cranial, including sinuses and petrous
• CT thorax and abdomen (liver, kidney, adrenals, pancreas, spleen, abdomen / small pool)
• CT of bone and joint sections (e.g. fracture diagnostics)
• Osteo-CT (bone density measurement for osteoporosis)
• myelo-CT (CT, following a myelogram)
• CT based interventions (aspiration, drainage Radiofrequency / RFA, pain therapies such as PRT, ISG-infiltration, preoperative markings, sympathicolysis)
• CT Coronarographies(Kalkscore and coronary artery imaging with CT)
• CT angiography (neck vessels, aorta, pelvic and leg vessels, renal arteries)
• CT colonographies (virtual colonoscopy)

For the post-processing of the images a modern workstation is available where images can be processed including 3-D reconstructions, virtual angiography and virtual colonoscopy within very short periods of time.

examinations, including biopsies of the breast

X-ray examination of the breast using digital, high definition flat panel mammography: This is a very low radiation contrast examination technique with excellent presentation.
Ultrasound-guided core biopsies of the breast will be performed as well as high-resolution ultrasound of the breast and possibly other organs.

In our department a range of radiological interventions using different imaging techniques (ultrasound, CT, fluoroscopy) are carried out by qualified personnel.

Vascular Intervention

• diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on arterial vascular system (Balloon PTA, stent, aspiration)
• renal artery stenting (eg, in patients with arterial hypertension)
• venous interventions, for example implantation of filter systems into the large body veins (inferior vena cava filters), permanently and temporarily
• embolization of bleeding sites
• Chemoembolization of tumors and metastases

Other specializations within the interventional range of services are in

• diagnostic and therapeutic organ puncture (sampling, reduction of pathological fluid accumulation such as lymph cysts, hematoma, or infectious foci)
• PTCD - relieving the bile duct system in closures that can not be solved by the ERC
• RFA - radiofrequency ablation of e.g. foci in liver or lung
• pain therapies in the spine (periradicular therapy lumbar and cervical, sympathetic cervical elimination, thoracic and lumbar)
• vertebroplasty (cement injection into vertebral body for painful collapses, usually caused by osteoporotic vertebral, rarely in neoplastic processes)

All of these procedures are performed under continuous clinical monitoring of patients, using such means as ECG or pulse oximetry. If necessary, these operations may be performed under sedation or general anaesthesia.

PTA = Perkutan Transluminal Angioplasty
The PTA is the widening of stenoses of the vessels with a balloon (so-called balloon angioplasty) after direct injection of contrast medium into the vessels and under fluoroscopy.

Stenting
Metal supports are placed to keep open narrowed blood vessels (e.g. the renal arteries). Stents can also be used in other systems of the body (e.g. bile ducts).