Information for International Patients

The Department of Neuroradiology is specialized in imaging and reporting of neurological disorders of the brain, the spine and the head/neck region. The staff is highly skilled in MRI, CT, myelography, diagnostic cerebral/spinal angiography and interventional neuroradiology. As neurointerventionalists we are proficient in the therapeutic approach to acute stroke, atherosclerotic occlusive disease and carotid artery stenting. We are highly qualified in coiling of aneurysms. Another of our domains is the minimal-invasive x-ray guided pain-relief therapy of the spine. Emergencies at any time are covered by a 24 hours on-call service. Special emphasize is set on research and teaching.

Key diagnostic and treatment areas

The key treatment area is cross-sectional imaging for stroke diagnosis for which CT angiography and perfusion techniques are used in both MRI and CT as well as the standard procedures. An additional treatment area is the diagnosis of inflammatory and malignant CNS diseases, and advanced methods such as spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging and perfusion are used in this field as well as the standard procedures. The diagnostic spectrum comprises imaging of degenerative changes of the spine and high resolution neuroimaging in epilepsy. Measurements of the cerebrospinal fluid flow are a special feature of our department.

Key therapeutic areas

Stenting is done in cases of extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis, particularly in patients with stenoses that have appeared after vascular surgery. In cases of constriction of the flow from the vertebral artery, balloon angioplasty is preferable. Constrictions of the remaining vessels supplying the brain usually require stenting.
In the acute phase of a stroke it may be necessary to remove occlusion of a blood vessel with a catheter. Therefore we use mechanical recanalization procedures such as balloon angioplasty and thrombectomy as well as classical intra-arterial lysis.
Aneurysm of the brain arteries from a certain size on have a significant risk of rupture which can result in a severe brain haemorrhage. In these cases endovascular coiling as a minimally-invasive catheter technique is performed to eliminate the aneurysm through initiating a clotting reaction by inserting platinum coils within the aneurysm.
For all neuroradiological procedures a standardized pre- and post-intervention procedure is stipulated that integrates pre- and post-interventional neurological and MRI examination as well as post-interventional monitoring in the Stroke Unit.

Cooperations

There is intense interdisciplinary cooperation with the Department of Neurology and the Department of Vascular and Thoracic Surgery of the hospital. All vascular procedures are discussed with both these departments in daily clinical conferences (certified vascular centre), where the manner in which the therapy will proceed (vascular surgery/neuroradiology) is determined.
Another mark-up of the department is the acquisition of reports for other national and international hospitals via tele-radiology.

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